As the Chinese government is considering easing control over foreign investment in the futures sector, foreign investors are reportedly rushing into talks with potential Chinese partners on possible mergers and acquisition.

The Hong Kong-based securities brokerage CLSA is said to be in negotiation with Xiangcai Qinian Futures, founded in 2004 with a registered capital of 30 million yuan (3.9 million U.S. dollars), to inject 20 million yuan for the company's stakes, according to Saturday's China Business Newspaper.

Related readings:  Rules pave way for financial futures trading  Foreign players eye index futures  Securities chief says market foundation 'not strong'  China reports robust growth in futures businesses

Without revealing the specific list of shareholding, the newspaper said that Xiangcai Securities, the holding company of Xiangcai Qinian Futures, was forced to sell the assets due to its financial crisis, but hoped to maintain its share-controlling status.

If CLSA succeeded in its bid, Xiangcai Qinian would meet the minimum capital requirement of 50 million yuan of registered capital for a clearing member of China Financial Futures Exchange (CFFE).

CFFE, the first financial derivative exchange in China, was established in September last year for the country's futures trading. Analysts contended that the stock index future as China's first financial derivative product was probably around the corner.

Chinese futures companies ranked among the last 50 are all potential candidates for M&A from foreign institutions, says Liu Xu, a macroeconomic policy analyst with Capital Futures Co., Ltd, as foreign investors tend to purchase a physical entity at a relatively low cost to engage in the futures business in China.

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