BNP Paribas Wealth Management (BNP Paribas WM) is challenging the early movers in the donor-advised fund (DAF) space, betting its own zero-fee platform will reframe philanthropy as a commercial driver for relationship managers. “Senior management sees the commitment across both sides of the pond to build up philanthropy capability. They wanted me to examine the landscape carefully, talk to the […]

The post BNP Paribas WM bets on zero-fee DAF to drive client stickiness in Asia appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBS Global Wealth Management is doubling down on philanthropy in Asia Pacific, identifying Australia and Japan as its primary growth engines for 2026.  As part of this regional push, the Swiss banking giant has launched its donor-advised fund (DAF) in Australia in February, aiming to capture a larger slice of the nation’s rapidly evolving private wealth market. The Australia launch […]

The post UBS rolls out donor-advised fund in Australia, eyes Japan growth  appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

On any given day, Bryan Goh finds himself having to strike a delicate balance. This careful balance, said the CEO and CIO of Singapore’s Tsao Family Office, lies between creating value for the benefit of the firm and its beneficiaries and deciding when to forgo income-generating opportunities because those investments are simply too unsustainable and decidedly harmful to the planet. […]

The post “It can be tempting”: Tsao Family Office on returns vs impact appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

A new dimension has entered the competition between Singapore and Hong Kong: the race to attract Asia’s growing philanthropic capital. As ultra-wealthy families embed impact and legacy into their wealth planning, both hubs are rolling out incentives, structural reforms and collaborative platforms to position themselves as the region’s preferred home for giving. Yet advisers say the rivalry is increasingly additive […]

The post Asia’s top giving hub? Singapore vs Hong Kong in the philanthropy race appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Singapore’s private banking industry is entering a new phase of competition. One defined not just by investment performance or platform depth, but by the quality and credibility of its philanthropic and impact-advisory capabilities. As wealthy families across Southeast Asia re-evaluate the role of capital in society, banks are restructuring advisory models, training frontline staff, and engaging with ecosystem partners to […]

The post A new era of UHNW philanthropy? HSBC GPB and BNP Paribas WM weigh in  appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

“[Climate change] is the greatest con job perpetrated on the world,” was the blunt assessment given by US President Donald Trump in September 2025 to the United Nations General Assembly. Trump went on to describe climate predictions as being “made by stupid people that have cost their country’s fortunes and given those same countries no chance for success,” representing a […]

The post Is sustainability still in play? Asia’s US$5tn asset owners say yes appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored advertorial from BNP Paribas AM. A shift from traditional materials to wood-based alternatives can foster nature’s preservation and resilience while opening new paths towards financial opportunities.The forest that dreams of space As small as they may be, paper straws are a compelling example of how a simple change can create a significant impact.  On a broader […]

The post Empowering natural capital while driving financial returns appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

A Singapore private banking veteran has joined a fund firm specialising in green impact investing to grow its family office business, Asian Private Banker has learnt. Based in Singapore, Kimmis Pun has started a new role as a managing director, family office at Beijing-headquartered Asia Green Fund Management. Pun has over two decades of experience in the private wealth management […]

The post Singapore private banking veteran joins green fund manager appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

China’s newly launched stewardship code is expected to transform how mutual fund managers engage with listed companies, introducing greater transparency across the investment landscape. Flora Wang, head of stewardship, Asia, at Fidelity International, describes the code as a landmark development. For the first time, local mutual funds are not only required to vote their shares but also publicly disclose the rationale […]

The post ESG 2.0 – What China’s new stewardship code means for fund managers appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As high net worth families in North Asia increasingly look beyond wealth preservation to legacy creation, philanthropy has become a central pillar of their trust and fiduciary planning, according to HSBC Global Private Banking’s Christina Tung. The head of trust and fiduciary services for North Asia is seeing more families setting up trusts to simplify the management of complex wealth, […]

The post Impactful Actions – North Asia’s wealthy turn to trusts for impact: HSBC GPB’s Christina Tung appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As donors embrace collaborative and data-driven approaches to philanthropy, BNP Paribas Wealth Management points to technology as a key enabler of transparency, cost-efficiency, and impact. Digital platforms and blockchain technology are enabling greater transparency and traceability in funding, empowering donors to see exactly how their contributions are being utilised and ensuring accountability, shared Mae Anderson, head of philanthropy service for […]

The post Impactful Actions – Tech trims the busywork, not the impact: BNP Paribas WM’s Asia philanthropy head appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The underperformance of sustainable thematic products in recent times has likely discouraged investors from exploring these opportunities. To capture investor interest, discussions should emphasise investment potential rather than sustainability itself, recommends BNP Paribas Asset Management. ESG is integrated into the investment process across all asset classes, including fixed income, equities, and private assets at the fund manager, according to Singapore […]

The post “ESG is an investment process, not a product”: BNP Paribas AM Singapore CEO appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Investors aren’t just writing checks, they want proof that their money is making a difference. Beyond traditional donors, they’re demanding real world results, according to Karen Kardos, head of philanthropic advisory at Citi Private Bank. In an interview with Asian Private Banker, Kardos shared that many philanthropists have built up significant expertise in the focus areas in which they operate. […]

