Profits at Chinese fund management companies are expected to rise this year to pre-global financial crisis levels, according to a report to be published this week.
Z-Ben Advisors, a consultancy, expects the average net profit margin of fund management companies in China to rise to 34.5 per cent, up from 33.6 per cent in 2009. Dividends are also expected to rise from last year’s average range of 25-35 per cent of earnings.
“That indicates a very, very lucrative opportunity,” says Jonathan Ha, Shanghai-based director of advisory services at Z-Ben Advisors. Some fund companies are heading towards providing shareholders with dividends of up to 70 per cent of earnings, he says.