Investment Management

Annual Report 2017

Investment Management

UOB Asset Management (UOBAM) offers a comprehensive suite of products, from unit trusts and exchange-traded funds to customised portfolio management services across asset classes and geographies, to individual and institutional investors in Asia.  

UOB Venture Management (UOBVM) focuses on investing in high-growth, privately-held companies in Southeast Asia and Greater China through private equity funds.

2017 Highlights

UOB Alternative Investment Management (UOBAIM) was restructured as part of UOBAM Group, adding its alternative investment products and services to UOBAM’s range of investment solutions;
Included environmental and social considerations into UOBAM’s securities evaluation and approval process for our equities portfolio, and launched the United Thai Equity Corporate Governance Fund in Thailand to promote sustainable investing;
Partnered T. Rowe Price International Ltd. (T. Rowe Price) to offer retail investors opportunities to tap long-term growth trends in technology and innovation through the United Global Technology Fund (UGTF);
Launched UOBAM Invest, Singapore’s first digital advisory service for companies to manage their discretionary investments. UOB’s Group Commercial Banking clients were the first to access UOBAM’s portfolio solutions through the service;
Recognised as a leading asset manager in Asia with UOBAM receiving more than 10 awards from across the region, including Best Fixed Income Fund House at the Morningstar Singapore Fund Awards 2017;
Added to UOBVM’s investee portfolio by leading the Series B financing for Ruangguru, an Indonesian education technology (EdTech) start-up that provides students across Indonesia affordable access to quality educational content; and
Supported the promotion of inclusive financing in Myanmar by investing in a microfinance institution, Alliance for Microfinance in Myanmar Ltd (Alliance Myanmar), through the Asia Impact Investment Fund (AIIF), a collaboration between UOBVM and Credit Suisse AG, Singapore Branch (Credit Suisse).

Investing Responsibly to Support Economic and Social Development

UOBVM pursues responsible investment opportunities in support of economic and social development. Since 2004 with the launch of our flagship ACIF, we have incorporated ESG assessment in our investment evaluation process. Our team of experienced investment professionals in Singapore, Indonesia and China identifies and assists promising entrepreneurs in revenue and profit margin expansion and provides them with advisory on enhancing their ESG practices.

In 2017, the third series of the ACIF continued to invest in privately-held companies that capitalise on growth opportunities in trade, knowledge transfer and capital flows between ASEAN and China.

We led the Series B financing for an EdTech company, Ruangguru. The company offers affordable access to quality and interactive digital-based educational content to educators and students, especially those from lower-income families, in all 34 provinces across Indonesia. With close to six million users of its services in more than 19,000 schools, Ruangguru is a market leader in EdTech in the country.

We invested in Ruangguru, an EdTech company that provides students across Indonesia affordable access to quality educational content.

UOBVM also manages the AIIF, which invests in socially-responsible, high-growth companies that help to improve the living standards of low income communities in Southeast Asia and China, in collaboration with Credit Suisse. Tapping the combined expertise of both organisations, the AIIF offers high-net-worth and institutional investors opportunities to contribute to social and environmental improvement through social impact investing.

In 2017, the AIIF invested in Alliance Myanmar, which provides microfinancing and financial education to the less privileged communities in Myanmar with a focus on female entrepreneurs. The funding was in support of Alliance Myanmar’s continued expansion, outreach and development of its service portfolio.

During the year, another UOBVM fund, the UVM 3 Venture Investments LP, was awarded “Preferred Provider” by Mercer Investment Solutions (Singapore) Pte Ltd, the independent rating agency appointed by Contact Singapore for its Global Investor Programme (GIP). The GIP accords Singapore Permanent Residence status to foreign investors with a substantial business track record and successful entrepreneurial background who intend to drive their business and investment growth from Singapore.

Annual Report 2017

Investment Management

2017 Highlights

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