Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors (QFII) Brochure. Special Edition



Similar documents
King & Wood Mallesons /

News Flash. China Tax and Business Advisory

TAXATION AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE

How the Foreign Financial Institutions Play a Role in China s Insurance QDII Business

TAXATION AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Temporary Measures on Overseas Use of Foreign Exchange Insurance Funds 保 险 外 汇 资 金 境 外 运 用 管 理 暂 行 办 法

THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. IF IN DOUBT, PLEASE SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE.

Tax Analysis. China relaxes foreign exchange procedures on outbound payments. for trade in services. PRC Tax. Tax Issue P184/ July 2013

Bosera ETFs. Bosera FTSE China A50 Index ETF

Recent asset management regulatory changes in China

News Flash. China Tax and Business Advisory

SSE Newsletter. October Vol. 29. Highlights:

From a Custodian's Perspective - The Broad Brushstrokes of the QFII program

1. Changes in PRC withholding income tax provisioning policy in relation to CSI RMB Income Fund and CSI RMB Short Maturity Bond Fund

IIT and Social Insurance for Foreigners Employed in China.

Will the Chinese market welcome foreign investors? Reasons for the Focus on Future Reforms

Tax Analysis. Proposal to Extend Hong Kong s Offshore Fund Exemption to Private Equity: A Step in the Right Direction.

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited Dealing frequency: Daily on each business day *

CHAPTER 16 INVESTMENT ENTITIES

Structure Products Asia 2006

China Tax Newsletter. January 2014

The China Stock Exchange IPO Overview 1

QUICK GUIDE TO ISAs 2014/2015

The Scottish Investment Trust PLC

Recognition of Funds (MRF) A new era for asset management in China and Hong Kong

The Bermuda Stock Exchange

CHINA RAILWAY GROUP LIMITED (A joint stock limited company incorporated in the People s Republic of China with limited liability) (Stock Code: 390)

Starting a Business in Israel

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN

Pilot Free Trade Zone Shanghai

CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS

Treasury Bonds directly makes the Sub-Fund riskier than traditional exchange traded funds investing in A-Shares or in markets other than the PRC.

Chapter 7 GENERAL ACCOUNTANTS REPORTS AND PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION. When required

DISCLOSEABLE TRANSACTION. in relation to the acquisition of the entire issued share capital and shareholders loans of HPL-Hines Development Pte Ltd

Section N: Cambridge University Endowment Fund: Reports and financial statements to 30 June Cambridge University Endowment Fund

(Incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability) (Stock Code: 1060)

POTENTIAL CONTINUING CONNECTED TRANSACTION - INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

Schroder International Opportunities Portfolio - Schroder Asian Income (the Fund )

HFT (HK) CHINA INVESTMENT SERIES II HFT (HK) CHINA HIGH YIELD BOND FUND (the Sub-Fund )

The Bank of Nova Scotia Shareholder Dividend and Share Purchase Plan

KAZAKHSTAN LAW ON JOINT STOCK COMPANIES

Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund

LAUNCH TECH COMPANY LIMITED* (a joint stock limited company incorporated in the People s Republic of China with limited liability) (Stock code: 2488)

CHICAGO STOCK EXCHANGE, INC. MARKET REGULATION DEPARTMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR

SECTION ONE PURPOSE, SCOPE, LEGAL BASIS AND DEFINITIONS

Income tax for individuals is computed on a monthly basis by applying the above progressive tax rates to employment income.

