About the Mutual Recognition of Funds – MRF
SFC has entered into MRF arrangements with China and overseas financial regulators to enable eligible funds authorised by or registered with financial regulators in those jurisdictions to enjoy a streamlined process for the purpose of authorisation for offering to the public in Hong Kong and vice versa. The MRF is a bilateral regulatory framework which allows mutual funds of two markets to be distributed in each market.
A Memoranda of Understanding or an equivalent document has been signed between Hong Kong and each of the following European countries: Switzerland, France, the UK, Luxembourg and the Netherlands; and the following Asia Pacific countries: China, Australia, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand.
Scope of the Mutual Recognition of Funds – MRF
Each MRF scheme specifies the type of funds that can be passported from one country to another, fund manager’s eligibility, investment restrictions, ongoing disclosure requirements, application process, etc. In general, the funds to be passported to another country (host jurisdiction) must be authorised for retail distribution in the home country (home jurisdiction).
Industry implications of the Mutual Recognition of Funds – MRF
Hong Kong
Through the MRF schemes, fund managers in Hong Kong can gain access to a large pool of international investors. Inversely, investors from the counterparty countries such as France, Switzerland, the UK, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, etc. can increase their exposure to Hong Kong markets benefitting from their expertise as local fund managers in their home jurisdictions. For European asset managers, the MRF complements the UCITs framework.
Securities Services’ view
Fund managers in the MRF-participating countries require expert services in host jurisdictions that may not be familiar to them. They require comprehensive, seamless and trustworthy support for passporting their funds.
The Securities Services business of BNP Paribas can provide services in these MRF covered markets, for example, in Switzerland as a fund representative and local paying agent, as well as a contact point for FINMA and monitor of distributors; in Hong Kong through experienced fiduciary and fund administration services; in France, as the leading bank in Europe with overall capacity to support cross-border distribution services.
Key dates
July 2008 – SFC and Australian Securities & Investments Commission signed a Declaration on Mutual Recognition of Cross-border Offering of Collective Investment Schemes (“Declaration”)
May 2009 – SFC and the Taiwan Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) signed and exchanged a Side Letter to a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding to provide the framework for the mutual recognition by the SFC and FSC of ETFs offered and cross-listed in the other jurisdiction
November 2009 – SFC and Securities Commision of Malaysia signed a Declaration on Mutual Cooperation on Development of Islamic Capital Market and Islamic Collective Investment Schemes
May 2015 – a Memorandum of Regulatory Cooperation signed between Hong Kong and mainland China
December 2016 – SFC and the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Switzerland-Hong Kong Mutual Recognition of Funds and Asset Managers
July 2017 – SFC and the Autorité des Marchés Financiers of France signed a Memorandum of Understanding on France-Hong Kong mutual recognition of funds
October 2018 – SFC and the Financial Conduct Authority of the United Kingdom signed a Memorandum of Understanding concerning Mutual Recognition of Covered Funds and Covered Management Companies and related cooperation
Jan 2019 – SFC and the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier signed a Memorandum of Understanding concerning Mutual Recognition of Covered Funds and Covered Management Companies and related cooperation
May 2019 – SFC and the Autoriteit Financiële Markten (AFM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding concerning Mutual Recognition of Covered Funds and Management Companies and related cooperation
January 2021 – SFC and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand signed a Memorandum of Understanding concerning Mutual Recognition of Covered Funds and Covered Management Companies and related cooperation
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