Why China’s Investment Bankers Are Breaking Up With Capitalism
Jul 2, 2024
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Bloomberg's Cathy Chan discusses how China's top investment bank, CICC, is shifting towards socialist ideals and prioritizing loyalty to the Communist Party over Western influence. The podcast explores the impact of President Xi's common prosperity initiative on the investment banking industry, including decreased deal activity and reductions in bonuses. It also dives into the cultural changes at CICC under a state-owned background chairman, affecting talent retention and the decline of the bank. Additionally, the podcast highlights China's concerns about foreign companies being associated with the Communist Party and the benefits of aligning with China's norms for business dealings.
CICC bankers prioritize Communist Party loyalty over capitalism, reflecting China's shifting financial landscape.
Under Xi Jinping, CICC aligns with party interests, causing talent exodus and concerns over business environment.
Deep dives
CICC's Transformation under New Leadership
The China International Capital Corporation (CICC) underwent significant changes in priorities and ambitions under new leadership, shifting from a Western-oriented approach to aligning more closely with the Chinese Communist Party. With 30% of staff becoming Communist Party members, the internal culture shifted, emphasizing party loyalty and patriotism. This shift towards party alignment raised concerns among global investors about China's business environment.
Impact of Common Prosperity Drive on CICC
China's President Xi Jinping's common prosperity drive in 2021 had a substantial impact on CICC, leading to reduced dealmaking and significant cuts in bankers' bonuses and compensation. The focus on aligning with state-owned clients and promoting the party's values affected morale and talent retention at the bank, with many employees seeking opportunities elsewhere.
Future Outlook for CICC
CICC's future seems to be transitioning towards serving the state and party interests rather than international clients, signaling the end of its original ambitions as a competitive global investment bank. The cultural and ideological transformation of CICC under new leadership highlights China's preference for domestically aligned entities over Westernized firms, potentially impacting global investors' perceptions of doing business in China.
One after another, bankers at China International Capital Corporation — China’s premier investment bank – are pledging loyalty to the Communist Party, underscoring a new reality for Wall Street-style capitalists in the era of Xi Jinping.
Today on The Big Take Asia, host David Gura speaks with Bloomberg’s Cathy Chan about the tug-of-war between communism and capitalism at the “Morgan Stanley of China,” and how politics are redefining Chinese finance.