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  • October 2019
  • Case
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China Merchants Bank: Ushering in the Era of Family Office in China

By: Lauren Cohen, Hao Gao, Billy Chan and Dawn H. Lau
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:18
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Abstract

China Merchants Bank, the sixth-largest lender in China, intends to boost its family office business as a result of an increase in the population of ultra-high net worth individuals. Already ranked China’s number-one private bank with AUM exceeding US$300 billion, the Bank is exploring different ways to cater to the demand from newly minted billionaires and their families and to maintain its competitiveness in retaining these customers amid fierce competition with domestic and foreign banks. Management also needs to brace for an emerging trend in which super-affluent families opt to reduce their reliance on traditional bankers by setting up independent family offices. The case raises issues in segmentation of private banking, change in organization design, and devising strategies for target customers and value creation.

Keywords

Family Office; Strategy; Banks and Banking; Organizational Design; Competitive Strategy; Banking Industry; China

Citation

Cohen, Lauren, Hao Gao, Billy Chan, and Dawn H. Lau. "China Merchants Bank: Ushering in the Era of Family Office in China." Harvard Business School Case 220-032, October 2019.
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About The Author

Lauren H. Cohen

Finance
→More Publications

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More from the Authors
  • The Micro-Family Office: Aamir Rehman By: Lauren Cohen and Sophia Pan
  • Techint: Strategic Choices for Community Impact By: Lauren Cohen, Virak Prum, Kenneth Charman, Pedro Levindo and Mariana Cal
  • Pouring Oil on Troubled Waters: Vickers Oils and Resolving Family Conflict over Generations By: Lauren Cohen, Octavian Graf Pilati and Sophia Pan
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