Core Viewpoint - The resignation of prominent fund manager Zhai Xiangdong from China Merchants Fund has been confirmed, with speculation about his potential move to a private equity fund, possibly Hillhouse Capital. This trend of high-profile fund manager departures has been increasing in the industry this year, with a total of 242 public fund managers leaving as of August 12, 2025, compared to 212 in the same period last year, marking a 14.15% increase [1][19][21]. Group 1: Resignation Details - Zhai Xiangdong has officially resigned as the manager of the China Merchants Advantage Enterprise Fund due to personal reasons and will not take on any other roles within the company [2][3]. - His departure follows a series of high-profile exits from various funds, including notable managers from firms like China Europe Fund and Industrial Bank of China Fund [1][19]. - The number of fund managers leaving this year has significantly increased, with 242 departures compared to previous years, indicating a trend in the industry [19][21]. Group 2: Performance and Management - Zhai Xiangdong's management of the China Merchants Advantage Enterprise Fund has been marked by impressive performance, achieving a 124.59% increase during his tenure, with an annualized return of 27.96% [5][6]. - The fund's performance has been notable, especially in 2023 and 2024, where it outperformed benchmarks significantly, although it faced challenges in the second quarter of 2025, resulting in a net value decline of 3.63% [6][11]. - His investment strategy focused on high-risk, high-reward opportunities, particularly in TMT (Technology, Media, and Telecommunications) sectors, which contributed to the fund's strong performance during market upswings [12][9]. Group 3: Industry Trends - The trend of fund managers transitioning from public to private equity is becoming more pronounced, driven by the allure of higher compensation and greater investment freedom in private equity [22]. - The public fund industry has seen a shift in dynamics, with an oversupply of fund managers following a period of rapid expansion, leading to increased departures as performance evaluations come into play [21][22]. - The active equity funds have recently begun to outperform the market after three years of underperformance, yet this has not prevented the exodus of top-performing fund managers [18][21].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent resignation of prominent fund manager Zhai Xiangdong from the China Merchants Fund, highlighting a trend of increasing departures among star fund managers in the industry, with a total of 242 fund managers leaving in 2025, compared to 212 in the previous year, marking a 14.15% increase [1][14][15]. Summary by Sections Resignation of Zhai Xiangdong - Zhai Xiangdong has officially resigned as the manager of the China Merchants Advantage Enterprise Fund due to "personal reasons" and is rumored to join a private equity fund, possibly Hillhouse [3][5]. - His tenure saw the fund achieve a 124.59% increase over 3 years, significantly outperforming the CSI 300 index [5][9]. Performance and Strategy - Under Zhai's management, the fund's annualized return was 27.96%, with a maximum quarterly drawdown of less than 25%, making it a popular choice among investors [5][9]. - Despite strong past performance, the fund experienced a net value decline of 3.63% in Q2 2025, attributed to a lack of exposure to high-performing sectors during that period [6][9]. Market Trends and Departures - The article notes a significant increase in fund manager departures this year, with 242 resignations reported by August 12, 2025, compared to previous years [14][15]. - The trend is linked to a market shift where many fund managers are facing performance evaluations after three years of underperformance, leading to a surplus of fund managers in the industry [15]. Transition to Private Equity - The article highlights the trend of fund managers moving to private equity, driven by better compensation structures and greater investment freedom, allowing them to implement personal investment strategies [15][16]. - Zhai's successor, Lu Wenkai, is noted to have a more balanced investment approach compared to Zhai's high-risk strategy, indicating a potential shift in the fund's management style [11][12].

Group 1 - The core point of the article highlights the frequent changes in fund managers within the public fund industry this year, specifically focusing on the departure of Zhai Xiangdong from the China Merchants Fund and the subsequent appointment of Lu Wenkai as the new fund manager for the China Merchants Advantage Enterprise fund [2][3][4] - Zhai Xiangdong's management of the China Merchants Advantage Enterprise A fund yielded a return of 124.59% from April 29, 2022, to August 9, 2023, ranking 5th out of 2890 similar products [2][3] - The fund's assets under management grew significantly from 193 million yuan at the end of Q2 2022 to 10.146 billion yuan by Q1 2025, before decreasing to 8.132 billion yuan by Q2 2025 [3] Group 2 - Lu Wenkai, who has nearly 7 years of experience as a public fund manager, will continue to follow a growth-oriented investment strategy, focusing on valuation and growth potential while ensuring the continuity of investment strategies [4] - The market outlook for A-shares and H-shares is cautiously optimistic, with Lu Wenkai indicating a potential increase in allocation towards consumer-related sectors, particularly those closely linked to retail [4]

Core Insights - The competitive landscape of public funds continues to favor leading firms, with only minor shifts in rankings, notably the decline of China Merchants Fund to the tenth position, marking it as the only top ten institution to experience a drop [1][3] - In stark contrast, leading firms like E Fund and Huaxia Fund have seen significant growth, with China Merchants Fund's non-monetary fund scale shrinking by 27.204 billion yuan in Q2 alone, totaling a decline of 60 billion yuan in the first half of the year [1][2] Fund Performance - As of mid-2025, China Merchants Fund's non-monetary fund scale has decreased to 532.015 billion yuan, making it the only firm in the top 20 to report negative growth [1][2] - The firm has faced a continuous decline since reaching its highest ranking in Q2 2022, with revenue and net profit both decreasing in 2023, and a projected net profit decline of 5.87% in 2024 [2][3] Market Position and Strategy - China Merchants Fund's bond fund scale increased from 267.216 billion yuan in 2021 to 364.454 billion yuan in 2024, ranking fourth in the industry, but the firm is now facing challenges in its fixed income business due to market pressures [3][4] - The firm has a heavy reliance on fixed income products, with 79.89% of its total fund scale attributed to bond and money market funds, while equity products account for only 18.61% [3][4] Talent and Management Changes - The departure of key fixed income personnel, including the notable figure Ma Long, has raised concerns about the stability and capability of the fund management team [5][10] - In the past year, eight fund managers have left China Merchants Fund, significantly higher than the industry average of 2.16, leading to questions about the firm's team stability and management effectiveness [13][19] ETF and Equity Business - China Merchants Fund has struggled in the ETF space, ranking 20th in total ETF management scale at 36.572 billion yuan, which is less than 1/20th of Huaxia Fund's scale [16][18] - The firm has seen a decline in its active equity product scale from 278.892 billion yuan in 2021 to 184.123 billion yuan in 2024, with nearly 20% of its products reporting losses since inception [9][16] Organizational Challenges - The firm has faced significant personnel changes, including the resignation of its general manager and the appointment of new executives, which may hinder strategic execution and external communication [18][19] - The conservative management style influenced by its banking roots has limited the firm's ability to innovate and adapt to the rapidly changing asset management landscape [17][19]