Aberdeen Asset Management Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aberdeen Asset Management plc who in turn held by Standard Life Aberdeen plc, announced the launch of its first diversified multiasset strategy in Malaysia on 17 April 2018.
The Aberdeen Global Diversified Growth Fund is the Group’s first feeder fund that invests in a Luxembourg-domiciled fund to be available through intermediaries for sophisticated investors in Malaysia. It is currently distributed by Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Berhad.
Aberdeen is excited about its latest diversified multi-asset offering as it foresees continued demand from investors for yield and new sources of return. This comes amid mixed signals in markets over the effect of potential rising interest rates and concerns that the equity market may be overvalued relative to fundamentals.
According to Gerald Ambrose, Country Head for Malaysia, Aberdeen’s approach to multi-asset allows investors to build diversification into their overall investment portfolio in a simple turnkey way.
The Luxembourg-domiciled fund’s wide diversification compared to its peers, emphasis on low volatility and avoidance of complex derivatives will be especially attractive to sophisticated investors looking to generate long-term growth while protecting their portfolios in times of market stress.
It also provides access to unique investment areas such as catastrophe bonds, aircraft leasing and corporate loans which are typically accessed via closed-end structures.
Ambrose comments: “The psyche of the Malaysian investor is evolving rapidly and there is an increased and more sophisticated demand for assets beyond equities and bonds. The market however can be complex and volatile. We are here to enable our clients to harness the benefits of genuine diversification and flexibly navigate through complexities with a simple and effective multi-asset strategy.”
Mike Brooks is in overall charge of the strategy, heading a team of five in Edinburgh. Alongside him are local teams in Asia Pacific which manage regional assets. Aberdeen’s multi-asset division globally has 58 strong investment professionals, with approximately US$121bn in multi-asset mandates as of 30 September 2017.
Mike Brooks comments: “We are only at the early stages of the market for multi-asset investments despite billions having already been raised in the region. We see many compelling opportunities in the universe of alternative investments, ranging widely into third party products and non- traditional asset classes in liquid forms which many of our competitors don’t have the resources to investigate.”
Aberdeen Standard Investment’s latest multi-asset strategy in Malaysia signifies a development of the Group’s longstanding capability and its commitment to local investors’ evolving needs. The Aberdeen Global Diversified Growth Fund is set to offer something different in a market which is far from saturated and where existing manager concentration may encourage a search for new ideas and choices.
[1] “Sophisticated investors” means any person who comes within any of the categories of investors set out in Part 1, Schedule 6 and Schedule 7 of the Capital Markets and Services Act 2007 as may be amended from time to time.
Notes to Editors
Standard Life Aberdeen plc
Standard Life Aberdeen plc is a leading global investment company. We have operations in 50 locations worldwide and employ around 9,000 people.
We are dedicated to helping our clients and customers invest for their future. Our expertise and resource enables us to offer a wide range of investment solutions and services designed to meet their needs today, tomorrow and for the longer term. We manage, administer and advise on £670 billion* of assets worldwide.
We are driven to be world class in everything we do, whether looking after our clients’ investments, offering our employees a rewarding career path or making sure we take our responsibility as shareholders seriously. This commitment and focus has allowed us to become a trusted global partner to individual and institutional investors.
Standard Life Aberdeen plc is headquartered in Scotland. It has around 1.2 million shareholders and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. The Standard Life Aberdeen group was formed by the merger of Standard Life plc and Aberdeen Asset Management PLC on 14 August 2017.
* Standard Life AUM/AUA data as at 30 June 2017. Aberdeen Asset Management AUM data as at 31 March 2017. All other data as at 30 June 2017.
Important: Investors should read and understand the Information Memorandum dated 9 April 2018 and the Supplementary Information Memorandum (if any) (hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Information Memorandum”) as well as the Product Highlights Sheet in respect of Aberdeen Global Diversified Growth Fund (hereinafter referred to as the “Fund”) which can be obtained at our office or from any of our approved distributors. Investors should seek relevant professional investment advice before making any investment decision and consider the fees and charges involved before investing in the Fund. A copy of the Information Memorandum has been lodged with the Securities Commission of Malaysia.
Investments in Units issued by the Fund are not deposits in, obligations of, or guaranteed or insured by Aberdeen Asset Management Sdn. Bhd. (the “Manager”), and are subject to investment risks, including the possible loss of all the principal amount invested. As the value of the Units and income therefrom may fall or rise, past performance of the Fund is not indicative of its future performance. Units will only be issued upon receipt of the application form referred to in and accompanying the Information Memorandum, subject to the terms and conditions therein.
The information herein shall not be disclosed, used or disseminated, in whole or in part, and shall not be reproduced, copied or made available to others. The Manager reserves the right to make changes and corrections to the information, including any opinions or forecasts expressed herein at any time, without notice.