Russia Regulation. 2.1 Type of funds. Joint stock investment funds. Mutual funds

Launch of Mutual Recognition of Funds Between Mainland China and Hong Kong

Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect to Boost Reciprocal Investment in RMB Securities

The FTSE China Onshore Bond Index Series

China Universal Asset Management (Hong Kong) Company Limited 匯 添 富 資 產 管 理 ( 香 港 ) 有 限 公 司

MIN XIN HOLDINGS LIMITED 閩 信 集 團 有 限 公 司 (Incorporated in Hong Kong with limited liability) (Stock Code: 222)

泛 亞 國 際 聯 合 會 計 師 事 務 所 PAN ASIA INTERNATIONAL & CO., CPAs

CYPRUS TAX CONSIDERATIONS

LEGG MASON GLOBAL FUNDS PLC Riverside Two Sir John Rogerson s Quay, Grand Canal Dock, Dublin 2, Ireland

Cayman Islands Companies: The Asia Connection

HKMA Seminar Tax Evasion in Hong Kong. 30 October 2013

Form II-OC&F Version

Invesco Funds Series 1-5 Consolidated Prospectus

Overview of China s Aircraft Leasing Industry Promoting industry development

Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect

Corporate Establishment, Tax, Accounting & Payroll Throughout Asia

RMB counter HKD counter. 100 Units- RMB counter 100 Units HKD counter 3.10% MSCI China A Index. Renminbi (RMB) 31 December

Buyers Guide to RMB Bonds. Main author: Bryan Collins

APPENDIX FOR SECURITIES TRADING VIA SHANGHAI-HONG KONG STOCK CONNECT (NORTHBOUND TRADING)

CONNECTED AND MAJOR TRANSACTION IN RELATION TO AIRCRAFT FINANCE LEASE

Series of Shares B, B-6, E, F, F-6, O B, E, F, O O A, B

CGWM Total Return Bond Fund

Global Stock Options. COLOMBIA Brigard & Urrutia Abogados

Shareholder Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan

Important notice of trading via Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect

Securities Services Charges (Applicable to Personal Customers)

i-account General fees (A) Deposit services Monthly service fee 1, 2 (based on the Average Daily Relationship Balance 3 in the preceding month) Waived

THIRD QUARTERLY RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT (For the nine months ended 30 September 2015)

RMB Internationalization and RMB Offshore Markets Development

db x-trackers S&P 500 UCITS ETF (DR) Supplement to the Prospectus

GR VIETNAM HOLDINGS LIMITED * (Incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability) (Stock Code: 139)

Mizuho China Business Express

HUME EUROPEAN OPPORTUNITIES FUND. SUPPLEMENT TO THE PROSPECTUS FOR EUROPEAN WEALTH INVESTMENT FUND plc

Schroder International Selection Fund Emerging Markets Debt Absolute Return (the Fund )

Cayman Islands Investment Funds

(Informal Translation) Chapter One. General Provisions. 1- The deposit of securities with the Company or with any licensed entity;

DCI Investment Trust. Da Cheng China RMB Fixed Income Fund. Addendum to the Explanatory Memorandum dated January 2012 ( Explanatory Memorandum )

Transcription:

Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors (QFII) Brochure Special Edition

Preface QFII stands for Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors. The QFII Program is the certification system which allows licensed professional foreign investors to trade Ren Min Bi (RMB) denominated securities in China's mainland stock exchanges by converting foreign currency to RMB within the quota obtained from relevant authorities. By 2001, the Chinese securities market had already developed into one of the largest and the most vibrant securities markets in the Asia-Pacific. However, because the proportion of institutional investors in the Chinese securities market was far behind that of the level of developed markets at that time, which seriously restricted the development of the capital market in China, the QFII Program was introduced. On 5th November 2002, the Provision on Foreign Exchange Administration of Domestic Securities Investment by Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors was introduced. The total investment quota available for the QFII Program was USD 10 billion in total initially, and was increased to USD 30 billion in 2007. In recent years, foreign institutional investors have increased their demands in investing in China s capital market due to the continuous growth of China s economy and capital market. Since the implementation of the QFII Program, it has been operating smoothly. Due to the long-term investment strategy of those institutional investors in QFII accounts, the Program has been enriching the investment structure of the domestic capital market, promoting the quality of listed companies, enhancing the internationalization of the domestic capital market, and raising general awareness of the economic and social development in China around the globe. On 3rd April 2012, with the approval of the State Council, the China Securities Regulatory Commission ( CSRC ), the People s Bank of China, and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange ( SAFE ) increased QFII s total available investment quota by USD 50 billion with the cumulative available quota amounting to USD 80 billion in total. In addition, SAFE s QFII quota approval process has recently sped up. By June 2012, 172 foreign institutions had been granted QFII licenses, 37 of which were approved this year, meaning the total number of granted foreign institutions in the first half of 2012 was close to the sum of total in 2010 and 2011 together. Moreover, the number of foreign institutions interested in applying for QFII licenses is growing with a geometrical base. As the leading service provider of QFII audit and tax services in China (please refer to Appendix 2 for details), we have received lots of enquiries about QFII s set-up, operation and other relevant issues. Therefore, we would like to use this platform to share with you the development of QFII regulations, QFII s setup and operation processes, as well as other QFII related hot topics including accounting, auditing and taxation. We hope to provide valuable reference to those foreign institutions who are interested in the QFII Program. Should you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to providing a reliable and professional service to you in the future. Yours faithfully August 2012

