MAS launches cross-border Collective Investment Scheme framework for retail investors

CIS can now be sold across Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

Work has just become easier for fund managers of Collective Investment Schemes. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the Securities Commission of Malaysia (SC Malaysia), and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand (SEC Thailand) yesterday launched the ASEAN CIS Framework to facilitate cross-border offers of CIS to retail investors. 

The ASEAN CIS Framework is one of the initiatives undertaken by the ASEAN Capital Market Forum as part of the regional capital market integration plan endorsed by the ASEAN Finance Ministers in 2009.

Fund managers based in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand can now offer CIS constituted and authorised in their home jurisdiction directly to retail investors in the other two ASEAN countries under a streamlined authorisation process.

A set of common ASEAN standards has been established to ensure that participating fund managers have the necessary experience and track record in managing retail funds offered under the framework.

According to Lee Boon Ngiap, Assistant Managing Director (Capital Markets) of MAS, “Retail investors in ASEAN will benefit from an increase in the choice of funds for investment with the launch of the ASEAN CIS Framework. Fund managers in an ASEAN country will have a direct and efficient route to offer their funds to retail investors in other ASEAN countries. We look forward to the participation of more ASEAN jurisdictions in this framework over the coming years.”