Feedback on recent applications to the China Securities Regulatory Commission provides some clarity on what will be expected from foreign asset managers wishing to establish fund management companies in the Chinese domestic mutual fund market.
After accepting two initial applications by foreign capitalized asset managers to establish fund management companies (FMCs) on September 18, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) recently provided feedback on the application materials submitted by the two foreign asset managers. The CSRC requested that Applicant 1 and Applicant 2 provide their respective responses within 30 working days, and upon reviewing their responses, the CSRC would then decide whether to allow these applications to proceed to next stage of consultations.
The CSRC’s views concerning these applications are now available on its official website, and can be a meaningful reference for understanding the overall regulatory regime imposed on wholly foreign-owned FMCs. The CSRC’s views focus on the following major points.
Both Applicant 1 and Applicant 2 were asked to submit supplementary information and materials to demonstrate their respective experience in the asset management industry.
For Applicant 1
For Applicant 2
Moreover, the draft of new FMC measures (the Draft Measures), which the CSRC released on July 31, 2020, set some additional requirements with respect to qualifications of the major shareholder of a FMC, including having the “capacity for continuous capital replenishment” (i.e., a capital support commitment). Although the Draft Measures have not come into effect, the CSRC also requested that both Applicant 1 and Applicant 2 submit an undertaking letter pursuant to which they would be obliged to provide continuous capital and liquidity support wherever there is a shortfall in the capital position of the FMC.
Applicant 1 and Applicant 2 were further asked to provide supplementary materials to demonstrate that their respective “actual controller” complies with the financial standards required by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) law. Specifically, the relevant “actual controller” must not violate any of the following requirements:
The CSRC also provided its views concerning the appointment of directors and senior management personnel of the Applicant 1 FMC.
Related to the Capacity to Perform the Duties of a Director of the FMC
The CSRC noted that, in consideration of the facts that (1) all of the six directors to be appointed for the Applicant 1 FMC have no working experience in the China securities and fund management markets and (2) only one proposed independent director is a PRC citizen, the CSRC requested that Applicant 1 demonstrate the following:
This feedback suggests that the CSRC is likely to require that any proposed foreign director of an FMC demonstrates a solid familiarity with the Chinese mutual fund market and that each director is sufficiently qualified and experienced to perform their duties as an FMC director in a satisfactory manner.
Concurrent Post Arrangements
The proposed chairman of the board of the Applicant 1 FMC currently serves as a director of other Applicant 1 entities in Asia. Because of this, the CSRC requested that Applicant 1 explain whether such concurrent posts could result in conflicts of interest and potential “tunneling” (i.e., seeking unjust benefits for themselves or any third party other than investors by using fund assets or taking advantages of their positions), as well as what measures Applicant 1 would put in place to mitigate these issues.
In this connection it should be noted that, under PRC law, the general manager of an FMC must not concurrently work for any other asset management institution (whether located in China or elsewhere). Since the proposed general manager of the Applicant 1 FMC currently serves as a director of other Applicant 1 entities in Asia, the CSRC requested that Applicant 1 explain whether this general manager would continue her concurrent post after being employed by the Applicant 1 FMC or would retire from such positions to undertake the position as the general manager of the Applicant 1 FMC.
The CSRC’s commentary on the two applications has provided some increased clarity concerning what will be expected from foreign asset managers wishing to establish FMCs in the Chinese domestic mutual fund market. It is becoming increasingly clear that the Hong Kong model for regional management of China operations will not work for the new FMCs, and that China expects a strong commitment to the China market in terms of global experience, capital, local talent, and committed management for foreign FMCs permitted to operate in China. Interested international fund groups should plan accordingly.
If you have any questions or would like more information on the issues discussed in this LawFlash, please contact any of the following Morgan Lewis lawyers:
Shanghai/Beijing
Alex Wang