The post Impactful Actions – “Investors are demanding real-world impact”: Citi PB’s philanthropy head appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Asian Private Banker is engaging with private banks to understand how they are shaping their philanthropic offerings and what strategies philanthropic organisations can adopt to ensure sustained funding for long-term causes. How are donor priorities shifting in 2025, and what innovative funding models are emerging to address global challenges? And how are projects adapting to measure and demonstrate real-world impact […]

The post “Remarkable growth”: UBS’s Sheryl Fofaria on sustainable philanthropy appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The wellness market is expected to reach US$10 trillion by 2030, representing a 30% increase from pre-COVID-19 levels, according to BNP Paribas Wealth Management’s head of sustainability for Asia. Eleonore Dachicourt is seeing promise in sectors like personal care, nutrition, fitness, and wellness tourism, with the US leading but China rapidly catching up. Innovations in cancer immunotherapy, gene editing, and […]

The post ESG 2.0 – “A fascinating space”: BNP Paribas WM bets on booming wellness sector appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Julius Baer has partnered with Cathay Pacific to promote the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in an industry widely recognised as one of the most challenging to decarbonise, Asian Private Banker can first reveal. The collaboration is part of Cathay’s corporate SAF programme, which Yvonne Suter, head of sustainability at Julius Baer, described as “one of the few airlines […]

The post Julius Baer, Cathay Pacific partner for sustainable aviation appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

While many investors are now more familiar with the concept of sustainable investing, US$214 billion asset manager Robeco believes transition investing is seeing increased interest in Asia and could reap higher returns in the long run. “We developed an in-house ESG framework (climate traffic light) to assess the transition pathways of companies. Here in Asia, the key topic that we’ve […]

The post How to invest in the Net Zero transition trend: Robeco’s Carola van Lamoen appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

While UOB’s private wealth arm made slow progress in global sustainable AUM in 2023, the Singaporean lender has been implementing ESG measures to improve its sustainability practices. Such measures include partnering with regional firms and introducing sustainability tools to its customer base. For instance, UOB has partnered with Keppel to provide advanced technologies that help SME customers scale up their […]

The post How UOB is enhancing its sustainability efforts appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Around 40 countries have held elections this year, impacting roughly 40% of the global population. So, how can ESG initiatives stay focused on quantifiable impact and risk materiality, avoiding dilution by social or political agendas? “The outcomes of these elections could really give a major change to these social and political agendas,” according to Holly So, sustainability strategist at Allianz […]

The post ESG 2.0 – US$605bn manager warns of “delayed transition” amid political risk appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

By construction, Paris-Aligned Benchmark (PAB) indices are more ambitious than Climate Transition Benchmarks (CTB), and their performance is comparable to any classic large-cap benchmark, believes Paul Lacroix, head of structuring at Ossiam, who discusses the differences, performance implications, of the exclusion and transition models. Both benchmarks serve to align investment portfolios with a low-carbon future, but their primary differences lie […]

The post Paris-aligned vs climate transition? US$10bn fund manager weighs in appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship races through city streets worldwide, Julius Baer has been a steadfast partner since 2014, supporting the future of electric mobility and believing that Formula E will boost the popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) and drive innovation. After nine seasons and over 100 races in more than 30 cities, the Swiss pure play […]

The post “Little noise, but big impact”: Julius Baer races into the future with Formula E appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

A recent MSCI study on 168 APAC banks’ net-zero transition found that over two-thirds have disclosed Scope 1 and 2 emissions, but just over half have disclosed Scope 3 emissions, and only 18% have set targets to reduce financed emissions. Asian Private Banker spoke to Anthony Chan, vice president of MSCI ESG & Climate Research to gain more insights. “We […]

The post ESG 2.0 – APAC banks lag in Scope 3 emissions reporting: MSCI appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

With global sustainable investment (SI) assets under management (AUM) among private banks crossing US$1 trillion in 2023 – representing a sizeable opportunity for firms with the right offerings – questions still remain about SI progress in Asia as it is unclear how much of these funds come from the region. Private banks have indicated to Asian Private Banker that Asian […]

The post A US$1tn market: Here’s how private banks’ sustainability progress stacks up in Asia appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Christian Nolting, Deutsche Bank’s global CIO, believes all-time highs or lows should not be the sole driving force behind buying and selling, and instead highlighted two interesting areas poised for growth: China and ESG. Despite slower growth rates in the US, Europe, and to some extent, Asia, relative growth rates favour Asia, the global CIO told Asian Private Banker during […]

The post Deutsche Bank’s global CIO highlights two surprising growth markets appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

In 2023, discretionary portfolio management (DPM) industry conversations were dominated by the topic of how to get clients out of cash and put their money back to work. Meanwhile, much time and energy was spent promoting sustainable investments (SI). Amid all the chatter, have banks managed to increase their Asia DPM penetration? And have more funds really been directed towards […]