Contact Assurance Service Team Alex Wong Partner +86 (21) 2323 3171 alex.wong@cn.pwc.com Jane Xue Partner +86 (21) 2323 3277 jane.xue@cn.pwc.com Kevin Xu Partner +86 (21) 2323 7615 kevin.xu@cn.pwc.com Frank Shan Partner +86 (21) 2323 3487 frank.shan@cn.pwc.com Li Liu Senior Manager +86 (21) 2323 8023 li.l.liu@cn.pwc.com Alex Jin Senior Manager +86 (21) 2323 2904 alex.jin@cn.pwc.com Tax Service Team Matthew Wong Partner +86 (21) 2323 3052 matthew.mf.wong@cn.pwc.com Kenny Lam Partner +86 (21) 2323 2595 kenny.lam@cn.pwc.com Hardy Chan Senior Manager +86 (21) 2323 2752 hardy.li.chan@cn.pwc.com

Index Overview of China s QFII Market 6 Overview of QFII s Regulatory Development 8 Set-up and Operation Process of QFII and Relevant Market Intermediaries 9 FAQ about QFII Accounting and Auditing 11 Hot Topics on QFII s Taxation 13 Appendix 1: Major QFII s regulations in effect 16 Appendix 2: the leading accounting firm in the asset management industry 17 Appendix 3: Illustrative financial statements of domestic securities investments of QFII 18 5

Overview of China s QFII Market By June 2012, 172 foreign institutions were granted QFII licenses, which include 23 commercial banks, 13 securities companies, 96 asset management companies, 11 insurance companies, and 29 other institutions (endowment funds and sovereign funds). From a geographical point of view, those foreign institutional investors come from 24 countries and areas, among which, 83 in East Asia, 52 in Europe, 34 in North America, 2 in Australia and 1 in Africa. SAFE had approved 147 QFIIs by 15th June 2012 with a total investment quota of USD 27.363 billion. The total assets of QFII accounts has reached RMB 265.6 billion, of which 74.5% is stocks, 13.7% is bonds, and 9.6% is bank deposits. 11 commercial banks, including seven domestic banks, have RMB 105.2 billion assets under custody for the QFIIs. And 22 domestic securities companies act as the securities brokers for the QFIIs. The chart below illustrates accumulative approved investment quota by country: (unit: USD 100 million) Accumulative Approved Quota UK 英 国, 47.2, 17% 4% 14% 17% USA 美 国, 38, 14% Japan, 日 本 34.4, 13% 5% 5% 14% Hong 香 港 Kong, Singapore, 新 加 坡 Taiwan, 台 湾 Korea, 韩 国 29.25, 16.25, 15.7, 13.98, 11% 6% 6% 5% 5% 6% 6% 11% 13% Norway, 挪 威 France 法 国, 13.5, 13.25, 5% 5% Netherlands, 荷 兰 12.35, 4% Others, 其 他 39.75, 14% 6

