Morgan Stanley nears full ownership of China ventures with stake buys

[HONG KONG] Morgan Stanley is buying stakes put up for sale by its partner in their China securities and mutual funds joint ventures for about US$150 million, according to a statement by the partner, moving towards full ownership of the businesses.

The Wall Street bank joins several other foreign banks who are looking to take full ownership of their Chinese businesses after Beijing scrapped foreign ownership limits in the securities and mutual fund industry on April 1 last year.

Outright ownership could allow foreign banks to expand their operations in the multitrillion-dollar Chinese financial sector, and better integrate them with their global businesses.

Morgan Stanley's partner Shanghai Chinafortune said on Friday it is selling a 39 per cent stake in Morgan Stanley Huaxin Securities, and its entire 36 per cent stake in Morgan Stanley Huaxin Fund Management to the Wall Street bank through the Shanghai United Assets and Equity Exchange.

The deal, which still requires regulatory approval, means Morgan Stanley will own 90 per cent of the securities joint venture - which houses the bank's mainland investment banking and trading businesses - while Chinafortune will maintain a 10 per cent stake.

The Wall Street bank will now own 85 per cent of the funds business.

Goldman Sachs signed a pact in December to buy out its securities joint venture partner, taking it to the forefront of the list of foreign banks who want to own those types of businesses. The deal is still awaiting regulatory signoff.

JPMorgan, which holds 71 per cent of its securities business, and Credit Suisse too have flagged they would like full ownership of their businesses.

REUTERS