Huatai Securities Reports Record 2024 Earnings and Advancement in Internationalization
Annual Highlights ：
In 2024, the Company continued to execute on strategic priorities, contributing to net revenues of RMB 54.29 billion, net earnings of RMB 15.35 billion, and diluted EPS of RMB 1.62, achieving the highest results for each.
The Company announced a final payout of RMB 5.2 per 10 shares (including tax), reinforcing its commitment to shareholder value.
The investment banking business led the Mainland market, ranking first in STAR Market and ChiNext IPOs, and first in M&A activities.
The Company expanded its presence in Singapore, Japan, Vietnam, leveraging operations across Mainland China, Hong Kong, the US, the UK, and Singapore.
The Company drove growth across its comprehensive financial services, including investment banking, wealth management, and institutional services, through technology-driven initiatives.
The Company made significant progress in the following areas:
Investment Banking Excellence
The preeminent global investment banking business leveraged industry insights and deep expertise to help clients seize new opportunities, unlocking growth and driving transformation. Ranked first in IPO underwriting on the STAR Market and ChiNext, Huatai Securities achieved a total IPO underwriting volume of RMB 8.5 billion, ranking second in the A-share market. The Company maintained a leading position in M&A advisory, particularly in restructuring project reviews. Additionally, it secured second place in equity underwriting with RMB 54.9 billion and achieved third place in bond underwriting, with a total volume of RMB 1,296 billion. In 2024, the Company ranked third in the total number of Hong Kong IPOs across the market and third among Chinese securities firms in terms of funds raised.
Huatai Securities solidified its leading position in China's capital markets by supporting innovation-driven enterprises. Since 2012, the Company has been a critical catalyst for technological innovation, backing over 270 technology companies with a collectively market capitalization of RMB 9.47 trillion. In 2024, this commitment continued with support for over 10 "Little Giants" and specialized medium-sized enterprises endorsed by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
Global Reach Accelerates
Huatai Securities expanded its international footprint in 2024, demonstrating resilience in navigating volatile overseas markets. Huatai Financial Holdings (Hong Kong) became a lead underwriter in Tokyo's PRO-BOND market, while Huatai Securities (USA) gained Nasdaq underwriting membership. Additionally, a subsidiary of Huatai International, operating as a Chinese securities firm, successfully obtained a securities trading license in Vietnam.
The Company's Global Trading Platform (GTP) now connects Hong Kong, the U.S., the U.K., and Singapore 24/7, enhancing cross-border capabilities. Research output surged, with 587 overseas reports (up 96% year-on-year) covering U.S., European, Japanese, and Southeast Asian markets, and stock coverage increased by 65%.
Advancing Through Technology
To meet the evolving demands of institutional clients, Huatai Securities continued upgrading core trading infrastructure such as FICC HEAD platform and CAMS (Credit Analysis Management System). The tech-powered transformation enabled the Company to lead in market-making in the STAR Market with 126 stocks and fund liquidity services with 589 funds, while dual-counter RMB-HKD trading achieved full coverage and increased market share. The Company was awarded "2024 Top Market Maker – RMB Counter" by HKEX.
On the retail front, "ZhangLe Fortune Path" app, the Company's mobile wealth management platform, is deepening AI integration to enhance client services, delivering sophisticated ETF tools for product selection and trading strategies, thereby boosting client and asset growth. Huatai Securities' fund distribution ranked second among securities firms, with AUM of equity fund reaching RMB 120.2 billion. The Huatai-PineBridge CSI 300 ETF approached RMB 360 billion, leading non-money-market ETFs in Shanghai and Shenzhen.
Sustainability and Governance
Huatai Securities' MSCI ESG rating rose to AAA in 2024, the highest among global investment banks, up from AA, marking two years of steady progress. Through its Huatai Foundation, rated 5A in Jiangsu's social organization assessment, the Company advanced rural revitalization, education, and eco-initiatives such as "One Yangtze River", promoting Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECM) in China, which were presented at COP16.
Looking Ahead
Huatai Securities will continue its strategic focus on leveraging technology to enhance its wealth management and institutional services. By integrating resources across the business chain, the Company will further deepen its internationalization strategy, aiming to become one of the leading global investment banks providing top-tier professional financial services.
Hashtag: #Huatai
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Huatai Securities
Incorporated in April 1991, Huatai Securities is a leading technology-driven securities group in China, with a highly collaborative business model, a cutting-edge digital platform and an extensive and engaging customer base. It provides comprehensive financial services to individual and institutional clients, including wealth management, investment banking, sales and trading, investment management, among others, with a substantial international presence.