Overview of China s QFII Market (cont d) In recent years, with the continuous expansion of China s economy and ongoing development of its capital market, foreign institutional investors have increased their demands on the capital market in China. Based on the government s open-door policy on financial expansion, we anticipate that more and more qualified investors will enter the Chinese capital market and QFII will become important investors in A Share Market. On 3rd April 2012, with the approval of State Council, CSRC, the People s Bank of China and SAFE decided to increase USD 50 billion of QFII s investment quota to USD 80 billion as a total. The chart below illustrates total available quota of QFII: (unit: USD 100 million) Total Available Quota of QFII 1000 800 800 600 400 300 200 0 100 2002 年 2007 年 2012 年 7

Overview of QFII s Regulatory Development In the QFII Program, qualified foreign institutional investors (hereinafter referred to as QFIIs) refer to asset management companies, insurance companies, securities companies and foreign institutions that comply with relevant regulations, and have been approved to invest in China's securities market. Investment quotas are granted to QFIIs by SAFE. The QFII Program is a securities investment mechanism that is implemented prior to the complete opening-up of the Chinese capital market to foreign investments. In this program, foreign investors may remit a certain amount of foreign currency and convert it into local currency with the approval of relevant authorities. Foreign investors can hence make investments in the local securities market through special purpose accounts. Their investments are under strict review. The capital gains and dividends received can be converted back into foreign currency for repatriation upon approvals. The key parts of the program include: qualifications, approval and registration, investment proportion, quota limitation, investment operations, transaction framework, control on inbound and outbound remittance of funds, etc. On 5th November 2002, CSRC and People s Bank of China jointly promulgated Temporary Regulation on Domestic Securities Investment by Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor" (QFII Temporary Regulation), which forms the regulatory foundation for the QFII operation. On 24th August 2006, CSRC, the People s Bank of China and SAFE jointly issued Measures on Administration of Domestic Securities Investment of Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors (QFII Measures on Administration), which replaced the QFII Temporary Regulation. The QFII Measures on Administration regulates the operation of QFIIs in various aspects regarding qualification, approval procedure, custody, registration and accounting, investment, capital management and supervision etc. On the same day, the CSRC issued the Notice on the Implementation of Measures on Administration of Domestic Securities Investment of Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors, which further clarified detailed provisions on the QFII Program. On 24th May 2011, the CSRC issued Trading Guidelines on Stock-Index Futures Investment of Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors, which authorized QFII s participation in stock-index futures trading. On 27th July 2012, CSRC issued Provisions Concerning Issues Related to the Implementation of the Administrative Measures for Securities Investments in China by Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors, in which the major amendments include: 1. mark down minimum AUM requirements for asset managers and institutional investors to qualify as QFII; 2. enhance operational efficiency; 3. expand QFII investment range; 4. relax investment restriction ratios. The threshold of applying for a QFII license was lowered with the restrictions upon investment untied. As for foreign exchange administration, SAFE issued Temporary Regulations on Foreign Exchange Administration of Domestic Securities Investment by Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors (Circular [2002] No.2) and Notice on QFII s Foreign Exchange Management of SAFE s Comprehensive Office (Huizongfa [2003] No.124), which was replaced subsequently by the Provisions on Foreign Exchange Administration of Domestic Securities Investment by Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors issued by SAFE in 2009, which set forth provisions on the management of investment quota, capital account, foreign exchange, statistics and supervision regarding operation of QFII. Please refer to the appendix 1 for major QFII s regulations in effect for further details. 8

