CSRC to regulate VC, PE

The State Commission Office for Public Sector Reform plans to place the country's venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) sectors under the sole supervision of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), the Securities Times reported Tuesday, citing unnamed sources with knowledge of the matter.

The move is expected to clear regulatory hurdles for VC/PE firms to set up mutual funds, which falls under the supervision of the CSRC.

China's PE and VC market has so far been controlled by a number of regulatory bodies including the National Development and Reform Commission, the CSRC and other government agencies.

VC/PE firms usually make their money through initial public offerings (IPOs), but with a temporary suspension of IPO approval in place since the second half of last year, the mutual fund business provides these firms an option for profit.