The post Asia 2023 DPM and SI League Table: Sustainable investments break US$1 trillion, while DPM penetration stays stuck in the mud appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Why consider fixed income in discretionary portfolio management? And how does a climate transition credit strategy tackle climate, credit, and cash flow goals? Henrietta Pacquement, head of global fixed income and head of sustainability at Allspring Global Investments, sheds light. While immediate climate action is crucial, Pacquement notes a growing availability of data for fixed income investors to align portfolios […]

The post ESG 2.0 – Climate transition credit in DPM? Allspring’s sustainability chief says ‘makes sense’ appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBS’s foundation has teamed up with a non-profit to help support young people in addressing pressing climate issues in Hong Kong. UBS Optimus Foundation Hong Kong will be the seed funder of the ‘UBS x Melo Social Challenge’, a programme the bank jointly launched with Hong Kong-based non-profit Project Melo, according to a statement on Wednesday. The programme takes the […]

The post UBS foundation seeds youth programme to tackle climate issues in Hong Kong appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

From now on, you may need more than just a CFA designation to stand out in the growing private wealth industry. While the CFA is a notoriously difficult and prestigious qualification to obtain with high failure rates, the CFA Institute is now looking to launch more specialised certificates in private wealth management and private markets to better assist hiring firms […]

The post You may need these qualifications to stand out in private wealth appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Analysts expect that the continued growth in renewables will thrust the “humble battery” into the limelight after world leaders pledged to triple renewable energy capacity by 2023 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28). More than a hundred countries have committed to triple renewable energy capacity worldwide by 2030, a goal that some experts suggest is needed to help […]

The post Investors pick the “humble battery” as winner of COP28 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Wealthier Hongkongers and Singaporeans are more likely to prioritise ESG and sustainability concerns in investing when compared to those at an earlier stage of wealth accumulation, according to a recent report from St. James’s Place Asia (SJP Asia). Appetite for ESG The report, Money Relationship Monitor – The Wealth Journey, categorised 2,000 Hongkongers and Singaporeans into five different stages of […]

The post Wealthier Hongkongers, Singaporeans more likely to prioritise ESG: report appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The textile industry could significantly cut its environmental impact by tackling overproduction and a culture of fast fashion, Susan Joho, economist at Julius Baer, has highlighted in her latest study. Focused on the textile industry, which is projected to be valued at over US$1 trillion by 2030, Joho found that textile production has risen to reach 14kg per capita globally. […]

The post Woven inequity and CO2? The textile world faces its own challenges, Julius Baer finds appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

It is no secret that the ESG environment in the US and Europe is seen as a step ahead of the rest. However, one British US$18 billion boutique asset manager is betting on ESG in India, making the country the cornerstone of its sustainable APAC strategy. UK-based Stewart Investors explained to Asian Private Banker why it believes the South Asian […]

The post Why this UK asset manager is betting on ESG in India appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Jenn-Hui Tan believes investors can influence local ESG practices by investing in the end clients of companies in frontier markets. The chief sustainability officer at Fidelity International calls this the ‘supply chain effect’, and at the same time, cautions against underestimating the associated challenges. Frontier markets and emerging markets share common aspects when it comes to integrating ESG principles because […]

The post “None of us want to buy clothes made by children”: Fidelity’s sustainability chief appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Exploring the world of green creativity, we asked sustainable investing expert Mario Knoepfel from UBS a thought-provoking question: If you had to create an ESG-themed superhero, what would their name and superpowers be? In response, the head of sustainable investing advisory for Asia Pacific highlighted that given how climate change stands as a paramount challenge in our time, his superhero Climate […]

The post ESG 2.0 – UBS’s Mario Knoepfel describes his ESG superhero appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

With the rapid growth of manufacturing in Asia over the past two decades, environmentally-unfriendly production has had significant consequences for natural resources and communities, Lisa Genasci, managing director for sustainable finance of ADM Capital, told Asian Private Banker in an interview. “Systemic change is going to be required to address our climate crisis,” she added. “But that is not just […]

The post ESG 2.0 – Private markets crucial to solving climate crisis: ADM Capital appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

During his recent trip to Hong Kong, Hari Balkrishna, portfolio manager of the Global Impact Equity Strategy at T. Rowe Price, explained his view on corporate governance for Asian companies and how impact investing plays a role in global allocation. “It’s really important to recognise that when companies deliver positive environmental or social impact, they typically tend to be companies […]

The post ESG 2.0 – Why impact investing goes further than ESG: T. Rowe Price appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) investing is becoming increasingly popular as countries vow to navigate towards a low-carbon economy. The journey, however, requires ESG investing to move beyond simply divesting from coal and dirty energy, according to lawyers at Stephenson Harwood speaking to Asian Private Banker. “ESG is a learning journey. There have been so many controversies,” Tze-wei Ng, […]

The post ESG investing needs to move beyond divestments: Stephenson Harwood appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Despite seafood consumption surpassing population growth and terrestrial meat consumption, the underinvested seafood industry faces substantial environmental and social issues. As such, immediate action is necessary, urges Markus Müller from Deutsche Bank Private Bank. The CIO ESG & global head of CIO office attributes the main risks in the seafood sector to high market concentration, lack of diversification in the global value […]

