logo
Hong Kong Trust Industry Well Positioned for Growth as Regulations Boost Credibility and Investor Confidence, KPMG and HKTA Report Shows

Hong Kong Trust Industry Well Positioned for Growth as Regulations Boost Credibility and Investor Confidence, KPMG and HKTA Report Shows

Recent regulatory changes enhance credibility for corporate trustees but add to complexity and costs
New eMPF Platform to reshape Hong Kong's pension system and bring wave of change for pension trustees
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 18 March 2025 - Access to Chinese Mainland clients, Asia's growing private wealth sector and improving industry credibility are underpinning a positive outlook for Hong Kong's trust industry, provided practitioners can overcome the headwinds of increasing compliance costs and access to talent, according to a survey from the Hong Kong Trustees' Association (HKTA) and KPMG.
The HKTA and KPMG conducted interviews with government officials and regulators, and almost 30 trust industry executives, alongside a digital survey of HKTA member institutions, in order to gauge the health of the sector, which performs a vital role in safeguarding assets held in pension schemes, as well as in corporate, charitable, private and public trusts.
Hong Kong's trust market grew by 10% from 2021 to 2023, with HK$5,188 billion (US$667 billion)[1] of assets held under trusts at the end of 2023, compared with HK$4,719 billion (US$606 billion) when the previous HKTA-KPMG report was issued in 2021.
When considering the most significant growth engines over the next few years, 24% of respondents identified Chinese Mainland and Greater Bay Area (GBA) connectivity initiatives, such as Wealth Management Connect. A further 18% selected the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES) under which the Hong Kong SAR government has been attracting capital and family offices, and 18% selected similar initiatives focused on family offices and philanthropy.
The report found that recent regulatory developments are increasing confidence and enhancing protection for investors. These include the introduction of RA13 for depositaries of SFC-authorized Collective Investment Schemes (CISs) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority's Supervisory Policy Manual Module (TB-1). Sixty four percent (64%) of survey respondents said the regulatory regime is conducive to business, compared with 51% in 2021.
However, while new regulations are improving the business environment, they are also proving challenging to implement. Almost two-thirds of survey respondents (64%) reported that their compliance costs had increased by at least 5% to 15% over the past 12 months, partly because of increasing regulatory complexity.
Attracting talent was also seen as a significant industry headwind, with Legal & Compliance roles and Trust Administration the two most critical functions.
Hong Kong's trust and fiduciary industry plays a critical role in the city's success as a major international financial centre, employing a diverse range of professionals across banks, independent trust companies, insurers, private banks and legal, tax and accounting providers. The sector is critical in protecting the financial wellbeing of the vast majority of Hongkongers, including 87% of the working population who have assets held under the MPF[2] and ORSO[3] schemes.
Launching the report, HKTA Chairman Ms. Ka Shi Lau said: 'Trustees continue to play a crucial role in Hong Kong's financial system, and their importance is particularly evident in the MPF system, which is pivotal in safeguarding the retirement assets of Hong Kong people. With 2025 marking the 25th anniversary of MPF, it is fitting that the 4th Trust Industry Report is released in celebration of this milestone and provides an endorsement of the system's good health. Moreover, the recent transition to the new eMPF Platform is a significant step forward for fund visibility and member-centricity. However, it will also bring both challenges and opportunities for trustees.'
Arion Yiu, Partner, Asset Management, Hong Kong, for KPMG China adds: 'Pension funds remain the largest asset category held under trusts, underscoring the significance of the trustee role in safeguarding Hong Kong's retirement savings. The transition to eMPF, while presenting challenges, will also compel the trust industry to explore new avenues for differentiation and place a greater emphasis on governance to better serve MPF members.'
Vivian Chui, Head of Securities and Asset Management, Hong Kong, for KPMG China said: 'Recent regulatory developments have increased Hong Kong's attractiveness and credibility as both a funds and a trust centre. However, this positive momentum must be met with a proactive approach to talent acquisition. Showcasing the diverse and rewarding career paths available within the industry will be crucial to attracting the next generation of professionals.'
Ms. Ka Shi Lau further commented: 'While compliance, reporting and regulatory requirements are becoming increasingly stringent, these new standards are also bringing with them increased credibility. Hong Kong is rolling out the red carpet for global wealth. The trust industry needs to step up now, work together, and be proactive in serving these clients or risk missing out on the opportunity to solidify Hong Kong's position as a leading global trust centre.'
For a full copy of the report, please visit the HKTA Website or the KPMG Website.
[1] SFC Asset and Wealth Management Activities Survey 2023.
[2] Mandatory Provident Fund.
[3] Occupational Retirement Schemes Ordinance.
Hashtag: #KPMG
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The Hong Kong Trustees' Association
The Hong Kong Trustees' Association Limited (HKTA) was established in 1991 by members of the trust and fiduciary services sectors to represent the trust industry in Hong Kong, particularly in the areas of legislation and education. It is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee and incorporated in Hong Kong. The HKTA currently has more than 220 corporate and individual members, and represents thousands of people working in the trust, pensions, private banking, asset servicing, legal, accounting and other professional services fields.
Mission:
Represent the trust industry in promoting high standards of professionalism, corporate governance and regulatory compliance;
Contribute towards advancing the status of Hong Kong trust professionals and that of the industry internationally;
Represent the industry to the government, the media, local and international professional bodies and the public in promoting Hong Kong as an international trust and fiduciary services centre;
Promote quality standards for the industry by the issuance of Best Practice Guides applicable to corporate trusts, pension schemes, private trusts and charitable trusts;
Contribute towards enhancing the education and knowledge of practitioners in the trust industry through relevant trust accreditation and training programmes.
Contribute towards enhancing public education on trust fraud.
KPMG
KPMG in China has offices located in 31 cities with over 14, 000 partners and staff, in Beijing, Changchun, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Dongguan, Foshan, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Haikou, Hangzhou, Hefei, Jinan, Nanjing, Nantong, Ningbo, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Taiyuan, Tianjin, Wuhan, Wuxi, Xiamen, Xi'an, Zhengzhou, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR. It started operations in Hong Kong in 1945. In 1992, KPMG became the first international accounting network to be granted a joint venture licence in the Chinese Mainland. In 2012, KPMG became the first among the 'Big Four' in the Chinese Mainland to convert from a joint venture to a special general partnership.
KPMG is a global organisation of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. KPMG is the brand under which the member firms of KPMG International Limited ('KPMG International') operate and provide professional services. 'KPMG' is used to refer to individual member firms within the KPMG organisation or to one or more member firms collectively.
KPMG firms operate in 142 countries and territories with more than 275, 000 partners and employees working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. Each KPMG member firm is responsible for its own obligations and liabilities.
Celebrating 80 years in Hong Kong
In 2025, KPMG marks '80 Years of Trust' in Hong Kong. Established in 1945, we were the first international accounting firm to set up operations in the city. Over the past eight decades, we've woven ourselves into the fabric of Hong Kong, working closely with the government, regulators, and the business community to help establish Hong Kong as one of the world's leading business and financial centres. This close collaboration has enabled us to build lasting trust with our clients and the local community – a core value celebrated in our anniversary theme: '80 Years of Trust'.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Limoneira to rejoin US citrus company Sunkist Growers
Limoneira to rejoin US citrus company Sunkist Growers

