China creates its largest brokerage to take on Wall Street

China is combining two of its largest state-backed brokerages to create a new behemoth as it seeks to consolidate the $1.7 trillion sector and build stronger investment banks to compete with overseas financial firms.

Guotai Junan Securities Co will merge with smaller rival Haitong Securities Co through a share swap, according to statements from both companies on Thursday. The combination of the firms, both partly owned by Shanghai's state assets administrator, will create a new entity with assets of 1.6 trillion yuan ($230 billion), topping Citic Securities Co as the largest brokerage.

The merger is pending approval from the companies' boards and shareholders, as well as regulatory authorities.

The deal comes a year after President Xi Jinping urged financial regulators to cultivate a few top-ranked investment banks to compete with Wall Street firms expanding in China. Shares of local brokerages surged on Friday morning.

The nation's securities watchdog has also voiced its support for consolidation, with a goal of having two to three investment banks that can compete globally by 2035. China had about 145 securities firms at the end of 2023, with combined assets of 11.8 trillion yuan, according to official data.

"The combination is conducive to building a first-class investment bank and promoting the high-quality development of the industry," according to the statements.

Profits Decline

The sector has been hampered by a slump in deals and sluggish capital markets as stocks flounder on weak economic growth. Profits have declined in the past few years, and the outlook for earnings remains bleak after industry heavyweights China International Capital Corp. and Citic Securities posted declines in first-half results.

Haitong, valued at HK$106 billion ($13.6 billion) in Hong Kong, reported a 75% decrease in profit for the first half, while its shares are down 12% on the year.

"The merger will potentially resolve" Haitong's business concerns, Hua Chuang Securities said in a report. "The overall quality of the underlying assets is not very healthy, which also leads to the low valuation," it said, adding that the merger may also lead to job cuts with the industry hit by a drought of companies going public.

Guotai Junan has about 15,000 employees, while Haitong Securities employs more than 13,600 including 1,645 at investment banking. Guotai Junan didn't break down its business-line staffing, according to the firm's 2023 annual report.

Under the agreement, Guotai Junan will issue shares to be listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange to holders of Haitong's A shares, and do the same in Hong Kong with H shares. The company also plans a placement of new A shares for ancillary fundraising. They didn't disclose any financial terms.

Both companies suspended trading in Shanghai and Hong Kong starting Friday. The trading halt in the China A shares is expected to last no more than 25 trading days.

Brokerages have also become targets of Xi's signature "common prosperity" campaign, resorting to pay cuts and layoffs to consolidate businesses and comply with tighter scrutiny.

The deal would mark a big step in China's years-long ambition to create an "aircraft carrier-sized" brokerage to take on Wall Street banks after it gradually opened up the financial markets to allow full foreign ownership in 2020.

The push could spur consolidation in a sector that's seen multiple brokerages merging or announcing plans to, fueling expectations for mega deals. This week, Guosen Securities said it aims to buy nearly all of Vanho Securities, and Guolian Securities said earlier it will acquire Minsheng Securities and Western Securities.

China had mulled combining two of its largest investment banks four years ago, but progress has stalled. An earlier proposal was for Citic Group, parent of Citic Securities, to buy a stake in CSC Financial Co from Central Huijin, Bloomberg reported.

The Shanghai State-owned Assets Supervision and Management Commission indirectly holds about a third of Guotai Junan and almost 20% of Haitong, according to their official websites.