UOB Asset Management wins three awards

including CEO of the Year in Asia

Disclaimer: This document is for general information only and does not constitute an offer or solicitation to deal in the units in the funds (the “Funds”) or investment advice or a recommendation and was prepared without regard to the specific objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person who may receive it. Investors should note that not all the Funds mentioned above are offered for subscription in Singapore. Where the Funds are offered for subscription in Singapore, copies of the prospectus of the Funds are available and may be obtained from UOB Asset Management Ltd (“UOBAM”) or any of its appointed agents or distributors. Investors should read the relevant prospectus before investing. Applications for units in the Funds, if available, must be made on the application forms accompanying the relevant prospectus. Past performance of the Funds or of UOBAM, its subsidiaries, associates or affiliates or any fund managed by them, is not necessarily indicative of the future or likely performance of the same. The value of Units and the income from them, if any, may fall as well as rise. Investments in the Funds involves risks, including the possible loss of the principal amount invested, and are not obligations of, deposits in, or guaranteed or insured by United Overseas Bank Limited (“UOB”), UOBAM or any of their subsidiary, associate or affiliate (“UOB Group”) or distributors of the Funds. The Fund may use or invest in financial derivative instruments and you should be aware of the risks associated with investments in financial derivative instruments which are described in the Fund's prospectus. No representation or promise as to the performance of the Funds or the return on your investment is made. There is no guarantee that any Fund will meet its investment objectives. The UOB Group may have interests in the Units and may also perform or seek to perform brokering and other investment or securities-related services for any of the Funds. You may wish to seek advice from a financial adviser before making a commitment to invest in any Units, and in the event that you choose not to do so, you should consider carefully whether the relevant Funds are suitable for you. UOB Asset Management Ltd Co. Reg. No.:198600120Z

Asia Asset Management Best of the Best Awards 2014

Please refer to uobam.com.sg for more information.

UOB Asset Management (UOBAM) scored in all three categories at Asia

Asset Management’s 2014 Best of the Best Awards that took place in

Hong Kong on Friday, 27 March 2015. UOBAM was honoured for its

leadership, innovative product offerings and strong fund management

across Asia at the award presentation ceremony. UOBAM garnered

awards in each of the three categories - namely, Performance, Country

and Regional.

Mr Thio Boon Kiat, winner of the CEO of the Year in Asia award feels that the accolades are in

recognition of UOBAM’s dedication to transparency, local expertise and its people.

“It is about teamwork and making sure that the individuals collectively add up to more than the sum of the parts. The investment management industry, and indeed the finance industry, is made up of many talented people, but harnessing all of these things and getting them to work together is equally if not more important,” he explains.

These awards are as follows:

1. Performance category: Asian Bonds (10 years) – UOBAM

2. Country category: Most Innovative Product – UOBAM (Thailand)

3. Regional category: CEO of the Year in Asia – Mr Thio Boon Kiat

This is the third time that UOBAM has been privileged to receive this annual award. UOBAM won Best

Retail House (Singapore) at the Asia Asset Management Best of the Best Awards in 2009 and 2010.

UOBAM is one of the most awarded fund managers in Singapore, with a total of 150 awards garnered

since 1996.

We will continue to strive to be the top asset management house in the region and we thank our

customers and partners for your trust and valuable support.

Important Notice and DisclaimersThis document is for general information only and does not constitute an offer or solicitation to deal in the units of any fund managed by UOB Asset Management Ltd (“UOBAM”), its subsidiaries, associates, joint ventures or affiliates (the “Funds”) or investment advice or a recommendation and was prepared without regard to the specific objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person who may receive it. All awards mentioned above were awarded to UOBAM, its subsidiaries, associates, joint ventures or affiliates (as the case may be). The information above is based on certain assumptions, information and conditions available as at the date of publication and may be subject to change at any time without notice. Past performance of the Funds or of UOBAM, its subsidiaries, associates, joint ventures or affiliates, is not necessarily indicative of the future or likely performance of the same. The value of investments and the income from them, if any, may fall as well as rise. Investments in the Funds involves risks, including the possible loss of the principal amount invested, and are not obligations of, deposits in, or guaranteed or insured by United Overseas Bank Limited (“UOB”), UOBAM or any of their subsidiaries, associates, joint ventures or affiliates (“UOB Group”) or distributors of the Funds. No representation or promise as to the performance of the Funds or the return on your investment is made. There is no guarantee that any Fund will meet its investment objectives. The UOB Group may have interests in the Funds and may also perform or seek to perform brokering and other investment or securities-related services for any of the Funds. You may wish to seek advice from a financial adviser before making a commitment to invest in any Fund, and in the event that you choose not to do so, you should consider carefully whether the relevant Funds are suitable for you.UOB Asset Management Ltd Co. Reg. No. 198600120Z

Your gateway to unlocking Asian investment opportunities.Successful investing is all about identifying and accessing the very

best opportunities. UOB Asset Management brings together Asian

investment expertise across a diversified range of asset classes and

products and we are proud to be recognised as one of Asia’s most

awarded fund houses. With our proven track record and local expertise,

there’s no better way to invest in Asia.