Yahoo

time40 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Limoneira to rejoin US citrus company Sunkist Growers

Limoneira, one of the original founders of US-based citrus farming group Sunkist Growers, to rejoin the cooperative. The transaction, structured as a "merger" of Limoneira's sales and marketing operations with Sunkist, is expected to be finalised in November. California-based Limoneira will return to Sunkist as one of its largest lemon growers and an exclusive licensed packer, the agri-food group said in a statement. Limoneira said the move would lead to "streamlined operations" and improved efficiency in its supply chain. It expects the deal to generate $5m in annual cost savings and EBITDA improvement. Sunkist said the transaction would "drive expanded market access, optimise citrus supply and strengthen the cooperative's ability to meet evolving customer and grower needs". Harold Edwards, the CEO of Limoneira, added: 'Together, we plan to deliver reliable supply, operational efficiency, and complete category coverage to the nation's premier food service and retail customers, while generating meaningful cost savings and establishing a stronger foundation for sustainable growth.' Jim Phillips, chief executive of Sunkist said: 'This is a strategic reconnection of entities with shared legacy, collaboration, values and trust. We are focused on transforming our collective capabilities, insights, and expertise into increased value for our growers, packers and customers.' Limoneira Company, headquartered in Santa Paula, California, is an international agricultural business. The fruit packer, founded in 1893, has 10,500 acres of land, real estate and properties, with water rights in California, Arizona, Chile and Argentina. Its product portfolio includes lemons, avocados, and other crops. Sunkist Growers, also founded in 1893, is owned and operated by more than 1,000 farmer families growing citrus in California and Arizona. "Limoneira to rejoin US citrus company Sunkist Growers" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Melden Sie sich an, um Ihr Portfolio aufzurufen.

Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq futures tread water as US-China trade talks enter second day
Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq futures tread water as US-China trade talks enter second day

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq futures tread water as US-China trade talks enter second day

US stock futures were stuck in a holding pattern on Tuesday as renewed US-China trade talks entered their second day after an upbeat initial meeting. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F), the S&P 500 (ES=F), and the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) all wavered around the flat line. The mood is cautious as investors keep a close eye on the trade talks, which restarted in the morning in London. While a deal on access to China's rare earth minerals is the US priority, negotiators are navigating contentious issues that have fueled a rift between the two trading partners. Any signs of progress will likely be greeted with relief by markets, given switchbacks in President Trump's tariff policy and in US-China relations have fed uncertainty about risks to economic growth worldwide. On Monday, stocks on Wall Street edged higher after White House officials suggested discussions had been productive — though Trump himself cautioned that "China's not easy". Read more: The latest on Trump's tariffs Chinese stocks slid suddenly on Tuesday before the meeting resumed, a bout of volatility that suggested investors aren't confident of success. 'The market is too sensitive,' Fu Shifeng, investment director at Cheng Zhou Investment, told Bloomberg. 'People seem to be speculating that the talks didn't go well.' Meanwhile, a gauge of US small-business optimism came in higher in May — the first rise since September — amid the trade truce with China. But worries about Trump's tax-and-spending megabill stoked uncertainty about the outlook, the NFIB survey found. Investors are now counting down to the release of the May Consumer Price Index (CPI) report on Wednesday. The report will offer fresh insight into the state of inflation amid Trump's evolving trade policy. Analysts expect to see price pressures accelerated last month. Shares of J.M. Smucker (SJM) are sinking premarket after the food producer forecast full-year profit below Wall Street expectations. Smucker projected adjusted earnings for the year to come in at $9.50 a share, compared to estimates of $10.25, per Bloomberg. It highlights the challenging environment for consumer packaged goods as consumers pull back on spending on items like Jif peanut butter, Milk-Bone pet treats, and Hostess snack cakes. Smucker also noted it would raise prices as tariffs weigh on its coffee business. J.M. Smucker stock fell over 7% following the company's quarterly results. Economic data: NFIB small business optimism (May) Earnings: Academy Sports and Outdoors (ASO), Dave & Buster's (PLAY), GameStop (GME), The J.M. Smucker Company (SJM), Stitch Fix (SFIX) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: The labor market is creating new jobs — but maybe not yours Trump says China 'not easy' as trade talks to continue Tuesday IBM takes a big step toward useful quantum computing China stocks drop suddenly in wait for trade talks Big Tech is driving bullish flows in US stocks: Citi Nvidia, HPE to build new supercomputer in Germany Reddit vs. Anthropic: The AI scraping war is heating up again Wary Wall Street positioning leaves room for S&P 500 to rally Here are some top stocks trending on Yahoo Finance in premarket trading: Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) stock rose 2% before the bell on Tuesday, after being hit with 2 downgrades on Monday due to the fallout from CEO Elon Musk and President Trump's dustup. Tesla's robotaxi test is set to take place on June 12 in Austin, Texas. McDonald's (MCD) shares fell over 1% in premarket trading today after analysts at Morgan Stanley downgraded the fast food company on Monday to a Hold from a Buy. Morgan Stanley also cut its price target to $324 from $329. Bloomberg reports: US technology heavyweights have attracted a flurry of bullish bets as optimism around the economic outlook overshadows trade concerns, according to Citigroup Inc. (C) strategists. Long positions in the technology-heavy Nasdaq 100 (^NDX) increased by more than in the S&P 500 (^GSPC) last week, the team led by Chris Montagu wrote in a note. Exposure has been mainly driven by new bullish bets, while short bets steadily declined across indexes, they said. Read more here. Chinese stocks fell on Tuesday ahead of the second day of trade negotiations between the US and China. Investors are cautious as the two biggest economies seek to resolve some contentious issues. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. When President Trump set off a global stock market slump in April with his package of sweeping new tariffs, small investors across Asia rushed to the US stock market to buy the dip. Now they're backing away, data for May shows. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. Apple (AAPL) is holding its highly anticipated annual developers' conference. Yahoo Finance's Daniel Howley reports from Silicon Valley: Apple on Monday announced sweeping changes to its product ecosystems, including a wide-ranging revamp of its iOS operating system for its iPhones, as well as the software that powers its iPads and Macs. The updates, which the company debuted as part of its WWDC developer event held at its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., mark the biggest shift in Apple's software design in years. Still, the improvements were light on new AI capabilities at a time when Wall Street is looking for Apple to prove it can compete in the space. ... While Apple showed off a handful of new features for its Apple Intelligence platform, it's unlikely to quell fears that the company is falling behind the likes of Microsoft and Google in the rapidly evolving space. Read more on Apple's announcements here. Shares of J.M. Smucker (SJM) are sinking premarket after the food producer forecast full-year profit below Wall Street expectations. Smucker projected adjusted earnings for the year to come in at $9.50 a share, compared to estimates of $10.25, per Bloomberg. It highlights the challenging environment for consumer packaged goods as consumers pull back on spending on items like Jif peanut butter, Milk-Bone pet treats, and Hostess snack cakes. Smucker also noted it would raise prices as tariffs weigh on its coffee business. J.M. Smucker stock fell over 7% following the company's quarterly results. Economic data: NFIB small business optimism (May) Earnings: Academy Sports and Outdoors (ASO), Dave & Buster's (PLAY), GameStop (GME), The J.M. Smucker Company (SJM), Stitch Fix (SFIX) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: The labor market is creating new jobs — but maybe not yours Trump says China 'not easy' as trade talks to continue Tuesday IBM takes a big step toward useful quantum computing China stocks drop suddenly in wait for trade talks Big Tech is driving bullish flows in US stocks: Citi Nvidia, HPE to build new supercomputer in Germany Reddit vs. Anthropic: The AI scraping war is heating up again Wary Wall Street positioning leaves room for S&P 500 to rally Here are some top stocks trending on Yahoo Finance in premarket trading: Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) stock rose 2% before the bell on Tuesday, after being hit with 2 downgrades on Monday due to the fallout from CEO Elon Musk and President Trump's dustup. Tesla's robotaxi test is set to take place on June 12 in Austin, Texas. McDonald's (MCD) shares fell over 1% in premarket trading today after analysts at Morgan Stanley downgraded the fast food company on Monday to a Hold from a Buy. Morgan Stanley also cut its price target to $324 from $329. Bloomberg reports: US technology heavyweights have attracted a flurry of bullish bets as optimism around the economic outlook overshadows trade concerns, according to Citigroup Inc. (C) strategists. Long positions in the technology-heavy Nasdaq 100 (^NDX) increased by more than in the S&P 500 (^GSPC) last week, the team led by Chris Montagu wrote in a note. Exposure has been mainly driven by new bullish bets, while short bets steadily declined across indexes, they said. Read more here. Chinese stocks fell on Tuesday ahead of the second day of trade negotiations between the US and China. Investors are cautious as the two biggest economies seek to resolve some contentious issues. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. When President Trump set off a global stock market slump in April with his package of sweeping new tariffs, small investors across Asia rushed to the US stock market to buy the dip. Now they're backing away, data for May shows. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. Apple (AAPL) is holding its highly anticipated annual developers' conference. Yahoo Finance's Daniel Howley reports from Silicon Valley: Apple on Monday announced sweeping changes to its product ecosystems, including a wide-ranging revamp of its iOS operating system for its iPhones, as well as the software that powers its iPads and Macs. The updates, which the company debuted as part of its WWDC developer event held at its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., mark the biggest shift in Apple's software design in years. Still, the improvements were light on new AI capabilities at a time when Wall Street is looking for Apple to prove it can compete in the space. ... While Apple showed off a handful of new features for its Apple Intelligence platform, it's unlikely to quell fears that the company is falling behind the likes of Microsoft and Google in the rapidly evolving space. Read more on Apple's announcements here.