Huatai Securities
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TECHx
5 hours ago
- TECHx
AppsFlyer Reports Decline in UA Spend Despite Mobile Growth
Home » Smart Sectors » Retail » AppsFlyer Reports Decline in UA Spend Despite Mobile Growth AppsFlyer has revealed the UAE findings of its annual State of eCommerce Mobile Marketing report. The data highlights how Chinese eCommerce apps continue to dominate user acquisition (UA) spending in one of the world's top mobile-first economies. In the first half of 2025, Chinese apps accounted for 73% of all UA spend in the UAE. France followed with 13%, and India with 8%, driven by focused campaigns and expat-centric strategies. The report pointed to growing competition from overseas brands. As a result, local eCommerce retailers saw their UA investments shrink. This trend reflects budget reallocations, rising pressure from international players, and market consolidation. AppsFlyer experts noted that local brands still have growth opportunities. However, success will require clear strategies and performance-driven, localised campaigns. Sue Azari, Industry Lead eCommerce at AppsFlyer, explained that Chinese apps have long targeted markets outside China. She said the UAE is a natural fit due to its premium audience and digital maturity. French apps are focusing on iOS users, while Indian advertisers likely see strong potential in the UAE's South Asian expat population. AppsFlyer also reported strong growth for iOS in the UAE. While Android app installs are projected to grow 713% since 2017, iOS installs are expected to rise by 1383% over the same period. Year-on-year, iOS installs are forecast to more than double in 2025. At the same time, iOS fraud rates dropped 63% year-on-year in H1 2025. Android's fraud rate, however, rose 234% in the same period. This indicates iOS is becoming a safer and more attractive platform for marketers, despite Android's scale. The report also revealed a decline in overall UA spending. In H1 2025, Android UA spend fell 21% compared to the same period in 2024. iOS spend declined only 6%, showing more resilience. Yet, the period also saw record-high remarketing investments. Q1 2025 remarketing spend tripled compared to Q1 2024 Ramadan and retail events played a major role in early-year performance Azari encouraged marketers to align campaigns with seasonal peaks like Ramadan and build remarketing strategies to sustain engagement afterward. She also noted that declining Android UA spend may offer cost-effective inventory for savvy brands. AppsFlyer concluded that the UAE remains a competitive market for mobile commerce. Advertisers who balance premium iOS strategies with cost-effective Android engagement and adapt budgets to seasonal trends are best positioned for success.
Gulf Today
6 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Germany plans to play central role in rearming Europe
For Gundbert Scherf — the co-founder of Germany's Helsing, Europe's most valuable defence start-up — Russia's invasion of Ukraine changed everything. Scherf had to fight hard to attract investment after starting his company — which produces military strike drones and battlefield AI — four years ago. Now, that's the least of his problems. The Munich-based company more than doubled its valuation to $12 billion at a fundraising last month. 'Europe this year, for the first time in decades, is spending more on defense technology acquisition than the US," said Scherf. The former partner at McKinsey & Company says Europe may be on the cusp of a transformation in defence innovation akin to the Manhattan Project — the scientific push that saw the US rapidly develop nuclear weapons during World War Two. 'Europe is now coming to terms with defence.' Reuters spoke to two dozens executives, investors and policymakers to examine how Germany — Europe's largest economy — aims to play a central role in the rearming the continent. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government views AI and start-up technology as key to its defence plans and is slashing bureaucracy to connect startups directly to the upper echelons of its military, the sources told Reuters. Shaped by the trauma of Nazi militarism and a strong postwar pacifist ethos, Germany long maintained a relatively small and cautious defence sector, sheltered by US security guarantees. Germany's business model, shaped by a deep aversion to risk, has also favoured incremental improvements over disruptive innovation. No more. With US military support now more uncertain, Germany — one of the biggest backers of Ukraine — plans to nearly triple its regular defence budget to around 162 billion euros ($175 billion) per year by 2029. Much of that money will go into reinventing the nature of warfare, the sources said. Helsing is part of a wave of German defence start-ups developing cutting-edge technology, from tank-like AI robots and unmanned mini-submarines to battle-ready spy cockroaches. 