Set-up and Operation Process of QFII and Relevant Market Intermediaries Set-up and Operation Process of QFII Non-Open-ended China Fund Account Application & Set-up Appoint local custodian bank to submit the application; Apply to the CSRC for qualification; Apply to the SAFE for investment quota and openning of foreign currency account and RMB account Individual application no less than the equivalent of USD 50 Million and accumulated application no more than USD 1 billion Principal Remittance & Investment Operation remit in the principal within 6 months upon the investment quota approval Principal less than the equivalent of USD 20 million, no settlement should be made; The lock-up period is 3 months for pension funds and insurance funds, while for other types is 1 year Open up a broker account for investment operations Within 10 working days prior to actual investment, notify custodian banks to make foreign exchange settlements Principal and Profit Repatriation Apply to the SAFE for principal repatriation For profit repatriation, present audit report issued by a CPA firm in the PRC, tax clearance certificate *on profits and other documents as required by the SAFE * As stipulated by SAFE, QFIIs applying repatriation for accumulated realized profits shall submit certificates of tax payment, tax reduction or tax exemption issued by relevant tax authorities. As for tax issues pending further resolution, a commitment letter should be presented to consent the QFII s duty of tax payment in arrears when tax issues are clarified in the future. 9

Set-up and Operation Process of QFII and Relevant Market Intermediaries (cont d) Set-up and Operation Process of QFII ( cont d) Open-Ended China Fund Account Open-Ended China Fund refers to the open-ended securities investment funds launched overseas with more than 70% of its fund asset invested within China. Application & Set-up Submit the original copy of fund prospectus and Chinese translation to SAFE for filing within 20 working days after establishment of the Open- Ended China Fund. Other requirements are the same with Non Open-Ended China Funds. Principal Remittance & Investment Operation Remit in the principal within 6 months upon the investment quota approval Lock-up period is 3 months Open up a broker account for investment operations Within 10 working days prior to actual investment, notify custodian banks to make foreign exchange settlements Monthly Capital Remittance and Repatriation Net subscription is remitted-in as principal For net redemption, calculate the principal and profit ratio in accordance with the formula* If net subscription or redemption amount is less than the equivalent of USD 50 million (inclusive), only filing to SAFE is required; If the amount exceeds the equivalent of USD50 million, application need to be submitted to SAFE within 10 working days prior to repatriation * For net redemption of Open-Ended China Funds, the distinction between principal and profit is based on the Custodian bank s calculated principal and profit ratio as of the last day of trading the previous month. Principal ratio=remitted-in principal/total market asset value 100%, profit ratio=(1-principal ratio) 100%. If the total market asset value is less than the investment principal, which indicates a loss, the repatriated amount should be regarded as principal and will be allowed to be remitted-in in the future. Involved Market Intermediaries Intermediaries Applicable Stage Service Content Custodian Bank Investment Advisor Securities Company Public Accounting Firm Set-up stage, operation stage, exit stage Operation stage Operation stage Operation stage, exit stage Asset custody, transaction execution, account services Recommendation on asset allocation and individual investments Investment transactions Annual audit, profit repatriation audit, tax consulting service Law Firm(optional) Set-up stage, operation stage, exit stage Legal consulting service 10

FAQ about QFII accounting and auditing 1. Why are QFIIs subject to annual audit? As stated in article No.22 of Decree [2009] No.1 Provisions on Foreign Exchange Administration and the Measures on Administration of Domestic Securities Investment of Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors (the Regulations on Foreign Exchange), Report previous financial year s QFII Domestic Securities Investment Annual Financial Report and it should be audited by a certified public accountant in the PRC within the first three months of the following year. 2. Other than annual audit, under which circumstances shall QFII financial statements be audited? Other than the above-mentioned annual audit, relevant audit reports should also be presented when QFIIs (non-china open-ended fund account) conduct profit repatriation. As stipulated by article No.18 of Regulations on Foreign Exchange, Except for Open-Ended China Fund, other QFIIs which are to conduct repatriation for accumulated realized profits shall, after obtaining an audit report issued by certified public accountants in the PRC, apply to the local SAFE bureau where the custodian is domiciled for repatriation through the custodian with the following documents: 1. Application Letter and relevant supporting documents on profit repatriation decision; 2. SAFE Certificate; 3. The audit report on investment profits issued by certified public accountants in the PRC; 4. Tax clearance certificate on profits; 5. Other documents as required by SAFE. After reviewing, the local SAFE bureau will issue an approval document if it is approved. The custodian bank shall, based on the approval document, proceed with the foreign exchange and repatriation procedure for the QFIIs. 3. What are the applicable accounting standards for QFII in China? The Ministry of Finance (Governing body responsible for accounting standards in China) has not clarified which accounting standards are applicable for QFIIs. What is available now, from a regulatory aspect, is that the format of QFIIs financial statements (please refer to the appendix 3 for details) is outlined in one of SAFE s regulations. QFII s major accounting policies are primarily drafted by custodian banks and sent to the QFII license holder for final confirmation. Special basis of preparation and significant accounting policies are fully disclosed in QFII s annual financial statements. The QFII license holder and custodian banks jointly assume the accounting responsibilities. The comparison of two major accounting policies adopted by the majority of QFII custodian banks within the industry is summarized as follows: Trading expenses in The initial recognition Accrual of bond interest Bond valuation at period-end Accounting estimation upon accrual of capital gains income tax Method A Into Costs Yes Gross price Depends on QFII s requirement Method B Into P&L No Net price Depends on custodian bank s requirement 11

