清华金融评论·2025-08-01 09:21Core Viewpoint - The establishment of financial asset investment companies (AIC) by major state-owned banks in China marks a new phase in the market-oriented debt-to-equity swap business, enhancing the financial support for the transformation and upgrading of the real economy [4][11]. Group 1: Development of AIC Companies - On July 16, 2025, China Postal Savings Bank announced the establishment of a financial asset investment company, completing the layout of AICs under the six major state-owned banks [4][11]. - The approval of AICs has surged this year, with several banks including Industrial Bank, CITIC Bank, and China Merchants Bank receiving approval, bringing the total number of AICs in China to nine [3][11]. - The establishment of AICs is a response to the need for market-oriented debt-to-equity swaps, aimed at alleviating financial system pressure and preventing systemic financial risks [6][7]. Group 2: Historical Context and Policy Framework - The inception of AICs can be traced back to 2016, when the Chinese economy faced issues like overcapacity and rising financial risks, prompting the government to implement supply-side structural reforms [6][7]. - The State Council issued guidelines in 2016 to initiate market-oriented debt-to-equity swaps, marking the start of a new round of such initiatives [6][8]. - In 2018, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission established the legal status and operational scope of AICs, providing a regulatory framework for their development [8]. Group 3: AICs vs. AMCs - AICs primarily focus on market-oriented debt-to-equity swaps, targeting high-debt but potential growth enterprises, while AMCs (Asset Management Companies) are more oriented towards debt recovery [12][14]. - AICs leverage their connections with state-owned banks to access lower-cost funding and identify potential non-performing assets early, emphasizing long-term value recovery [14][15]. - Both AICs and AMCs aim to mitigate financial risks and support the real economy, but they operate in a complementary manner, providing different pathways for asset management [15]. Group 4: Future Prospects - The recent policy changes have expanded the pilot scope for AICs, allowing them to operate in 18 cities and increasing their investment limits, which is expected to drive a new growth cycle for AICs [9][10]. - The financial regulatory authority has confirmed that more commercial banks will be allowed to establish AICs, indicating a significant opportunity for the banking sector to engage in asset management [10][11]. - The parallel development of AICs and AMCs reflects a multi-layered and differentiated approach to financial risk management in China, enhancing the stability of the financial system [15].