Mutual recognition: Ready, set, launch!

What are the challenges for both Hong Kong- and mainland-China based mutual fund companies as they prepare to market their products across the border? What operational traps lie in wait? How do they protect their reputations? Are they ready for the kind of due diligence that partners will require?

A panel of market participants discussed these and other questions around the mutual recognition of funds (MRF) scheme first announced by Beijing and Hong Kong regulators in 2015.

With funds on both sides of the border lining up to try marketing to new clientele, MRF represents an intriguing commercial opportunity – as well as the next important step in China’s march toward liberalising its financial markets and international portfolio flows. The webcast took place on February 17, 2016.

REGISTER HERE to listen to Hong Kong fund house CEOs Timothy Tse (Value Partners) and Eleanor Wan (BEA Union Investments) discuss business models and distribution, while Rosita Lee of Hang Seng Bank explains the ins and outs of both marketing a fund 'northbound' into China while helping mainland fund houses distribute products in Hong Kong.

Paul Moloney of law firm Eversheds provides legal insight, while Wenlin Juang of Thomson Reuters explores ways fund companies can improve transparency and get better visibility over pricing and other data as they operate in new markets. AsianInvestor’s Jame DiBiasio moderated the discussion.

In addition, the session, sponsored by Thomson Reuters and organised by AsianInvestor, polls and takes questions from the live audience, providing a unique window into what a global range of market players wants to know about MRF just as the first authorised products are about to launch.