Xin Lang Cai Jing·2026-02-04 12:13Core Viewpoint - Haitong Securities has officially been deregistered, marking the end of its 37-year presence in the capital market, which reflects a significant industry restructuring towards high-quality development [1][9]. Company History - Haitong Securities was established in 1988 and became a pioneer in China's capital market, achieving a market capitalization exceeding 300 billion yuan and ranking among the top three in the industry [4][13]. - The company had a strong retail customer base and regional advantages, particularly in the Yangtze River Delta, and developed a diverse financial ecosystem through subsidiaries like Haitong Fund and Haitong Futures [4][13]. Challenges Faced - Since 2020, Haitong Securities faced multiple challenges, including an imbalanced business structure heavily reliant on brokerage services, which accounted for 42% of its revenue in 2023 [5][14]. - Compliance risks became a significant burden, with the company facing penalties exceeding 500 million yuan due to violations in asset management products and a three-month suspension of its investment banking business in 2021 [5][14]. - The international expansion efforts were unsuccessful, leading to continuous losses in overseas operations, including a significant loss of 1.8 billion yuan in 2023 from its European subsidiary [5][14]. - Financial performance deteriorated, with a 27% year-on-year decline in net profit to 6.5 billion yuan in 2023 and a return on equity (ROE) of 4.8%, below the industry average of 7.2% [5][14]. Merger and Integration - In September 2024, a merger between Guotai Junan and Haitong Securities was announced, completing the integration by March 2025, resulting in the establishment of Guotai Haitong Securities [7][15]. - The merger created a new industry giant with total assets of 1.8 trillion yuan, enhancing market share in brokerage services to 7.5% and placing investment banking among the top three in the industry [8][16]. - The combined entity benefits from over 6 million retail clients from Haitong and institutional advantages from Guotai Junan, leading to significant scale effects and synergies [8][16]. Industry Context - The dissolution of Haitong Securities signifies a broader trend in the capital market towards high-quality development and the ongoing reshaping of the industry, emphasizing the "survival of the fittest" among brokerage firms [9][17].