Achieve your investment goals with an award-winning team today.

Visit uobam.com.sg or call (65) 6222 2228.

Best of the Best Awards 2014

Performance – Asian Bonds, 10 YearsUOB Asset Management

Country – Thailand, Most Innovative ProductUOB Asset Management (Thailand)

Regional – CEO of the Year in AsiaMr. Thio Boon Kiat, UOB Asset Management

Best of the Best AwardsAsiA Asset MAnAgeMent MArch 2015

UOB Asset MAnAgeMent

Pulling in one directionUOB Asset Management (UOBAM) capped a stellar

2014 by picking up a trio of coveted honours at Asia Asset Management’s Best of the Best Awards: Asian Bonds (10 years), Most Innovative Product in the Thailand category, and arguably most prestigious of all, CEO of the Year in Asia.

For Mr. Thio Boon Kiat, the Singaporean fund manager’s Chief Executive Officer and 20-year company veteran, the prizes are recognition of UOBAM’s dedication to trust, transparency, and local expertise. In terms of his own contribution to the firm’s triumphs, however, Mr. Thio is commendably modest.

“Leadership is important as it sets the tone for the company,” he believes. “But in my mind, what is most important though is the culture of the company. That pervades throughout our philosophy and the way we do business and conduct ourselves as investment managers.”

Under the guidance of Mr. Thio, who during his time with the firm has worked his way through the echelons of senior management, UOBAM has grown into one of Singapore’s top investment houses, boasting a range of equity and fixed-income funds covering single country, sectors, and regions, as well as one Exchange Traded Fund (ETF).

Integral to its success has been its strong culture of talent and teamwork, which Mr. Thio says encourages debate and discussion in an open forum across different aspects of the business. “I have been at UOBAM for about 20 years now and I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with many different management styles,” he explains. “It is about teamwork and making sure that the individuals collectively add up to more than the sum of the parts. The investment management industry, and indeed the finance industry, is made up of many talented people, but harnessing all of these things and getting them to work together is equally if not more important.”

In the years since the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), the value of trust and integrity in regard to investing can no longer be underestimated. In the case of UOBAM, these are two unshakeable tenets of the firm’s investing ideology; and both concepts have become deeply rooted in the UOBAM brand. “You must recognise that investment management is a trust business; we need to focus almost entirely on our investors, the people who entrust money with us, and that is the common thread that runs through the way my team and I lead the organisation,” Mr. Thio says.

Standing out among the crowd in Singapore, arguably South East Asia’s most important investment management hub, is no mean feat, and Mr. Thio attributes UOBAM’s accomplishments to its market-leading local and regional knowledge.

“One common thread that runs throughout the organisation is that we are an Asian company; we tap on our strengths in respect of our knowledge in Asia. It helps that our investment professionals have knowledge on the ground,” he believes. “We also value the relationships and partnerships that we have in Asia. As Asians, we have a better understanding and

respect for different cultures in Asian markets. I think that these factors are what differentiate UOBAM.”

It is this expertise that the fund house has been leveraging as it extends its influence throughout the region. In 2013, UOBAM collaborated with Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management (SMAM) to offer a new Asia Pacific real estate unit trust, in a bid to tap into the increasing wealth and growing population in Asia. To capitalise on SMAM’s expertise in Japan, UOBAM also launched a Japan small and mid-cap fund, which was well received. Prior to this, it acquired ING’s investment management business in Thailand, further extending its reach in the ASEAN region. Going back further, in 2010 it launched its maiden foray in Mainland China with the establishment of Ping An UOB Fund Management Company.

“In the case of the Thai acquisition, we are generally pleased with it so far; integration has been reasonably smooth. Ping An has also been a very good and professional partner and the collaboration has worked out well,” is how Mr. Thio summarises the successes of these ventures thus far.

In the near term, he says that the firm is keen to use its extensive expertise and presence in Asian markets to seek more partnerships within and beyond the region, in terms of both distribution and investment capabilities. “In terms of opportunities, we sense that potential partners are increasingly more comfortable with having an Asian partner for various reasons. I would not call it a niche per se, but it is certainly an area that we are strong in, both in terms of operation and investment. As an Asian-focussed house, we can capitalise on our deep knowledge of the region.”

Mr. Thio is eager to reiterate that the company will not collaborate with partners for the sake of it, however, with any engagements strictly for the long term. “What we notice about the relationships with partners that we have is that there is a very healthy respect for the fact that we are long-term players in this industry and in this region,” Mr. Thio believes. “Having come through the recent crises, whether it is the GFC or the more recent European crisis, we are seen to be present with our partners through the good times and bad; this is becoming increasingly important.” ■

Thio Boon Kiat