Headquartered in Singapore, Lion Global Investors is one of the largest asset management companies in Southeast Asia. The company was established in 1986 and has grown in the span of over three decades, becoming the preferred investment partner in Asia for international investors.
The company has a team of highly experienced fund managers and analysts serving its clients. More than half of the group members are accredited by the Chartered Financial Analyst.
Lion Global Investors has a flexible approach to Asian equity markets, given its oscillating nature and a robust fixed income team. Included in its investment process is integrated risk management, effectively protecting capital and its clients’ investments.
In 2008, the company set up its branch in Brunei Darussalam, offering a variety of investment and asset management products. Lion Global Investors provides customers institutional solutions with its core strategies and investment process.
As at June 30, 2020, Lion Global Investors managed USD43.8 billion worth of assets on behalf of its clients. The company is consistently ranked among the World’s Top 50 Safest Banks by Global Finance.
State Street’s venture into the Asia-Pacific region began more than 25 years ago, in line with the company’s goal of increasing its non-US revenue. Today, the company has successfully established itself, with more than 10,000 employees throughout the region.
Responsible for more than 10 per cent of the world’s assets, the American-based financial services company tapped into the Bruneian market in 2011, its third office in the Southeast Asian region after Singapore and Malaysia to solidify its presence in the Asia-Pacific market. In February 2019, State Street opened their new office at the Pavo Point building in the capital.
The company’s physical presence in Brunei illustrates its dedication in entering the local market and meeting its clients’ needs. The office offers State Street’s full range of financial services to corporate clients such as investment servicing; investment research and trading; investment management; and support for clients through client servicing and relationship management. Additionally, State Street acts as a gateway for international fund managers interested in Brunei for investment opportunities.
Apart from investment services, State Street is also committed to Brunei’s financial development. In 2016, State Street signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) to boost financial literacy among local students, signifying a collaborative partnership in various programmes such as competitions, talks and internship opportunities.
Headquartered in Singapore, UOB Asset Management (UOBAM) established its Brunei subsidiary called UOBAM Brunei (UOBAM (B)) in 2007.
UOBAM (B) offers a range of investment solutions including unit trust products across asset classes and geographies to meet different investment needs and goals.
Its investor education programme for institutional clients includes competency-building initiatives such as its annual Chartered Financial Analyst preparatory classes and investment seminars to keep clients abreast of the latest market developments and investment trends.
In 2019, UOBAM (B) won the Best Investor Education (Brunei) award at the Asia Asset Management 2019 Best of the Best ASEAN Awards. The following year, UOBAM (B) won the award for the second consecutive time.
The investor education accolade recognises UOBAM (B) for its wide range of education programmes that serve investors with varying investment goals and backgrounds.
In May 2017, the Brunei Darussalam Capital Market Association (BCMA) was launched. The members are made up of capital market, finance and investment product and service providers licensed to conduct capital market activities in Brunei. The BCMA’s objectives include supporting capital growth and market integrity in Brunei and to promote financial and investment literacy.
Through AMBD, the Brunei government has been issuing short-term Sukuk Al-Ijarah. Sukuk are Syariah-compliant financial products that create returns similar to fixed-income instruments, like bonds.
However, unlike bonds, Sukuk does not collect interest. This explains Sukuk’s growing popularity not just in economies with Islamic banking, but also in the global market.
In October 2020, AMBD announced the successful pricing of its 186th issuance of short-terms Sukuk Al-Ijarah securities.
With this issuance, the Brunei Government has thus far issued over BND14.12 billion worth of short-term Sukuk Al-Ijarah securities since the maiden offering on April 6, 2006.
The total holding of the Brunei Government Sukuk outstanding as at October 8, 2020 stood at BND373.5 million.
Copyright 2019 Borneo Bulletin Yearbook 2019 All rights reserved.
