The inaugural discussion group for Venture Capital managers interested in the Significant Investor Visa (SIV) program was held in Sydney on 5th November, 2015.
Participants consisted of ESVCLP and VCLP managers with registered funds, those considering tapping into this market as well as specialist lawyers sharing their expertise. Following were some key insights from the discussion, with the next forum to be held on Tuesday 1st December.
AusIndustry fund set up
There have been a considerable number of enquiries, and the next round of fund approvals will be in December, then March 2016. There is now an initial screening process prior to those looking to set up conditional registration accessing the documentation. An updated Q&A is expected to be released soon.
It was noted that not all eligible managers are interested in SIV Applicants as they have existing pools of HNW and institutional investors. Those seeking to provide a vehicle for SIV investors should bear in mind the need to reach the $10M minimum. Ensuring there is a broader range of investors was suggested, as well as having foundation investors.
Access to Clients
There was much interest on how to source SIV applicants in terms of accessing the influencers and connectors in China. Whilst some managers are looking to build partnerships with migration agents, lawyers and property specialists, most prefer to deal via intermediaries such as wealth managers and bankers rather than end investors directly. It was noted that VC managers are not allowed to market in China due to licencing restrictions.
Administration
VC managers want the least administrative burden and are looking for platforms to handle back office, administration, and client service. There is a strong need to create efficiencies in terms of banking services to handle cash escrows. Discussion was also focused on AML processes and whether the managers could rely on immigration or other checks in terms of source of funds.
Disclaimers
Venture capital is a risky asset class and whilst most managers are not translating the partnership documents into Chinese, the key messages to be made clear to SIV Applicants include:
- They can lose all their money
- The funds will be invested for 10 years, well past the grant of the permanent residency visa timeframe
- The fund manager doesn’t guarantee they will get their visa.
Regular Discussion Groups
Overall insight was there are lots of aspects to consider by all participants and it was useful to share initial experience and continue to the conversations as the program progresses.
Below are details of the next forum to be held in Sydney.
Tuesday 1st December, 2015
Time: | 4.00 pm to 5.30 pm |
Venue: | NAB House, Level 15, 255 George St, Sydney
other locations via teleconference |
Format: | Discussion forum for for venture capital managers interested in the Significant Investor Visa program. |
RSVP: | 30th November 2015 |
Stacey Martin is a specialist advisor, strategic connector and thought leader on the Significant Investor Visa program. Founder of the Expat Advisors Community, Stacey is a sought after speaker for SIV industry conferences and workshops including Basis Point,Australia China Business Week, Australian China Business Council and the Migration Alliance SIV Masterclasses series.