Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the transformation of the securities fund custody industry in China, shifting from a "license-driven" model to a "capability-driven" and "service-driven" approach due to new regulatory changes [1][4]. Group 1: Regulatory Changes - Six securities firms have withdrawn their applications for fund custody qualifications this year, attributed to increased entry barriers set by new regulations [3]. - The new regulations raised the net asset threshold for custody business from 20 billion to 30 billion yuan and introduced a requirement for a minimum of 5 billion yuan in custody assets for continued operation [3]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - The competition in the custody market has intensified, leading to a "price war" that has driven down fee rates significantly [3][9]. - The average custody fee for private funds has dropped to between 0.01% and 0.005%, which is considerably lower than the rates for public funds, typically ranging from 0.1% to 0.05% [9]. Group 3: Service Transformation - There is a consensus in the industry to transition from basic custody services to "custody+" comprehensive services, which include value-added services such as investment performance analysis and risk monitoring [6][7]. - Firms like Guotai Junan Securities are actively developing their custody business into a comprehensive service model, including cross-border services to facilitate domestic and foreign asset flows [6][7]. Group 4: Risk Management - The essence of custody business is balancing risk and efficiency, especially in complex scenarios like private equity funds where timely risk control is crucial [9]. - Companies are enhancing their compliance and risk management strategies, moving from passive compliance to proactive risk control [9].