The post ESG 2.0 – A private banking CIO’s plea to save our seafood appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

China’s sustainable future, together with opportunities arising from China’s re-opening, are the most significant trends among both onshore and offshore investors, according to Du Yi, senior investment manager, thematic equities, at Pictet Asset Management. Du explained why Pictet chose China A-shares for its first-ever single-market ESG fund. Du noted that the team is seeing potential in renewable energy, such as […]

The post ESG 2.0: Investing in China’s sustainable future: Pictet AM appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Chitra Hepburn is seeing a significant number of Asian companies proactively disclosing their carbon emissions. And this trend can be attributed to a combination of regulatory requirements and a genuine belief that transparency will help to garner support from investors and consumers. While Europe has emerged as a frontrunner in disclosure practices, “following that is a whole sphere of APAC […]

The post ESG 2.0 – Asian companies are cracking the climate code: MSCI appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Is achieving a just transition possible worldwide, or are there particular challenges that need to be considered in different regions or countries? We ask Ellie Tang, director of sustainable investing at Fidelity International. While developing nations that rely heavily on fossil fuels may feel unfairly pressured into an energy transition without adequate support, people in vulnerable communities, such as indigenous […]

The post ESG 2.0 – Can the world unite for a just transition? Fidelity’s Ellie Tang explains appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Biodiversity is not only about nature but also the livelihood of communities, stresses Mirova CEO Philippe Zaouati, who is keen to double the firm’s natural capital assets this year. “When we think about natural capital, nature biodiversity comes to mind, but most of the time this is more of a social issue,” Zaouati told Asian Private Banker during his recent […]

The post How a US$29bn fund manager plans to double natural capital assets appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Rising geopolitical tensions and a rapid trajectory of interest rate hikes weighed on markets in 2022 – and ESG assets were no exception. Despite solid fundamentals in some cases, concerns over an economic slowdown severely hit the valuations of clean energy companies. However, Pictet Asset Management (Pictet AM) believes that the reasons for investing in the clean energy transition theme […]

The post ESG 2.0 – Energy transition the investment theme for 2023 and beyond: Pictet appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Benjamin Cavalli is on a mission to convert clients to sustainable investments. For Credit Suisse, a big part of that is upskilling its RMs when it comes to sustainability. This is how he plans to do it. Last year, the APAC wealth management head of Credit Suisse spearheaded an initiative in Singapore that could potentially grow into a larger push […]

The post Credit Suisse’s Benjamin Cavalli: Upskilling RMs key to sustainability push appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

In 2021, Regnan poached two fund managers from Fidelity to launch a new water and waste equity fund, a strategy that was not new to the duo, who had already championed a similar fund at their previous company. Fund manager Saurabh Sharma and senior fund manager Bertrand Lecourt joined Regnan, the impact investing arm of JO Hambro Capital Management, in […]

The post Ex-Fidelity PM aims to make an impact with new water and waste fund appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

What is climate change’s disproportionate impact on women? And do female-led investment teams perform better during down markets? Danielle Welsh-Rose, ESG investment director, Asia-Pacific and head of sustainability institute at abrdn, answers these questions and more for Asian Private Banker. “Women experience greater impacts from climate change than men do. And [we] see this coming up in a number of […]

The post ESG 2.0 – Climate change impacts women more than men: abrdn’s Danielle Welsh-Rose appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Credit Suisse has given the go-ahead to one of its senior impact investment specialists to establish a new independent firm to provide clients access to opportunities in the sector across Southeast Asia and China, according to an internal memo seen by Asian Private Banker.  Incubated by Credit Suisse, Double Delta has been set up by Joost Bilkes, the bank’s head […]

The post Credit Suisse appoints independent firm to advise impact fund appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Nordea Asset Management (Nordea AM) is looking hard to find an oil and gas producer that its clients could hold in their portfolios, but none have committed to stopping petroleum exploration, said Eric Pedersen, the Nordic firm’s head of responsible investment. While the scope of financial materiality is widening day by day, there will be periods where the financial and […]

The post €248B AM calls on oil and gas companies to make “real change” appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

In 2019, two BNP Paribas Wealth Management veterans co-founded GoImpact Capital Partners, an ESG and sustainability education firm.  In an interview with the Asian Private Banker, Clarence T’ao and Helene Li shared their insights on how education plays a key role in promoting impact investing. According to Li, building the talent pipeline is a key driver to pushing the impact […]

The post ESG 2.0 – A “passion” for sustainability is the secret to success for this impact investor appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

What are the main ESG challenges for different types of investors, especially in adapting to the growing interest from private banking clients? When it comes to Asia’s ESG development, data sources, an on-the-ground team and enhanced screening processes are crucial, Sandra Carlisle, head of sustainability for Jupiter Asset Management, told Asian Private Banker. Carlisle explained the ESG enhancement initiatives Jupiter […]

