Core Viewpoint - The release of the "Asset Management Trust Management Measures (Draft for Comments)" is significantly impacting the trust and private equity industries, pushing them towards active management and away from passive channel business models [2][3][5]. Group 1: Impact on Trust Industry - The new regulations require trust companies to take on active management responsibilities, limiting their ability to facilitate illegal activities through trust products [3][4]. - Trust companies that heavily rely on channel business will face challenges due to reduced management capabilities and income from these activities [3][4]. - Specific restrictions include limiting the investment amount from a single institutional investor and their affiliates to 80% of the trust product's actual scale, and capping investments in the same asset to 25% of the trust scale [4]. Group 2: Challenges in Private Equity - The private equity sector is also experiencing a contraction in channel business, with several firms being penalized for regulatory violations related to channel activities [6][8]. - Regulatory bodies have issued warnings to multiple private equity firms for improper delegation of investment management responsibilities [6][7]. - The tightening of regulations has led to a significant reduction in the viability of channel business within private equity, with firms now hesitant to engage in such activities [8]. Group 3: Shift Towards Active Management - The industry is witnessing a clear trend towards enhancing active management capabilities, with over 80% of trust companies mentioning active management in their 2024 annual reports [10]. - Recruitment efforts in the trust sector are increasingly focused on specialized talent, reflecting the industry's shift towards professionalization and active management [10][11]. - The competitive landscape is expected to intensify as firms prioritize professional skills and capabilities, marking a departure from the previous "easy profit" model [11].

Core Insights - The total asset management scale of the trust industry in China is projected to reach 32.43 trillion yuan by June 2025, marking an increase of 2.87 trillion yuan from the previous year, which represents a growth rate of 9.7% [1] - This is the first time that the trust scale has surpassed 30 trillion yuan, positioning it as the third largest asset management sector, following insurance asset management and public funds [1] - The transformation of trust companies has shown positive results, shifting from traditional non-standard financing to more diversified and specialized services such as asset service trusts, asset management trusts, and charitable trusts [1] Industry Trends - The trust industry is experiencing a structural optimization, with a significant shift in business models from traditional financing trusts and channel businesses to asset management trusts and asset service trusts [1] - The "three-category" policy for trust business has led to asset management trusts, asset service trusts, and asset management trusts becoming the dominant business models driving the current growth in trust asset scale [1]