The last couple of months have seen two global institutions step up their game in the prime brokerage arena – namely HSBC and JP Morgan. The former launched in Europe at the end of last year, and this June decided to roll out its prime services unit in Hong Kong, in doing so making a raft of new hires across trading, sales and client relations. Laurence Denvir heads up client service and integration. Also in June, US behemoth JP Morgan launched its European prime brokerage business, having actually had prime brokerage capabilities since ’08 when it acquired Bear Stearns. Traditional

China’s economic rebalancing will stimulate higher-quality growth while creating new investment opportunities in consumption- and infrastructure-related areas, according to Mike Shiao (pictured), investment director at Invesco Hong Kong… Demographic developments in the China are adding impetus to the government’s efforts to reduce the country’s dependence on external demand by shifting the growth composition towards domestic activities. China’s rapid urbanisation and increasing numbers of university graduates entering the workforce have supported the government’s policies to transition to a more domestic-driven economy, with services taking a more prominent role as manufacturing activities fade. China’s rapid urbanisation has seen about 21 million people

As South Africa’s leading alternative fund administrator, it was logical for the IDS Group to look to extend its services to Europe. The firm was examining the traditional options of Luxembourg and Dublin – when a meeting with Prof. Joe Bannister, head of the Malta Financial Services Authority, started the process that resulted in IDS setting up an office in Malta in the spring of 2010. It’s not surprising that so many fund managers, promoters and service providers cite the welcoming and accommodating attitude of the MFSA as an important factor in the decision to establish funds in Malta. IDS

By Laragh Cassar – Malta’s rules on the redomiciliation of investment funds have contributed to its success story as an alternative fund domicile in the European Union. Coupled with a robust yet flexible regulatory framework and a highly skilled workforce, Malta can offer fund managers added value and synergies through increased efficiencies and returns. Merit is also due to the Malta Financial Services Authority as it has lived up to its philosophy of offering a level of flexibility within firm regulatory principles, earning itself the title of a reputable authority while being sensitive to the particular requirements of applicants. During

Malta’s success in attracting international fund business is mostly down to the Professional Investor Fund regime, introduced in 2000 when the Malta Financial Services Authority issued the Guide to the Establishment of Professional Investor Funds. Previously funds established in Malta had been largely aimed at the domestic retail market, but the launch of PIFs started to draw attention from international fund promoters and managers targeting sophisticated investors. There are three categories of PIF with differing minimum investment levels and other rules, reflecting the type of investors at which they are aimed. Experienced Investor PIFs are designed for more affluent and

By Katya Tua – Although Malta has seen its profile grow among the global financial services community particularly over the past two or three years, its fund industry has been developing for more than a decade. Even at the outset, the island’s potential as a jurisdiction offering appropriate and flexible fund regulation was evident, and the regulations allowing companies to be redomiciled have existed since 2002. Redomiciliation is available for any corporate structure, regardless of whether it is licensed or not in the original jurisdiction, enabling other types of corporate entity to be redomiciled to Malta. For a licensed entity

By Simon Gray – For most of the past two decades, there have been only two significant international fund domiciles and servicing centres in Europe, Luxembourg and Dublin. But just as new rules governing both traditional and alternative investments draw promoters’ and managers’ attention to the advantages of establishing fund vehicles within the European Union, the Mediterranean island of Malta is staking a serious claim to a share of this burgeoning market. The inhabitants of the Maltese archipelago, which also comprises the sister islands of Gozo and Comino, have long wrestled with the conundrum of achieving economic development in a