The post ESG 2.0 – Bespoke solutions becoming crucial for private clients: Jupiter AM appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

With climate change ranking as one of the threats to the global economy over the next decade, Fan Cheuk Wan believes “it is mission critical to build future-proof portfolios which are resilient to withstand climate and biodiversity risks”. “Ignoring climate change and ESG risks when investing is no longer a viable option,” the managing director and chief investment officer, Asia, […]

The post How to build ESG portfolios with impact investing: Fan Cheuk Wan of HSBC GPB appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Since Bryan Goh became head of the Tsao Family Office in 2019, he has helped to revamp its due diligence process for ESG investments, which up to then mainly involved exclusions and parametric scoring. In an interview with Asian Private Banker, the CEO discusses how and why the family office had to change its ESG investing approach, which is still […]

The post ESG 2.0 – “Inclusions and exclusions give clarity but not fidelity”: Tsao Family Office CEO appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Climate change is at the forefront of investors’ thoughts when considering new investment opportunities, a new survey has found. More than half – 53% – of the 849 respondents to the second annual ESG Survey 2022 from Deutsche Bank Private Bank’s Chief Investment Office regard it as the most important ESG principle when allocating their assets. Additionally, 78% believe it is already having a severe […]

The post Climate change is top ESG concern for investors in 2022: Deutsche Bank survey appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

BNP Paribas Asset Management, which has €488 billion in AUM, has outlined a roadmap for achieving net zero portfolio emissions by 2050. The European fund manager hopes to progressively align its portfolio investments with the goal of reaching net zero emissions, together with associated efforts across its stewardship activities and its operations. That would mean “transitioning our investments to net […]

The post €488B fund manager unveils plan to achieve net zero by 2050 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

How do the economic backdrop and recent ESG scandals impact on conversations with clients? And how do digital tools help raise awareness of socially responsible investing? Eleonore Dachicourt, BNP Paribas Wealth Management’s head of sustainable and responsible investments for Asia, shares her thoughts on these topics with Asian Private Banker. “Many debates are emerging around the topic of ESG .. […]

The post ESG 2.0 – BNP Paribas WM’s Eleonore Dachicourt on ESG scandals and digital tools appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Dr Mary Ann Tsao, chair of the Tsao Foundation, feels it is becoming harder to distinguish traditional philanthropy from impact investing, which aims for a financial return while having a positive impact on the society. For Tsao, impact investing/philanthropy simply means doing the right thing – whether it is investing, charity or running a business. “It’s all about positive change,” […]

The post Marrying philanthropy and profit is tricky: Dr Mary Ann Tsao appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

A report published by the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society showed that Hong Kong missed 14 out of 20 Aichi Biodiversity targets set by the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. Jonathan Ho, a sustainability specialist at Allianz Global Investors, has identified three key challenges for mainstreaming biodiversity in the territory. “I would argue that in Hong Kong, climate is often […]

The post ESG 2.0 – Hong Kong fails to meet biodiversity targets. Why? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Holger Frey takes an ESG-focused approach to investing. When the Credit Suisse portfolio manager screens for companies he wants to gain exposure to, his first question is: “What is the environmental benefit of their product?” Corporate governance is another important factor he considers, but he really wants to know how the company is innovating to solve environmental challenges. That is […]

The post “Product impact first”: How a US$900m Credit Suisse strategy tackles ESG appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Adrian Cheng feels that philanthropy these days is being used as a form of public relations to promote a company’s brand or as an expression of power among the super-rich to label themselves as good neighbours. “I don’t respect them at all because they are just hijacking a theme called sustainability to brand themselves,” the Hong Kong tycoon told Asian […]

The post Hong Kong tycoon Adrian Cheng: Philanthropy is not public relations appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The greatest barriers around ESG investment in India are data and the lack of professionals with the right skillset to make sense of that data, according to Soumya Rajan, founder and CEO of Waterfield Advisors, an Indian multi-family office that advises on over US$4.3 billion of assets. Today in India, only one in five companies actually put in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, and only 63 out of […]

The post ESG 2.0 – We don’t know enough about ESG: Waterfield Advisors CEO on India appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

BlueOnion has built a portal that provides access to quantitative and qualitative benchmark data about ESG. By connecting the buy and the sell-side of investment products, it caters to investors and gatekeepers who consider sustainability critical to their investment decisions. Elsa Pau, founder and CEO, gave Asian Private Banker a demo of the portal, showing how it can help private […]

The post ESG 2.0 – BlueOnion helps private bank clients deep-diving into ESG criteria appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Since most of the emerging diseases in humans originate from animals in our food chain, Pictet Asset Management is focusing on animal health technologies that are able to identify and prevent the emergence and spread of illnesses such as Coronavirus or influenza amongst animals — before they can spread to other animals or to humans. Senior investment manager Mayssa Al […]

The post ESG 2.0 – Pictet AM finds sweet spots in virus prevention tech appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