FAQ about QFII accounting and auditing (cont d) 4. What is the QFII s accounting year? QFIIs accounting year is a full calendar year, i.e. starts on 1st January (or the date of commencement) and ends on 31st December. 5. What types of tax are applicable for QFIIs? Major taxation types which apply to QFIIs include China business tax and corporate income tax. The effective QFII tax regulations and tax issues pending for resolution are as follows: China Business Tax: According to Cai Shui [2005] No. 155 issued jointly by the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation PRC, QFIIs are currently exempt from business tax on realized capital gains. Corporate Income Tax: According to Guoshuihan [2009] No. 47 <Circular on withholding tax ( WHT ) on dividends and interest derived by QFIIs from PRC tax resident enterprises> issued by the State Administration of Taxation, Pursuant to the new China Income Tax Law, QFIIs are subject to WHT at 10% of PRC sourced dividends and interest. For WHT on dividends, the PRC enterprises making the distribution should be the withholding agents. For WHT on interest, PRC enterprises making the payment should withhold the tax upon payment or when the payment is due. For QFIIs which are entitled to preferential tax treaty benefits for WHT of dividend and interest, QFIIs are required to submit application to the in-charge tax bureaus and can enjoy the relevant treaty benefits after obtaining approvals from the in-charge tax bureaus. Presently the Chinese tax authorities had not provided clarification or specific guidelines on whether the QFII portfolios are subject to income tax on capital gains from securities investments. According to the Explanation Regarding the Provision on Foreign Exchange Administration of Domestic Securities Investment by Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors and Answers to Technical Problems Regarding Notice on Foreign Exchange Administration of Domestic Securities Investment by Fund Management Companies and Securities Companies posted on SAFE s website, QFIIs profit repatriation should be supported with certificates of tax payment, tax reduction or tax exemption provided by tax authorities. As for tax issues pending further resolution, a commitment letter should be presented to consent the QFII s duty of tax payment in arrears when tax issues are clarified in the future. For other hot topics on QFII s taxation, please refer to the next chapter for further details. 12

