More Asia-based fund managers, particularly in Hong Kong and China, are eyeing the European market and launching Ucits funds in Europe.
One of them is Hong Kong-based Value Partners, which has a London office.
The firm initially decided to replicate its flagship funds into Ucits format for European distribution. As early as 2012, for example, it registered its Classic Equity Fund, an Asia-Pacific (ex-Japan) equities product, in the UK, according to records from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority.
“The idea was to distribute the funds through the distributors we already had a relationship with and then build that out. But we realised that simply replicating what our Asian investors like and selling that to European investors is too simplistic as a model and that clearly doesn’t work.”
Value Partners then decided to have a presence in Europe and in 2016 established a London office. Ripperda-Cosyn was hired to lead the firm’s foray into the European market. He previously held similar roles. In 2008, he headed Korea-based Mirae Asset Global Investments’ distribution business in Europe and after that joined Australia-based boutique firm Metisq Capital in 2010 in a similar capacity.
Demand for China?
Ripperda-Cosyn believes that there is increasing interest in China and Asia from European investors.
“The realisation has kicked in with the China A-shares inclusion [on global indices] and that China, despite the occasional blip in the market, is an increasingly important part of the global economy and market. Investors, as a result, are increasingly looking at adding exposure.”
The firm is now considering launching a “core-China” equity fund in Europe, which will focus on China A- and H-shares, he said.
Currently, the firm distributes five equity funds and one fixed income fund in Europe. These include two Greater China equity funds, a global emerging market (GEM) equity fund and a GEM bond fund. Both GEM funds were just launched last year in Europe.
Ripperda-Cosyn declined to disclose the amount of assets the firm has sourced from European investors.
Switzerland has been the target market due to the firm’s relationships with Swiss banks. However, funds are in the registration process in several European countries, including the UK, Germany and Luxembourg, he said.
Regulatory challenges
Asia-based managers expanding into Europe should be aware of regulatory challenges.
Europe’s regulators may give Asia-based players a more difficult time than their Western counterparts, according to Ripperda-Cosyn.
“A manager coming from Asia or Latin America will always have to prove a little bit more when it comes to corporate governance and transparency than maybe a manager from Australia or America. In some cases it may not be fair, in some cases it might not be very understandable, but it is a fact in life.
“We just need to be very clear and very transparent and meet all the regulatory expectations that a European investor expects from any Western manager,” he said.
Ripperda-Cosyn believes that being a Hong Kong-listed company (Value Partners is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange) is viewed favourably by regulators, who see an “extra layer of transparency” that unlisted companies do not have. Hong Kong rules and regulations are internationally recognised as “strict and right up there” with US and European standards, he said.
Another challenge is having funds registered in individual European markets. Ripperda-Cosyn said that it is a common mistake to think that a Ucits-compliant fund falls under one regulatory regime.
“Having a Ucits fund does kind of open doors and it is the lowest common denominator in terms of the kind of fund structure that investors are looking for. But if you actually want to distribute actively in any particular country, you will need to register the fund locally for local distribution.”
Fund registration differs across Europe. For example, some countries require asset managers to appoint paying agents and others require certain share classes, such as a clean rebate-free share class. Individual markets also have different standards for tax transparency.
“Unfortunately, the European market is a very fragmented and diversified market, and unlike the US for instance, it is not that clear-cut from a regulatory perspective.
“This is why it helps to have a local presence. It is very difficult to run something like that and have proper insight when you’re doing it from Hong Kong or Singapore.”
Brand unknown
Asset managers coming from a different region will always face challenges with brand recognition, especially in Europe.
“To come in as a new name, however interesting the history of the firm might be, is very difficult because Europe has a super competitive environment.”
Ripperda-Cosyn believes that having strong relationships with global banks is key when entering the European market. “That clearly gave us a head-start compared to many of our competitors.”
In addition, European investors will always prefer a well-known brand name, which are usually global giants. However, he believes there is a growing demand in Europe for specialist or niche Asia managers such as Value Partners.
The firm has ambitions beyond Europe and is in the process of setting up a US office. “It has not yet happened, but it is happening soon,” he said, without elaborating.
The Value Partners Classic fund versus its sector and the MSCI AC Emerging Markets (ex-Japan) Index
Note: The fund does not have a benchmark index and the index in the graph is for reference only
Source: FE Analytics
For more insight on asset and wealth management in Asia, please click on www.fundselectorasia.com