LGT Bank (Singapore) has appointed two members to its board of directors with a view to strengthening its sustainability, ESG and sustainable investing expertise. Neo Gim Huay has been named as member of the Managing Board and head of the Centre for Nature and Climate at the World Economic Forum (WEF), responsible for climate and nature-related programmes and partnerships. Prior […]

The post LGT Singapore board adds two ESG specialists appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Has ESG investing been compromised by the recent underperformance of ESG funds? And what are the top three critical factors Bank of Singapore examines when choosing ESG funds? Jean Chia, CIO and head of portfolio management and research office, shares her insights with Asian Private Banker. “We are getting more sophisticated in terms of the funds in which we invest,” […]

The post ESG 2.0 – Three musts when choosing ESG funds: Jean Chia of Bank of Singapore appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Barclays Private Bank has integrated ESG into all of its discretionary portfolio solutions, arguing that this helps to build a better picture of the long-term operational quality of businesses. When screening companies, Michael Topley applies what he calls a “three-legged” method. “It’s like a three-legged stool, where you need all three legs, otherwise you’re kind of sitting on the floor,” […]

The post ESG is like a three-legged stool: Michael Topley of Barclays PB appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

ESG investing is attracting growing interest from private banks and their clients across Asia-Pacific – and India is no exception. However, familiarity with the topic in the South Asian country remains nascent compared to other parts of the region. Below, Rajesh Cheruvu, CIO of Validus Wealth, shares with Asian Private Banker five key ESG themes to watch in the coming […]

The post Five ESG trends in India that private banks need to know about appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Compared to traditional stocks and bonds, how does land-based investment provide a reliable hedge against inflation in the long-term? And what does it mean to diversify via crop types, and how does that translate into performance? Martin Davies, global head of Nuveen Natural Capital, shares all this and more with Asian Private Banker. “Diversifying by different crop types [such as […]

The post ESG 2.0 – Crop diversification and income? Nuveen’s Martin Davies explains appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Tomomi Shimada from J.P. Morgan Asset Management doesn’t think the level of energy transition risk associated with energy stocks has been overblown, but it comes into effect in different time scales and it is important to incorporate that. In this interview with Asian Private Banker, the APAC lead sustainable investing specialist explains why climate investors should not be distracted by […]

The post ESG 2.0 – Don’t get distracted by short-term noise: J.P. Morgan AM’s Tomomi Shimada on energy transition appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Union Bancaire Privée (UBP) has set a target to transition its discretionary portfolio solutions to 100% sustainable investments by 2023. Currently, 70% of UBP’s DPM investments are based on sustainability, and on the asset management side there is a clear demand for 100% sustainable investments, shared Michaël Lok, co-CEO of asset management and group CIO. “The group is seeing less […]

The post UBP gunning for 100% sustainable portfolios: Michaël Lok appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The green transportation revolution has been uneven in its reach. While one in four new cars sold in Europe and one in five in China is electric, Asia ex China has quite a bit of catching up to do, signalled Cheryl Tan from Julius Baer. The head of funds specialists, Singapore, remains bullish on the electrification sector, despite all the […]

The post ESG 2.0 – EVs go as far as the next charging station: Cheryl Tan of Julius Baer appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Investing in timber is not about chopping down trees and changing the land use, explains Gillian Diesen, client portfolio manager, thematic equities, Pictet Asset Management. She won’t touch natural forests that are ecologically unique, and invests only in forests that have been sustainably managed for centuries — and should continue to do so because wood is an important resource. When […]

The post ESG 2.0 – “Timber value chain is quite unique”: Gillian Diesen of Pictet AM appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Wildlife trafficking has become a multi-billion dollar transnational criminal activity that is ranked as the fourth most profitable transnational crime — behind the narcotics trade, arms trade, and human trafficking. Found in Africa and Asia, the rhinoceros is particularly vulnerable to poaching because of the growing demand for its horn — which fetch enormous prices on the black market and […]

The post Rhino poaching is a biodiversity crisis: Oliver Withers of Credit Suisse appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Singapore-based single family office Silverstrand Capital has launched a biodiversity accelerator programme designed to support eight early-stage companies addressing the biodiversity crisis in Southeast Asia. The Biodiversity Accelerator+ covers financial modelling and includes academia and non-profit partners to advise on biodiversity science and how the companies can work with local communities. It is supported by Mandai Nature, the Monetary Authority of […]

The post Singapore family office tackles biodiversity crisis in Southeast Asia appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Social media cannot, in the first instance, help in the screening of companies for ESG, explains Markus Müller, global head Chief Investment Office of Deutsche Bank International Private Bank. But they may nevertheless act as a sort of radar, helpful in tracking societal trends and corporate thinking, and in picking up topics and opinions, which can then support the traditional […]

The post ESG 2.0 – Do social media help in ESG screening? Markus Müller of Deutsche Bank IPB weighs in appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored article from Federated Hermes. When it comes to ESG investing, we need to talk about the inflationary elephant in the room says Martin Todd, portfolio manager for Sustainable Global Equity at Federated Hermes. ESG investing is marching into the mainstream, but COP26 exposed a landscape of fragmented opinions and simmering discord on a global scale. Here, […]