Hot Topics on QFII s Taxation The China tax position of QFIIs is always said to be a contentious issue i.e. whether QFIIs are liable to China taxes on its income (including but not limited to dividends, interests, and trading gains) earned in China. This is because the current corporate income tax laws and regulations, and the business tax laws and regulations have not specifically stated that QFIIs are subject to taxes in China nor if they are totally exempted from taxes in China. Without any specific laws, regulations and circulars stipulating that QFIIs are exempted from China taxes, the better view, or a more prudent view, should be that the income earned by QFIIs should be subject to taxes in China. Potential corporate income tax exposures: Even if QFIIs agreed that they should be liable to China tax on income earned in China, there are still many other questions and issues which need to be considered and resolved, in particular: 1. Under what circumstances should the QFII be regarded as having a permanent establishment in China? Would the appointment of a custodian bank, a fund administrator, or an investment advisor/sub-advisor in China render the QFII having a permanent establishment in China? What are the do s and don ts, if any, that the QFIIs should follow to mitigate the permanent establishment risk? 2. What should be the tax basis in calculating the tax payable on the gains arising from the buying and selling of investments i.e. transaction-by-transaction basis versus portfolio-by-portfolio basis? Could the trading losses sustained by the QFII be carried backward or carried forward to set off its taxable income? 3. Could the QFII be eligible for double tax treaty protection on its trading gains? What are the application procedures for double tax treaty protection, if feasible, by the QFII? 4. When should the QFII file and settle its taxes? To whom should the QFII file and settle taxes with and how? Should the custodian bank be liable to file the tax returns and settle the tax liabilities on behalf of the QFII? 5. How could the QFII repatriate the capital and profits out of China? How could the QFII obtain the tax payment certificates from the competent authorities? How could the QFII produce evidence to the bank proving that withholding taxes had been paid on the dividends and interests received from the issuers and the debtors? Potential business tax exposures: Besides corporate income tax issues, QFIIs should also be mindful of the business tax exposure on income earned (with some exceptions). 13

Our services Tax costs have a direct implication on the rate of return to the investors as well as the performance fee received by the investment manager. It is imperative for the QFIIs to have a thorough understanding on the potential tax exposures in China and to formulate a strategy to deal with any unforeseen issues. can provide assistance to you on the following areas: 1. Provide consulting services to the QFII on the current China tax environment, the QFII holding and business structure, housekeeping rules & regulations etc with a view to minimizing potential China tax liabilities 2. Provide the following compliance service: a. Ascertain the in-charge tax bureau of the QFII b. Agree with the in-charge tax bureau on the tax basis c. Calculate the taxable income of the QFII d. Prepare and submit the tax returns on behalf of the QFII e. Apply for double tax treaty protection, if eligible f. Obtain tax payment certificates from the various tax bureau 14

Appendix 15

Appendix 1 Major QFII s regulations in effect Measures on Administration of Domestic Securities Investment of Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (24th August 2006, decree No.36 of the Securities Regulatory Commission, the People s Bank of China, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange) Notice on the Implementation of Measures on Administration of Domestic Securities Investment of Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (24th August 2006, Zhengjian Jijin Zi (2006) No.176) Provisions on Foreign Exchange Administration of Domestic Securities Investment by Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors (29th September 2009, Decree (2009) No.1 of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange) Provisions Concerning Issues Related to the Implementation of the Administrative Measures for Securities Investments in China by Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (27th July 2012, Notice (2012) No.17 of the Securities Regulatory Commission) Trading Guidelines on Stock-Index Futures Investment of Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (4th May 2011, Notice (2011) No.12 of the Securities Regulatory Commission) 16

