Franklin Templeton partners with ChinaAMC on first Asia ETFs in Hong Kong
In brief
- Franklin Templeton and ChinaAMC partnered on two cross-border ETFs, Crypto Briefing reported.
- Hong Kong Stock Exchange listings for both funds were set for September 29, 2026.
- Franklin Templeton's first ETF listings anywhere in Asia.
- One fund blends Hong Kong and US equities; the other targets pharmaceutical firms.
- Hong Kong dollars, US dollars and renminbi: both funds trade in all three.
Two funds with very different mandates
The first product is the ChinaAMC Franklin HK-US Equity Cash Flow Focus ETF. According to Crypto Briefing, it targets roughly 60% exposure to Hong Kong equities and 40% to US equities, and its selection filter centers on companies with strong cash flows.
The second one is narrower.
The ChinaAMC Franklin FTSE Innovative Drugs ETF targets pharmaceutical firms, with about 65% in Hong Kong names and 35% in developed markets (per the same report). Both funds trade in three currencies: Hong Kong dollars, US dollars and renminbi.
Crypto Briefing, citing research findings it didn't identify, said the funds leave out financials and traditional Chinese medicine. That choice is meant to keep the focus on cash-flow resilience and innovation, according to the outlet.
A 'first step' for Franklin Templeton
David Mann, Franklin Templeton's Global Head of ETFs & Market Structure, described the ChinaAMC partnership as the first step in a broader plan, Crypto Briefing reported. That plan involves working with local asset managers and gaining exposure to mainland China investment themes.
So it's not a one-off listing. Franklin Templeton is going into Asia through a local partner rather than on its own, and Mann has framed this deal as the opening move.
Executives on both sides (Rene Buehlmann at Franklin Templeton and Tian Gan at ChinaAMC Hong Kong) emphasized that the collaboration was strategic, the outlet said.
Who is ChinaAMC?
ChinaAMC is the US firm's partner on both products. As of late 2025, it managed more than $465 billion in assets, according to Crypto Briefing.
The same report said those unnamed research findings suggest the launch could encourage more product innovation and competition in the Chinese ETF landscape. That's the outlet's read, though, not a forecast from either firm, and the report didn't give trading figures for either fund.
