The Asset Asia and the Future of Funds 2022 | The Asset | 9 November 2022 | Singapore Cricket Club, Gilmore Room, A Connaught Dr, Singapore 179681

Asia’s fund management landscape is changing fast. The region is the global leader in wealth creation and this continues to grow rapidly. The rise of the mass affluent, the expansion of the high-net-worth-individual sector and the exponential growth in insurance investments are bringing about new asset pools.

As asset managers ramp up their efforts to tap this market, the spotlight is on fund structures. In recent years, Asia has seen an emergence of local onshore fund structures. From Singapore to Hong Kong, regulators have introduced new legislation in a bid to attract more asset managers and increase their locations’ prominence as investment management hubs. This trend is challenging the dominance of UCITS in the region.

Asia’s fragmented markets present a challenge in the fund distribution space. However, the entry of new players and the establishment of fund passport regimes are further reshaping the industry. Meanwhile, technology is making waves in the asset management space. Digitalization is an important topic across the business, and asset managers are exploring new technologies across all aspects of the investment lifecycle.

Exclusive discussion:
• What are the different fund structures available to retail and HNWI investors in Asia?
• What are the optimal structures for capturing Asian investors?
• What are the key benefits of using local onshore fund structures, and what will be the focus of these structures over the next three to five years?
• What are the key issues that asset managers should consider in their fund manufacturing and distribution strategies?
• What opportunities can blockchain technology offer in fund distribution in terms of reducing operational inefficiencies and the number of intermediaries?
• How can technology support the process streamlining the data available throughout the investment management lifecycle – from front to middle and back office – and what are the benefits to investors?
• What are the challenges which need to be immediately addressed and how should asset managers prioritize these?

2022 Speakers

MODERATOR:

Daniel Yu
Editor-in-chief, The Asset

SPEAKERS:

David Ng
Deputy CEO, Singapore, CSOP Asset Management

Justin Ong
Asia Pacific asset wealth management leader, PWC

Francois Verlaine
Managing Director and Head of ASEAN & South Asia, financing & securities services, Standard Chartered

Wendy Yeo
Director, fund management, iFAST Financial

Han Ming Ho
Partner & co-head of investment funds, Asia Pacific, Sidley Austin

Mischa Bitton
Executive director, head, alternative investments, WM managed investments, Standard Chartered