Bank of China to Invest 10B Yuan in Launch of Wealth Management Subsidiary

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One of China’s big four state-owned banks has unveiled plans to launch a new wealth management subsidiary.

Bank of China (BOC)  plans to invest no more than 10 billion yuan in the establishment of a wealth management subsidiary according to an announcement made on the Shanghai Stock Exchange on 15 November.

The subsidiary will go by the name of the “Bank of China Wealth Management Co., Ltd.” (中国银行理财有限责任公司), and be a fully invested subsidiary of BOC, marking the first launch of a wealth management subsidiary by one of China’s big four state-owned lenders.

In addition to BOC other Chinese banks that have unveiled plans for wealth management subsidiaries include China Merchants Bank, Huaxia Bank, Bank of Ningbo, Bank of Communications, China Everbright Bank, Ping An Bank, Bank of Nanjing, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, Industrial Bank Co., and Bank of Hangzhou.

BOC Wealth Management will be headquartered in Beijing, and its business scope will include the sale of wealth  management products to the public, the investment and management of entrusted assets, the private issuance of wealth management products to qualified investors and wealth management advisory and consultation services.

The move arrives just after Guo Shuqing (郭树清), head of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC), announced at a private enterprise forum that the “Commercial Bank Wealth Management Subsidiary Administrative Measures” (商业银行理财子公司管理办法) would be officially launched towards the end of the month.

Analysts expect the amended Measures following public feedback to push for wealth management funds to be directed more towards the support of Chinese private enterprise.