Chinese Beauty Brands Explore Foreign M&A to Spur Growth
Chinese Beauty Brands Explore Foreign M&A to Spur Growth

Business of Fashion

timean hour ago

  • Business of Fashion

Chinese Beauty Brands Explore Foreign M&A to Spur Growth

Some of China's top beauty brands such as Proya and S'Young are exploring acquisitions of smaller foreign rivals to expand their portfolios and replicate the success of global leaders like L'Oréal or Estée Lauder amid slowing growth at home. While still relatively unknown internationally, these Chinese brands have found significant domestic success, even capturing market share from global players. But a prolonged property crisis and concerns about wage growth and employment security have dampened consumer spending in China — posing new challenges to their continued growth. Proya Cosmetics' founder, Hou Juncheng, said last month that the company's 10-year plan aims to position the firm among the top ten globally, a goal that would require an annual revenue of at least 50 billion yuan ($7 billion). To do so, the Hangzhou-based Proya plans 'to acquire some European brands with history and technology', local media reports cited Hou as telling shareholders at a meeting. Proya, which specialises in science-backed skincare at mass market price points, became the first Chinese beauty player to surpass 10 billion yuan in annual revenue in 2024. In comparison, Japan's Shiseido, currently ranked tenth globally, raked in $6.9 billion and market leader L'Oréal generated over $45 billion in revenue last year. S'Young and Ushopal, two prominent Chinese beauty groups, have already made strides in international acquisitions. S'Young owns French skincare brand Evidens de Beaute and US-brand ReVive, while Ushopal added French brand Payot to a portfolio that includes British skincare label ARgENTUM and French fragrance Juliette has a gun. William Lau, a partner at Ushopal, said the company plans to acquire one to two new brands annually. Analysts say buying foreign brands can help Chinese beauty firms diversify revenue streams and reduce reliance on the domestic market, but they also note that some similar efforts by Chinese fashion groups had missed expectations in the past. The beauty and personal care market is projected to generate a revenue of $677.19 billion globally in 2025, versus $41.78 billion in China, German data provider Statista estimates. Chinese brands are likely to target premium-positioned European skincare, fragrance or haircare brands with valuations under $500 million, said Gregoire Grandchamp, co-founder of Next Beauty China, who has advised Chinese groups on global deals. 'In coming years, there will be a big Chinese company that will be the Chinese L'Oréal, Estée Lauder, Shiseido or Amorepacific,' Grandchamp predicted. Global M&A 'Very Difficult' Acquisitions have long been a growth strategy for beauty giants. L'Oréal's $2.5 billion purchase of Australian brand Aesop in 2023 added a premium, natural cosmetics brand to its portfolio, while Estee Lauder's $2.8 billion acquisition of Tom Ford in 2022 helped boost its array of high-end perfumes. Chinese beauty brands aim to borrow from this M&A playbook, but there are concerns about their ability to operate brands outside their home turf. In the fashion space, state-owned textile giant Ruyi once made headlines for snapping up foreign brands and touting its ambition to become 'China's LVMH' only to see those international deals unwound by creditors in a few short years. But Ushopal's Lau says these challenges are not unique to Chinese groups, citing examples like Shiseido's buyout of Drunk Elephant to L'Oréal's purchase of some Chinese brands that struggled to meet expectations. 'Global acquisitions are very difficult' in general and part of the problem is that companies often try to localise brands too quickly after a deal, he said. 'One of the reasons you buy a brand is because it's an amazing brand, so if you then redo the entire DNA of the brand, what's the point of buying it?' he added. Mark Tanner, founder and managing director of Shanghai-based marketing and research agency China Skinny, said: 'Opening doors to the Chinese market and capital injections, rather than a wholesale management takeover' are more likely to succeed. By Casey Hall and Sophie Yu; Editor: Himani Sarkar Learn more: Estée Lauder Companies, L'Oréal Suffer as China Duty-Free Spend Continues to Fall The once-promising Chinese travel retail market is showing little signs of recovery, causing global beauty giants to reevaluate their strategies and reduce promotions.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store