'We want to help give Europe its spine back," said Scherf. Some of these smaller firms are now advising the government alongside established firms — so-called primes such as Rheinmetall and Hensoldt — that have less incentive to focus primarily on innovation, given their long backlogs for conventional systems, one of the sources said. A new draft procurement law, expected to be approved by Merz's cabinet on Wednesday, aims to reduce hurdles for cash-strapped start-ups to join tenders by enabling advance payment to these firms, according to a version dated June 25, reviewed by Reuters. The law would also entitle authorities to limit tenders to bidders inside the European Union. Marc Wietfeld, CEO and founder of autonomous robots maker ARX Robotics, said a recent meeting with German defence minister Boris Pistorius hammered home how deep the rethink in Berlin goes. "He told me: 'Money is no longer an excuse — it's there now'. That was a turning point," he said. Since Donald Trump's return to the political stage and his renewed questioning of America's commitment to NATO, Germany has committed to meet the alliance's new target of 3.5% of GDP on defense spending by 2029 - faster than most European allies. Officials in Berlin have emphasized the need to foster a European defence industry rather than rely on U.S. companies. But the hurdles towards scaling up industry champions in Germany - and Europe more broadly - are considerable. Unlike in the United States, the market is fragmented in Europe. Each country has its own set of procurement standards to fulfill contracts. The United States, the world's top military spender, already has an established stable of defence giants, like Lockheed Martin and RTX, and an advantage in key areas, including satellite technology, fighter jets and precise-guided munitions. Washington also began boosting defence tech startups in 2015 - including Shield AI, drone maker Anduril and software company Palantir - by awarding them parts of military contracts. European startups until recently languished with little government support. But an analysis by Aviation Week in May showed Europe's 19 top defence spenders - including Turkey and Ukraine - were projected to spend 180.1 billion this year on military procurement compared, to 175.6 billion for the United States. Washington's overall military spending will remain higher. Hans Christoph Atzpodien, head of Germany's security and defence sector association BDSV, said one challenge was that the military's procurement system was geared toward established suppliers and not well suited to the fast pace that new technologies require. Germany's defence ministry said in a statement it was taking steps to accelerate procurement and to better integrate startups in order to make new technologies quickly available to the Bundeswehr. Annette Lehnigk-Emden, head of the armed forces' powerful procurement agency, highlighted drones and AI as emerging fields that Germany needs to develop. "The changes they're bringing to the battlefield are as revolutionary as the introduction of the machine gun, tank, or airplane," she told Reuters. Sven Weizenegger, who heads up the Cyber Innovation hub, the Bundeswehr's innovation accelerator, said the war in Ukraine was also changing social attitudes, removing a stigma towards working in the defence sector. "Germany has developed a whole new openness towards the issue of security since the invasion," he said. Weizenegger said he was receiving 20-30 Linkedin requests a day, compared to maybe 2-3 weekly back in 2020, with ideas for defence technology to develop. Some of the ideas under development feel akin to science fiction - like Swarm Biotactics' cyborg cockroaches that are equipped with specialised miniature backpacks that enable real-time data collection via cameras for example. Electrical stimuli should allow humans to control the insects' movements remotely. The aim is for them to provide surveillance information in hostile environments - for example information about enemy positions. "Our bio-robots — based on living insects — are equipped with neural stimulation, sensors, and secure communication modules," said CEO Stefan Wilhelm. "They can be steered individually or operate autonomously in swarms. In the first half of the 20th century, German scientists pioneered many military technologies that became global standards, from ballistic missiles to jet aircraft and guided weapons. But following its defeat in World War II, Germany was demilitarized and its scientific talent was dispersed. Wernher von Braun, who invented the first ballistic missile for the Nazis, was one of hundreds of German scientists and engineers transported to the United States in the wake of World War II, where he later worked at NASA and developed the rocket that took Apollo spacecraft to the Moon. In recent decades, defence innovation has been a powerful driver of economic progress. Tech like the internet, GPS, semiconductors and jet engines originated in military research programs before transforming civilian life. Hit by high energy prices, a slowdown in demand for its exports and competition from China, Germany's $4.75 trillion economy contracted over the last two years. Expanding military research could provide an economic fillip. "We just need to get to this mindset: a strong defense industrial base means a strong economy and innovation on steroids," said Markus Federle, managing partner at defence-focused investment firm Tholus Capital. Risk aversion among European investors had in the past disadvantaged startups, which struggled to get the capital they need to survive the 'valley of death' — the critical early stage when costs are high and sales low. But a boost in defence spending by European governments following Russia's invasion of Ukraine has investors looking for opportunities. Europe now boasts three start-ups with a unicorn valuation of more than $1 billion: Helsing, German drone maker Quantum Systems, and Portugal's Tekever, which also manufactures drones. "There's a lot of pressure now on Germany being the lead nation of the European defense," said Sven Kruck, Quantum's chief strategy officer. Germany has become Ukraine's second-biggest military backer after the United States. Orders that might once have taken years to approve now take months and European startups have had the opportunity to test their products quickly in the field, several sources said. Venture capital funding of European defence tech hit $1 billion in 2024, up from a modest $373 million in 2022, and is expected to surge even more this year. "Society has recognized that we have to defend our democracies," said Christian Saller, general partner at HV Capital, an investor in both ARX and Quantum Systems. Venture capital funding has grown faster in Germany than elsewhere, according to a data analysis by Dealroom for Reuters. German defence startups have received $1.4 billion in the last five years from investors, followed by UK, the data shows. Reuters
