2024-09-06 12:15Investment Rating - The report indicates that Guotai Junan plans to absorb and merge Haitong Securities, which suggests a significant shift in the investment landscape for the company [3]. Core Insights - Haitong Securities has experienced a dramatic decline in its market ranking, dropping from 142nd in 2021 to 4054th in 2023, indicating severe operational challenges [5][9]. - The merger, if successful, will result in a new Guotai Junan with total assets of 1.6 trillion and net assets of 331.1 billion, surpassing the industry leader CITIC Securities [3]. - Haitong Securities has faced substantial revenue and profit declines, with total revenue dropping from 432 billion in 2021 to 230 billion in 2023, and net profit plummeting from 128 billion to just 10 billion in the same period [9][11]. Summary by Sections Financial Performance - In 2023, Haitong Securities reported total revenue of 230 billion and a net profit of only 10 billion, marking a significant decline compared to previous years [11][12]. - The company was the largest revenue decliner among the top ten securities firms in the first half of 2024, with a revenue drop of 48% year-on-year [12]. Business Segments - Haitong Securities' business segments include wealth management, investment banking, asset management, trading and institutional, and leasing. The trading and institutional segment has seen significant losses, with a reported loss of 29 billion in 2023 [13][14]. - The revenue from trading and institutional business has fluctuated dramatically, leading to a substantial impact on overall income [16][18]. Investment Risks - The report highlights that Haitong Securities has significant exposure to high-yield real estate bonds through its subsidiary, Haitong International, which has led to substantial losses in recent years [19][25]. - Haitong International's losses amounted to approximately 120 billion RMB over two years, primarily due to poor performance in the secondary market for stocks and bonds [20][22]. Market Position - The report notes that Haitong Securities was once a leading firm but has now fallen to the bottom of the industry rankings, raising concerns about its operational management and risk control [5][25]. - The merger with Guotai Junan may provide an opportunity to restructure and strengthen the combined entity's risk management practices [25].