London Stock Exchange : GF International Asset Management launches first ETF on London Stock Exchange

• First ETF to track the FTSE Global China A Inclusion Index Series
• First ETF from a Chinese asset management firm based in Europe
• Growing number of Chinese issuers choosing to list ETFs in London
• Reflects growing investor demand for access to the world's second largest economy

London Stock Exchange today welcomes the GF International-FTSE China A UCITS ETF to list in London. The ETF listed by GF International Asset Management, a subsidiary of GF Fund Management, is the first ETF to track the FTSE China A Index, which is part of the FTSE Global China A Inclusion Index Series, and the first ETF from a Chinese asset management firm based in Europe.

The FTSE Global China A Inclusion Index series is designed to provide market participants with a choice of how to include China A-shares in global benchmarks. Launched by FTSE Russell in May 2015, the FTSE Global China A Inclusion Indexes act as a transitional tool for investors in preparation for the eventual inclusion of China A-shares in its widely followed global benchmarks. China A-shares cover a broad spectrum of stocks listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges.

GF Fund Management is the eighth Chinese firm to issue an ETF on London Stock Exchange, reaffirming LSEG's position as the partner of choice for Chinese issuers looking to access European and international capital.

To mark the launch of this ETF, London Stock Exchange today welcomed Mr Chuanhui Lin, CEO of GF Fund Management, and Mr Miller Guo, CEO of GF International UK, to open trading in London.

Mr Chuanhui Lin, CEO of GF Fund Management:

'Since opening the Chinese market to international investors is no longer a question of 'if' but 'how', this ETF, the first launched by a Chinese fund manager in Europe, will have an important role to play in promoting international investment in China. It also marks the next step for our strategic growth.'

Mark Makepeace, CEO FTSE Russell said:

'FTSE Russell has a strong track record of developing China-focused benchmarks with some of the largest Chinese asset owners using FTSE Russell indexes. China continues to make good progress toward opening its domestic A-Share market to foreign investors and we expect to see investors and issuers progressively use our transition indexes, such as the FTSE Global China A Inclusion Indexes, to manage the move.'

Pietro Poletto, Head of exchange traded funds, LSEG said:

'London Stock Exchange has experienced significant growth in the trading of Exchange Traded Products in recent years and we are delighted to welcome GF Fund Management as the eighth Chinese issuer to list an ETF on our market. We continue to see investor appetite for access to Chinese equity markets and the listing of a new ETF reinforces London's position as a centre for international finance.'

The FTSE China A Index comprises the large and mid cap A Share constituents. Within the FTSE Global China A Index Series, the allocation of China A Shares is adjusted proportional to the changes in the approved quota and is in line with the accessibility available to international investors, or can be customised based on a market participant's specified QFII/RQFII allocation. The Renminbi Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (RQFII) programme allows institutional investors with offshore Renminbi deposits to back into the domestic Chinese market.

The FTSE China A UCITS ETF is denominated in USD.

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Notes to editors:

About London Stock Exchange Group:

London Stock Exchange Group (LSE.L) is an international markets infrastructure business. Its diversified global business focuses on capital formation, intellectual property and risk and balance sheet management. LSEG operates an open access model, offering choice and partnership to customers across all of its businesses. The Group can trace its history back to 1698.

The Group operates a broad range of international equity, ETF, bond and derivatives markets, including London Stock Exchange; Borsa Italiana; MTS (Europe's leading fixed income market); and Turquoise (a pan-European equities MTF). Through its platforms, LSEG offers market participants, including retail investors, institutions and SMEs unrivalled access to Europe's capital markets. The Group also plays a vital economic and social role, enabling companies to access funds for growth and development.

Through FTSE Russell, the Group is a global leader in financial indexing, benchmarking and analytic services with approximately $10 trillion benchmarked to its indexes. The Group also provides customers with an extensive range of real time and reference data products, including SEDOL, UnaVista, XTF and RNS.

Post trade and risk management services are a significant part of the Group's business operations. In addition to majority ownership of LCH, a multi-asset global CCP operator, LSEG owns CC&G, the Italian clearing house; Monte Titoli, a leading European custody and settlement business; and globeSettle, the Group's CSD based in Luxembourg.

LSEG is a leading developer and operator of high performance technology solutions, including trading, market surveillance and post trade systems for over 40 organisations and exchanges, including the Group's own markets. Additional services include network connectivity, hosting and quality assurance testing. MillenniumIT, GATElab and Exactpro are among the Group's technology companies.

Headquartered in the United Kingdom, with significant operations in North America, Italy, France and Sri Lanka, the Group employs approximately 3,500 people.

Further information on London Stock Exchange Group can be found at www.lseg.com