【路透社0209】台湾银行对中国同行设定更高投资限额

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Taiwan banks want higher investment limit for China peershttp://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/09/taiwan-china-banks-idUSL4E8D81XM20120209

       
TAIPEI, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Taiwanese banks are urgingregulators to raise a cap on stakes Chinese banks can hold inthem to 20 percent from 5 percent as they push to get a biggershare of the huge mainland market at a faster pace and offset alack of growth opportunities at home.
The head of the island's Financial Supervisory Commission(FSC) met on Wednesday with the heads of several local banksahead of a meeting due before June with his mainland counterpartat the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC).
Bankers said raising the investment limit was high on theiragenda as it would make Taiwan banks much more attractive formainland peers and would lead to further reciprocal opening byChina.
"It would be a good gesture to China, and in return for moreopening to business on the mainland," said Chen Mei-tsu, anexecutive vice president of Taiwan Cooperative Bank.
Access to the huge mainland market has been a key focus for Taiwan's banks, struggling to grow in a saturated home market and with little international presence. They are set to post a 0.53 percent return on assets (ROA) in 2011, the lowest among banks in Asia excluding Japan, according to Fitch Ratings.
A higher limit would allow Taiwan banks to leverage theresources of Chinese banks, which are much bigger in size andassets.
"It's like having a rich dad instantly," said K. H. Lin, afund manager of Yuanta Securities Investment Trust. "Taiwanbanks can accelerate their exposure in China very quickly."
A landmark trade pact in June 2010 opened up the Chinamarket to many Taiwan industries and held out the promise of asurge in new business for the island's financial sector.
But progress has been slow, constrained by acute sensitivity in Taiwan over potential inroads into the finance sector by China, which despite warm business ties remains a political rival and even a possible military foe with a stated ambition to take Taiwan back.
Only seven Taiwan banks have operations in China, and onlyin niche areas including insurance and lending to Taiwan firms.
The agreement allowing Chinese investment of up to 5 percentin Taiwan banks itself didn't go into effect until January, some19 months after the trade deal.
PRESSING NEED FOR ACCESS
With regional and global banks also targetting China --Singapore's DBS Holdings Group said this week it seesgreater China making up a third of total revenue this year --the need for Taiwan's banks to find a way to get more access ispressing.
"If a stake investment does not get you some managementcontrol, the incentive is not good enough," said one bankexecutive, who asked not to be identified due to the sensitivityof the matter.
"In this case, 20 percent can do that, while the current 5percent is really nothing," said the executive.
There have been signs recently however of renewed activityin the sector after a quiet 2011.
The FSC recently approved the opening of Taiwan branches byChina's Bank of China and Bank of Communications. Taiwan's Hua Nan, meanwhile, is seeking a20 percent stake in China's Fujian Haixia Bank.
Financial shares are up 10.8 percent this year,partly on hopes for better China ties, and in line with thebroader index's 11 percent gain.
FSC Chairman Chen Yuh-chang met on Wednesday with the headsof Cathay Financial and five state-run banks,including Mega Financial Taiwan Cooperative Bank andHua Nan.
The FSC is also scheduled to meet other private financialholding firms, such as Fubon Financial, on Feb 14,according to industry sources.
Chen is due to meet CBRC Chairman Shang Fulin before June,with the investment cap on the agenda as well as issuesincluding loans to small and medium enterprises and assetquality control.
It would be the third meeting between regulators on bothsides since the June 2010 trade deal.                 



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