The post ESG and inflation: An inconvenient truth? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The growing awareness surrounding ESG investing has made private clients of UBS Global Wealth Management in Asia more attuned to companies that are transitioning to sustainable models, or that are considered to be ESG change-makers. Speaking to reporters on 11 May, Mario Knoepfel said clients generally like ESG leaders, “and are also looking at who is destroying performance from a […]

The post Not the best time for outperformance, but UBS is on track appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

 As more and more companies integrate sustainability in their strategy and executive compensation, there are some risks to consider, cautioned Paul Milon from BNP Paribas Asset Management. In this interview, the Asia-Pacific head of stewardship sheds light onto some of the grey areas when it comes to linking executive pay to ESG goals. “We need to be careful … […]

The post ESG 2.0 – Penalise execs that fail to hit ESG metrics: BNP Paribas AM’s Paul Milon appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Greenwashing, product availability, and doubts about underperformance are continuing to raise apprehensions around ESG investments. While investments focused on positive environmental impact (‘E’) remain the top choice for investors — the ‘S’ and the ‘G’ are not getting as much attention. That is according to the panellists and attendees of The Next Stage of the Journey for ESG in Asia […]

The post ESG 2.0 – Investors reveal lingering concerns despite hopeful signs appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Do you understand gold from an ESG perspective? How can an investor be assured that the gold they invest in has been responsibly sourced? And how can responsibly mined gold contribute to socio-economic development? Those are the questions we examined at Asian Private Banker’s Gold – Add ESG to Defensive and Strategic Characteristics’ webinar on 20 April. Sponsored by the […]

The post ESG 2.0 – Do you understand gold from an ESG perspective? “No, not at all” appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Eugene Klerk says younger consumers in China, India, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa are likely to own more electric vehicles than those in the UK and US. And the likelihood of a shift towards sustainable food products is much greater in emerging economies. Take meat consumption for example, “the traditional thought process is, as the emerging world develops, as average […]

The post ESG 2.0 – Younger EM consumers are breaking tradition: Credit Suisse’s Eugene Klerk appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBS Global Wealth Management (UBS GWM) is taking a more cautious stance on the renewables sector in the near-term, due to headwinds including supply constraints and the high cost of storage solutions, instead advising clients to take a holistic approach to the energy transition. The Swiss lender’s view comes as private banks increasingly recommend renewable assets to their clients, with […]

The post Why UBS GWM is cautious on renewable energy in the near-term appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

A veteran private banker and a former ANZ family office specialist is aiming to push sustainability to more U/HNW investors in Australia by creating a digital private WM platform focused on green and sustainable investing. Inspired by his passion for the ocean, together with his 30 years’ experience in the industry, Hayden Matthews late last year formed Glide, a platform […]

The post Ex-HSBC Australia PB head turns passion for impact investing into ESG-focused digital WM platform appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

 Eugenia Koh, head of sustainable investing at Standard Chartered Wealth Management, says the net zero capital shortfall is likely to occur in the most carbon intensive sectors in emerging markets. “There is currently a disconnect,” Koh told Asian Private Banker. “One of the things that we have to be thoughtful about is how can we look at transition meaningfully. […]

The post ESG 2.0 – Transition is not an excuse for greenwashing: Eugenia Koh of StanChart WM appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

DBS has been stepping up efforts to enhance the knowledge of its relationship managers (RMs) to deepen their understanding of the different sustainable finance products. After training about 200 RMs in 2021, the Singapore lender this year plans to extend its sustainable training courses to a wider group of employees beyond RMs. “There are many environmental challenges in front of […]

The post Climate change tops the agenda in DBS’s bid to train RMs appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Yves Bogni says sustainable investing has reached mainstream with investors in Asia. Testament to that is UBS Global Wealth Management’s discretionary offerings – My Way and 100% sustainable investing (SI) portfolios – that have received great interest from clients. Currently, over 70% of My Way investors are actively selecting sustainability-focused building blocks. It crossed the US$1.7 billion AUM mark within […]

The post Sustainable investing has reached mainstream: Yves Bogni of UBS appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

How does a private bank give billions of euros of discretionary portfolio mandates (DPM) an ESG facelift in a matter of months? That has been the task facing Tuan Huynh, global head of DPM at Deutsche Bank International Private Bank (Deutsche Bank IPB), who is in the process of shifting the German lender’s largest discretionary product into sustainable assets. “We […]

The post How one private bank is giving its DPM offering an ESG overhaul appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Gender equality, diversity and inclusion sit in the “S” of ESG and BNP Paribas believes that issuers promoting social equality will be vital in developing the market for green products. Citing research from MSCI, Huang Chaoni, head of sustainable capital markets APAC at BNP Paribas, said that Hong Kong has only about 12.7% of listed companies directorships held by women. […]

The post Growth of green products market hinges on issuers pushing the “S” in ESG: Huang Chaoni of BNP Paribas appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

