Taiwan's regulators have approved the plan of Taiwanese financial company Cathay Financial Holding Co. (2882.TW) and U.S. asset management company Conning Holdings Co. to set up a joint venture to provide asset management services to institutional clients in Asia-Pacific.

Under the joint venture agreement, Cathay Financial and Conning will each own 50% of the new Hong-Kong based asset management company, the two companies said in a joint statement late Tuesday.

The statement also said Cathay Financial will purchase a minority stake in Conning, without giving more details.

Cathay and Conning are currently seeking approval in Hong Kong and expect the new company to open for business by early 2012, it said.

-By Lorraine Luk, Dow Jones Newswires; 8862-25022557;lorraine.luk@dowjones.com