Wu Tung-liang: Now is the Best Time for Securities Mergers, Planning Overseas Expansion and Attracting Capital Back to Taiwan

Taishin Securities and Yuanta Securities, subsidiaries of Taishin Shin Kong Financial Holdings, along with Taishin Futures and Yuanta Futures, officially merged yesterday, with Taishin Securities and Taishin Futures as the surviving companies. A merger celebration tea party, themed "New Yuan Unity, Creating Brilliance in Securities," was held today. Wu Tung-liang stated in his speech that Taiwan's economy has grown rapidly in recent years, and the domestic securities market has flourished. The Taiwan stock market has repeatedly hit new highs this year, with the TAIEX surpassing 30,000 points in January, and total market capitalization exceeding NT$100 trillion. The average daily trading volume reached NT$1 trillion in March, a 125% increase from the same period last year, making the Taiwan stock market the 7th largest capital market globally. He believes now is the best time for securities company mergers. Wu Tung-liang said that Taishin Securities and Yuanta Securities each have their strengths in the securities field and possess great complementary advantages. For example, Taishin Securities excels in investment banking, underwriting, and digital financial development, while Yuanta Securities specializes in brokerage, bond markets, and wealth management. Last year, the two companies ranked first in market share for IPOs (Initial Public Offerings) and SPOs (Seasoned Public Offerings), third in margin balance, and their brokerage business entered the top four. Wu Tung-liang stated that after the merger of the two securities companies, there will be 79 business locations across Taiwan, including 55 branches and 24 co-selling offices. Through resource integration and professional complementarity, they can serve a wider range of customers, balance the business structure, improve capital utilization efficiency, strengthen customer service capabilities, and further expand the overall business scale, while also continuing to deepen digital technology. Wu Tung-liang said that in the future, Taishin Securities will assist Taiwanese enterprises in finding global M&A opportunities and expanding into overseas markets. It will also help overseas Taiwanese businesses raise capital back in Taiwan, bringing international funds back to Taiwan, making Taiwan's capital market a platform connecting Asia and facing the world, and becoming an important force in Taiwan's financial development. Facing the significant leap in Taishin Securities' market share from 16th to 4th after the merger, Taishin Securities General Manager Chen Li-kuo boldly stated in a media interview that he hopes to catch up to the third place within three years, by 2029, and will continue to work hard with channel employees. Taishin Securities Chairman Chen Chun-hung mentioned that in addition to proprietary trading, underwriting, and brokerage businesses, there are also futures and other businesses. In the future, they will also create more venture capital businesses to connect all services to customers, which is the future goal. Taishin Securities Vice Chairman Kuo Chia-hung added that Yuanta Securities' proprietary trading business is mainly focused on bonds, which can be combined with Taishin Securities' stock underwriting business to serve larger companies. In terms of brokerage business, Yuanta Securities is very prominent in institutional clients and high-frequency trading, while Taishin Securities has focused on developing "novice" customers in the past, each having their strengths and complementarities. In addition, the media also focused on the economic impact of the recent Middle East conflict. Taishin Shin Kong Financial Holdings General Manager Lin Wei-chun said that it is difficult to analyze wars rationally with economic data, because one never knows what decision US President Trump might make after waking up. One can only cautiously observe the political and military situation. Currently, the market is dominated by "news," and long-term fundamental analysis will only be valuable after the situation settles. (Edited by Lin Shu-yuan) 1150407