In 4Q21, investors in Asia continued to pour into sustainable funds, but significantly lower than the preceding quarter. Volatility and the lack of new funds were the two main contributing factors, experts say. Latest data from Morningstar show that fund flows in China dropped from US$7.6 billion in 3Q21 to US$4.1 billion in 4Q21. The Japanese market attracted US$3.4 billion […]

The post Volatility and dearth of new products reduce ESG flows in Asia appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

  This is a sponsored video from Natixis Investment Managers.  Natixis Investment Managers and its affiliate Mirova invite you to travel to the heart of the transition towards a more sustainable world. Discover the Green Vision video series which discusses how different sectors can contribute to the economic transition to a more sustainable model and revolutionise the way you […]

The post Natixis Investment Managers – Green Vision series appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

CIMB Private Banking is on a mission to double its assets in Singapore by 2024, as well as set up a dedicated chief investment office to serve wealthy clients in the region. In Singapore, CIMB PB currently has 16 relationship managers (RMs) who report to Syed Razif Al-Idid. The Singapore private banking head is looking to double his RM headcount […]

The post CIMB Private Banking aims to double AUM, RMs in Singapore appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored article from UBS Asset Management. A green energy future is on the horizon for major economies as the use of renewable energy increases. This energy transition will play out across geographies and sectors, which we believe represents one of the most compelling and durable investment opportunities over the next decade. Energy themes span sectors and sub-sectors […]

The post A long/short way to play the decade-long green transition theme appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Asset managers are beefing up ESG offerings to meet the greater demand for sophisticated ESG solutions from their PB partners. “ESG is definitely a major focus for most of the PBs we worked with over the last year. This is a phenomenon that is quite common across asset managers,” Madeline Ho told Asian Private Banker . The Natixis head of […]

The post Asset managers bolster sophisticated ESG thematic offerings to fulfil strong PB appetite appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Bryan Goh says the pandemic has made investing more challenging in general, and massive policy response has complicated matters. “The complexity of the financial system and the result of many desperate rescues, has become even more complex and larger,” the Tsao Family Office CEO told Asian Private Banker. “ESG investing is always difficult and the pandemic has heightened the urgency […]

The post There are no right answers for ESG: Tsao Family Office CEO appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This week: Markus Müller, global head Chief Investment Office of Deutsche Bank International Private Bank, explains how biodiversity is the bedrock of our economic activity and why nature loss can directly or indirectly cause economic damage and lead to a realignment of portfolios Biodiversity is the bedrock of our economic activity: Markus Müller of Deutsche Bank IPB The integration of […]

The post CIO Weekly – Nature loss becomes a financial risk: Markus Müller of Deutsche Bank IPB appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management (JPMAM) is partnering with RHB Asset Management in the launch of the RHB Climate Change Solutions Fund, which provides onshore Malaysian clients access to the underlying JPM Climate Change Solutions Fund. RHB Asset Management (RHBAM) is the asset management subsidiary of RHB Bank, a major financial services groups in Malaysia. According to its prospectus, the RHB […]

The post J.P. Morgan AM partners with RHB AM in thematic ESG solution for Malaysia onshore clients appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The AUM for UBS’s 100% sustainable mandate in Asia-Pacific jumped to a record US$5 billion in 3Q21, highlighting strong demand for sustainable investing among private banking clients in the region. The figure was disclosed by Desmond Kuek, the Swiss lender’s head of Sustainable Finance, APAC & global head of Sustainable Finance Group, Group Sustainability and Impact, during a media call at […]

The post UBS SI discretionary mandate attracts US$5B AUM in APAC appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

 Juan Aronna, Managing Director, Head of Investment Solutions & Products, RBC Wealth Management Asia & International, looks to the year ahead to discuss opportunities in sustainability and technology. He shares his views on the potential of technology to democratise access to the future economy.

The post APB Thought Leaders: Royal Bank of Canada’s Juan Aronna on SusTech to Drive Diverse and Inclusive Opportunities appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored article from PineBridge Investments. Over the next 12 months, investors in Asia are likely to contend with a fast-moving investment landscape shaped by the impact of China’s recent policy pivot alongside the tenor of monetary and fiscal policy and the path of inflation. PineBridge Investments’ specialists offer their views on what investors can expect in 2022 […]

The post 2022 Asia Investment Outlook: Investing in a Climate of Change appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBS has added two members to its Asia Pacific sustainable finance office, according to an internal memo seen by Asian Private Banker. The Swiss private bank has appointed Esther Tsang as ESG corporate strategy lead and Beatrice Faessler as ESG project manager, based in Hong Kong. Tsang was previously an analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence, focusing on researching Asia ESG trends, […]

The post UBS bulks up sustainable finance team in Hong Kong appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Chinese companies are increasingly recognising the need for better disclosure of their ESG efforts, but that is not necessarily reflected in the scores that they are given using traditional sustainability metrics, according to a report by UBS Asset Management (UBS AM), published on Monday. Titled Panorama: Investing in 2022 it uses the example of healthcare companies to make the point […]

The post ESG efforts by Chinese companies not reflected in data disclosures: UBS AM appeared first on Asian Private Banker.