Morgan Stanley Gets Nearer to Control of China JVs as Partner Puts Stakes on Sale
Liao Shumin
DATE:  Apr 28 2021
/ SOURCE:  Yicai
Morgan Stanley Gets Nearer to Control of China JVs as Partner Puts Stakes on Sale Morgan Stanley Gets Nearer to Control of China JVs as Partner Puts Stakes on Sale

(Yicai Global) April 28 -- Morgan Stanley has moved another step closer to taking control of its securities and mutual fund joint ventures in China after a partner put key stakes in the two businesses up for sale.

China Fortune Securities’ entire 36 percent of Morgan Stanley Huaxin Fund Management was listed for sale yesterday for at least CNY389 million (USD60 million), according to a notice posted on the website of the Shanghai United Assets and Equity Exchange. It is also offering a 39 percent stake in Morgan Stanley Huaxin Securities for a minimum of CNY570 million.

The buyer cannot be a competitor or an affiliate of a competitor to Morgan Stanley, per the notice. The sale should take place by May 26.

International financial giants, also including Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan, have moved to lift their stakes in Chinese joint ventures since the country eased foreign ownership restrictions last year. 

The parent company of Shenzhen-based China Fortune Securities announced on Feb. 5 that the unit planned to sell holdings in its securities and mutual fund ventures with Morgan Stanley. That opened the way for the New York-based investment bank to take control of the two China JVs.

Morgan Stanley International Holdings now owns 49 percent of Morgan Stanley Huaxin Fund Management, which was the 82nd biggest fund manager among 158 in China as of March 31. It had CNY32.3 billion (USD5 billion) of assets under management, according to East Money Information's financial data platform Choice. Cornerstone Venture Capital owns the rest.

Editor: Emmi Laine, Xiao Yi

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Keywords:   Morgan Stanley Huaxin Fund Management Corporation,China,China Fortune Securities,Mutual Fund,Brokerage,JV,Morgan Stanley Huaxin Securities