Malaysia

Ian Silk joins KPMG as special advisor on ESG issues; Chinese government to conduct probe on insurers and their investments after discovering compliance issues; Ray Dalio's Bridgewater Associates raises $1.25 billion for its third investment fund in China; Korea's NPS posts 8% return for first three quarters of the year; Binance confirms talks with sovereign wealth funds; and more.

Chinese bad debt manager Huarong will receive a bailout totalling more than $6 billion; APG and Wang On Properties to invest $599 million into residential real estate in Hong Kong; Temasek cuts stake in Alibaba, Didi; Allianz becomes China's first wholly foreign-owned insurer; Samsung Life Insurance launches joint fund with Korea Post to invest in foreign blue chips; and more

Japan's GPIF posted 0.98% investment return in the second quarter ended September; Taiwanese pension funds overseen by BLF report 5.75% return for the first nine months of 2021; Abu Dhabi Growth Fund signs agreement with Indonesia Investment Authority; OTPP allocates 25% stake in road infrastructure in India; and more.

The Korea Investment Corporation (KIC) has decreased alternative asset allocation for two straight years; Cryptocurrency exchange FTX draws funding from OTPP, Temasek; Former head of investments at Temasek joins De Beers billionaire's family office in Singapore; GIC reportedly commits to new ESR Japan Income Fund; CPP Investments commits to logistics partnership in Japan; and more.

Manulife appoints new COO; the head of investment stewardship at VFMC departs; June Wong joins Value Partners as president; State Street appoints head of Singapore and Southeast Asia, and head of Australia; BlackRock COO joins UBS AM as Australia and New Zealand country head; Pictet veteran named as Asia CIO; Nomura AM Malaysia head to step down; and more

Hong Kong's Exchange Fund posted a third-quarter investment loss after five quarters of gains; the Monetary Authority of Singapore said it would raise the slope of its currency policy band up from its current 0%; the Korea Investment Corporation surpasses $20 billion in AUM for the first time; RB Family Office to buy 12 four-storey conservation shophouses in Singapore; and more.

GPIF will not invest in Chinese sovereign bonds and exclude them from benchmarks; Temasek and HSBC partner up for debt financing platform for sustainable infrastructure projects; KIC advised to consider European rental housing projects with local firms; PNB funds to give out $150 million payout; APG and PPF buy stake in New Zealand timber producer; and more.

Intrust Super chief executive to step down after merger; Aware acquires site for essential worker affordable housing; China bans cryptocurrency-related business activities; Hong Kong insure FWD filed for US listing of ADRs; Nippon Life acquires wealth life insurance from MassMutual; NPS to hire five investment managers to diversify portfolio; Malaysia to review Spacs framework; EPF reports $8 billion investment income; and more

EISS Super CEO resigns after failing performance test; China to launch wealth management pilots in four cities; Hong Kong's MPF grows 26% y-o-y; India's NIIF in talks to acquire and develop green energy assets; Korea Post to hire financial services firm; GIC, Baring Private Equity, IMM Private Equity to exit from Kyobo Life Insurance; Khazana to sell stake in Cenviro; EPF trims stake in oil palm planter; and more

MAS names sustainability head; Malaysia’s EPF appoints COO and CFO; GIC PE head for SEA leaves; State Super hires new exec; Hesta appoints chief growth officer, chief Debby Blakey appointed to corporate governance board; ex-BlackRock exec joins IQ-EQ in Singapore; HSBC AM builds direct real estate team; ex-Vanguard head of distribution joins LGIM; Sanne names Singapore head; and more

Generally, however, Asian pension funds’ allocations to alternative assets demonstrated only a modest increase of 0.6% from 2019 to 2020.

Australia's Future Fund develops new investment strategy; Aware Super looking for buyers for agribusiness portfolio; China to launch third stock exchange for small and medium businesses, and crackdown on mismanaged private funds; Kotec to hire asset manager for $130 million domestic bond mandate; Malaysia's EPF makes two senior appointments; SGX allows Spac listings; and more

Proposed changes to how Malaysian GLICs operate should clarify what their mandates are meant to achieve but risk putting pressure on returns, say observers

Sydney Airport rejects second takeover bid by consortium joined by AustralianSuper; Australia's FSC launches new charter to boost female representation in fund management; China's privately offered funds hit $3 trillion; GIC invests in China warehousing and industrial real estate with ESR Cayman and APG; Japan's new university fund looks to invest in alts and foreign stocks; and more.

Asset owners across Asia Pacific weathered some difficult market conditions in 2020. While most emerged from the year successfully, some notable exceptions suffered asset drops.

Zurich Australia appoints CEO for Australian and New Zealand; BNY Mellon hires Southeast Asia head of intermediary; Franklin Templeton names head of Asia distribution; Robeco to add three ESG specialists in Singapore; JP Morgan AM names new head of data science; JLL adds head of Greater China; Lombard Odier hires COO from Credit Suisse; and more.

AustralianSuper's CEO to step down; Franklin Templeton appoints ex-Calpers CIO as Asia chair; Zurich Malaysia names country head; Credit Suisse promotes new China CEO; DWS lures Amundi veteran back to Asia; Indosuez appoints head of North Asia; Citi Private Bank names SE Asia private capital head; Gaw Capital hires IDC investments head; and more.

Malaysia’s largest pension fund went through a thorough self-analysis before adopting public ESG portfolio goals. Its former chief executive explains how.

The Australian's Asic launches ESG fund review for greenwashing; Cbus hires from Apra; Hesta hires from AMP Life; Dai-ichi Life Insurance invests $50 million in climate infra fund; Korea's GEPS awards $105 million overseas infra mandates; Teachers' Pension calls for bids; QIA increases Credit Suisse stake; and more.

HSBC Asset Management adds ETF business director; Ninety One broadens fixed income team; former CEO of Malaysia's EPF joins Mavcap; Citi promotes new HNW private bank head for Apac; Deutsche Bank hires Southeast Asia wealth leader; Barclays appoints Singapore private bank head; HSBC names Malaysia wealth banking head; and more.