Appendix 2 the leading services provider in the asset management industry A global firm with a strong reputation was originally set up in London in 1849, and after more than one hundred years of development, has now become a global professional services firm. We now have operations in 158 countries across 6 continents and approximately 169,000 professional employees. As the world's largest professional financial advisory organization, had total revenues of $29.2 billion in fiscal year 2011 ending 30 June, 2011. Using our global services network, we are well positioned to help our clients whenever and wherever they are based. is a consistent leader in all major global industries, offering highquality services, abundant network resources and shared practical experience. The Number One accounting firm in China, which is the largest accounting firm in China, has continuously ranked in first place for nine years in a row, first in the list in the Top 100 Annual Accounting Firms comprehensive assessment report, which is published by the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants. We have over 14,000 professionals, of which 620 are partners of the firm. China is well established in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, Chongqing, Chungli, Dalian, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Hsinchu, Kaohsiung, Macao, Nanjing, Ningbo, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Taichung, Tai-nan, Tianjin, Amoy and Xi an. Apart from our local professional staff, we also have many experienced expatriate managers and partners from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Malaysia etc. A dedicated and specialised global financial services team We have many dedicated teams which can provide a range of specialised services around the globe. Our global financial services team is composed of 34,000 professionals, including more than 1,900 partners. The professional services we provide are related to, but not limited to the financial services sector including banking, asset management, insurance and securities. allocates industry specialised engagement teams to each of our clients to make sure they receive an industry specific and in-depth service. Around 30% of s global revenue come from financial services industries and we are the leader in each and every major sector of financial services industries globally. We are recognised in China and globally as a reliable and high quality asset management services provider has successfully built a high quality service provider reputation in the asset management industry in China and on a global scale. We provide services to 71 out of the 100 largest asset managers in the world. In China, has been a leader in this emerging market since 1998 by retaining the number one market share position. We provide statutory audit and capital verification services to 480 out of the 889 open-ended funds which were launched prior to 31st December 2011; statutory audit services to 18 out of the 29 close-ended funds; statutory audit services for corporate and/or funds to 28 out of the 39 Sino-foreign Joint Venture fund management companies and 10 out of the 30 domestic fund management companies. We have maintained a dominant position in the provision of professional services to leading fund managers with a comprehensive product range. As of 31st December 2011, we provide services to all the top five fund management companies in China, as well as eight out of the top ten fund management companies measured by asset under management ( AUM ). As for the China QFII audit service market, according to the QFII investment quota approval list published by State Administration of Foreign Exchange up to 31st December 2011, provide annual audit services to 43 out of 111 QFIIs in mainland China, with an accumulative approved investment quota of 22.233 billion dollars in total. We have an excellent business relationship with all the major QFII custodian banks in China including Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), Standard & Chartered Bank Corporation Ltd, Citi Bank Corporation Ltd, Bank of China Corporation Ltd, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Corporation Ltd, China Construction Bank Corporation Ltd, Bank of Communications Corporation Ltd, Agricultural Bank of China Corporation Ltd and more. Comprehensive services with high quality constantly meets the needs of our clients and wins public trust through the provision of high quality professional services. We enhance value for our clients and shareholders by leveraging our global network; we offer a variety of professional services for a range of different clients, including auditing, consulting and tax services. The core business consists of financial statements auditing and compliance reporting services, internal audit, Sarbanes - Oxley compliance audit, consultation of transactions in the capital market; international tax, M&A transfer pricing and tax management; M&A corporate restructuring, risk management, human resources management, enhancing value of financial function valuation, IT consulting services and more. In order to provide high quality and dedicated expert staff to our clients, we make sure to support them through risk management advice, accounting advice, audit technical support, IT support and various training programs. This gives us a solid foundation to ensure best quality services for you, our client. 17

Appendix 3 Illustrative financial statements of domestic securities investment of QFII Balance Sheet QFII Name: Custodian: Unit: Yuan(RMB) Assets In which: Cash in bank Investment in stocks Investment in government bonds Investment in other bonds Other investments Prepayment for purchase of securities Receivable for sale of securities Dividend receivable Interest receivable Other receivables Liabilities In which: Management fee payable Custodian fee payable Taxes payable Payable for purchase of securities Other payables Net Assets In which: Injected funds Net gains/losses of current year Accumulated gains Person preparing the financial statements: Contact phone number: Person in-charge: Date: Notes: The price of stocks, government bonds, other bonds and other investments are valued using the closing price of the last trading day of the year. 18

Appendix 3 Illustrative financial statements of domestic securities investment of QFII (cont d) Income Statement QFII Name: Custodian: Unit: Yuan(RMB) Income In which: Dividend income Interest income Other income Expense In which: Custodian fee Management fee Tax expenses Other expenses(taxes) Realized capital gains (losses) Unrealized capital gains (losses) Net gains/losses for the year Accumulated gains at the beginning of the year Accumulated gains at end of the year Person preparing the financial statements: Contact phone number: Person in-charge: Date: Source: Provisions on Foreign Exchange Administration of Domestic Securities Investment by Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors (Decree (2009) No.1 of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange) 19

2012 PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian CPAs Limited Company. All rights reserved. refers to the China member firm, and may sometimes refer to the network. Each member firm is a separate legal entity. Please see www.pwc.com/structure for further details.