New Rules Extend Opportunities for Foreign Private Equity in Shanghai

In late December 2010, Shanghai authorities issued comprehensive regulations that clarify how foreign PE fund managers and investors can participate under the pilot QFLP (Qualified Foreign Limited Partner) program first announced in 2008 and launched in 2009. These new rules offer a stronger regulatory framework for the launch and management of onshore RMB funds and may simplify the currency conversion process from foreign currency to RMB for foreign investors. This brief explains the evolution of these changes, the resulting new opportunities available and some of the questions that remain in the regulation and its likely operation.