Web Release
9 hours ago
- Web Release
Bain & Company announces senior leadership appointments in its Enterprise Technology practice
Bain & Company today announced senior leadership changes within its global Enterprise Technology (ET) practice, which supports the firm's clients worldwide in delivering accelerated business transformations by leveraging the most advanced technology platforms and solutions. With the rapidly evolving role of AI and fundamental technology innovations fueling tech-driven change across industries, Bain is continuing to see strong growth in client demand for its deep technology expertise. Tech- and AI-enabled revenue already accounts for more than 30% of the firm's business and is expected to reach half of revenues in coming years. The firm's new Enterprise Technology practice leadership team will play a pivotal role in the continuing development of its ET capabilities and its broader tech-related support for clients. Bain announced today that Pascal Gautheron will take over as the global leader of its Enterprise Technology practice, succeeding Stephen Phillips, who has headed the firm's global ET team for the past seven years. Phillips becomes chairman of the ET practice, working directly with Bain's clients and market-facing forums to raise awareness of enterprise technology's full potential. Gautheron takes over the global leadership position having previously served as head of the ET practice in Asia-Pacific (APAC). He brings to his new role more than 27 years of experience in shaping some of the region's largest technology-enabled business transformations, particularly in the banking and financial services sector. Since joining Bain in 2017, Gautheron has supported multiple clients in developing and implementing successful digital and core systems transformations, next-generation technology architectures, agile at scale, and leading-edge AI deployments. Having previously been based in Sydney, Australia, and having begun his career as an engineer in Stuttgart and Paris, and with an MBA from the HEC Paris Business School, Gautheron will return to those roots to lead Bain's ET practice from the firm's Paris office. In further key changes in Bain's regional ET leadership, the firm also announced today that Damian Stephenson replaces Gautheron as regional leader of the ET practice in APAC. Based in Sydney, Stephenson has spent nearly 20 years at Bain (both in APAC and North America). He specializes in supporting clients in all industries to pursue technology modernization and technology-led strategy and transformation. Stephenson is also a leader in the firm's Financial Services and M&A practices. Laurent Hermoye becomes regional leader for ET in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), succeeding Marc van der Vleugel. Brussels-based Hermoye brings two decades' experience in shaping and delivering large-scale digital transformations, particularly in the consumer brands sector. Major business transformations he has led have involved large-scale initiatives enabled by enterprise resource planning (ERP), digital marketing, commerce, and operations enhancements, as well as post-merger integrations and separations. He has also led multiple technology and AI strategies, operating model redesign programs, and cost transformations. Hermoye also serves as chairman of Enterprise Blueprints, a Bain company providing enterprise and solution architecture services. Denver-based partner Will Poindexter continues to serve as regional leader for ET in the Americas (AMER). Chuck Whitten, partner and global head of Bain's digital practices and capabilities, commented: 'With investment in AI and data now a paramount priority for companies across industries, the new Enterprise Technology leadership announced today will further accelerate our work to bring the power of cutting-edge technologies to help our clients solve some of the most complex business challenges. More than just identifying the best means for technology to benefit a business, today companies need to reinvent entire business models and value chains atop their tech infrastructures. Our new ET leaders will enable our clients to lead the field in grasping these critical business challenges.' Whitten added: 'With today's transition, I want to thank Stephen Phillips and recognize the outstanding contribution to Bain that he has made over more than two decades in leadership roles in our Enterprise Technology team. Stephen has been the guiding hand in the rapid growth of the ET practice through those years, in developing the breadth and depth of its capabilities, its expertise, and its people – and in bringing the very best of Bain to deliver industry-leading results for our clients. I'm delighted that, as ET practice chairman, Stephen will be playing a continuing and central role in the world-class work our ET team are bringing to clients around the globe every day.' Bain & Company's global Enterprise Technology practice consists of a team of more than 1,500 multidisciplinary experts including data scientists, architects, software engineers, innovators and designers. Along with nearly two-dozen focused partnerships with some of today's most renowned technology firms, Bain's ET team equip client businesses with market-leading capabilities to power growth and accelerate value creation.
