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.

The growth of multi-jurisdiction family offices is complicating wealth planning matters for Asia’s ultra high net worth families, exposing them to heightened risk, ranging from matrimonial laws to migration to tax, and could ultimately threaten the stability of the family unit if not tackled head-on. “As families become more global, the jurisdictions that they have connections with become more diversified. […]

The post Global ambitions demand better governance, says DBS PB appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

When Azim Premji was born in 1945, his hometown of Mumbai was called Bombay, India laboured under British rule, and the technology industry that would come to define his fortune at IT giant Wipro was barely visible on the horizon. Had he retired after building Wipro, Premji would likely be remembered as a disciplined and understated industrialist. Instead, he began […]

The post How this Indian family office built a US$33bn philanthropic endowment appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

BNP Paribas Wealth Management (BNP Paribas WM) launched the BNP Paribas Bridge Foundation Limited (Bridge Foundation) on Tuesday, a donor-advised fund platform, the bank announced in a statement. The platform seeks to support Asian entrepreneurs, HNW individuals, and family offices by providing them with a disciplined and governed approach to philanthropy. The Bridge Foundation leverages BNP Paribas WM’s experience in […]

The post BNP Paribas WM rolls out donor-advised fund platform for Asia’s philanthropists appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Asian Private Banker was a proud sponsor of a recent Charity Golf Day hosted by Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong (ADAHK). On a beautiful winter’s day at the historic Shek O Country Club in Hong Kong, a host of generous donors and supporters were blessed with fine weather and immaculate conditions as they took to the fairways in […]

The post Swinging in support of ADAHK 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.

As the saying goes, you reap what you sow. And for Invest Hong Kong’s (InvestHK) Jason Fong, Hong Kong’s family office boom is no accident but the result of several years of intense effort behind the scenes, looking to sow the wind to reap the whirlwind. Fong joined InvestHK in 2023, tasked with revamping Hong Kong’s family office ecosystem. This effort, […]

The post “Now, we’re harvesting”: Jason Fong on Hong Kong’s next family office push appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Singapore-headquartered multi-family office Farro Capital has launched philanthropy advisory services to help families build legacies beyond financial wealth. The new platform provides tailor-made plans, governance structures, and impact measurement frameworks, with Farro Capital advising families in collaboration with vetted partners. Managing over US$2 billion, Farro Capital already advises ultra high net worth families on investment management, legacy planning, and philanthropy. […]

The post Singapore multi-family office launches philanthropy platform appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Family offices in Asia Pacific may now lead the world in structured succession planning and responsible investing, challenging traditional perceptions of informal governance, according to a recent report by BNP Paribas Wealth Management (BNP Paribas WM). The French bank’s latest 2024 Asia-Pacific Family Office Report, which was jointly conducted by Campden Wealth, surveyed 360 family offices worldwide, including 76 from […]

The post Think APAC lags in succession planning? Think again, says BNP Paribas WM’s Asia CEO appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Standard Chartered Global Private Bank has appointed a philanthropy head for Asia. Based in Hong Kong, Scott Chang has joined the bank this week in the newly created role of head of philanthropy, Asia, Wealth Planning & Family Advisory, the bank said on Tuesday. Chang will report to Mike Tan, global head of wealth planning and family advisory, Standard Chartered […]

The post Standard Chartered Private Bank names philanthropy head for Asia 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.

Citi Private Bank has launched philanthropy advisory solutions in Asia, the bank announced, recognising a growing trend among Asian private banking clientele that want to donate their money to charitable causes. Beginning in Singapore, philanthropy advisory solutions will be led by the bank’s Global Family Office Group. Citi Private Bank will allow clients to make greater impact to causes by […]

The post Citi Private Bank launches Asia philanthropy advisory solutions 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.

Singapore’s Philanthropy Tax Incentive Scheme (PTIS), which seeks to incentivise single-family offices (SFOs) to commit capital to charitable causes, has seen sluggish demand since opening at the start of the year. Meanwhile, Hong Kong is playing catch-up to Singapore when it comes to AI governance but has recently launched a generative AI (Gen AI) sandbox to bolster adoption of this […]

The post Singapore’s SFO philanthropy scheme starts slow; Hong Kong AI governance playing catch-up appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As a veteran private banker trainer in Asia-Pacific, Carl Thong has lengthy experience in making an impact when it comes to the careers of relationship managers. He is now looking to make an impact in the investment space with a venture fund that looks to capitalise on rising interest in philanthropy among the region’s wealthy families. Singapore-based Carl Thong, general […]

The post Asia’s top private banker trainer turns his hand to impact investing appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

China’s ultra high net worth (UHNW) families are discovering new ways to give to charitable causes which better suit how they grow their own wealth, such as making equity donations, philanthropy experts told APB. Kitty Liu, head of global family office and managing director at China International Capital Corporation (CICC), told Asian Private Banker that philanthropy has become an important […]

The post Common Prosperity pushes China’s philanthropists to discover new ways of giving 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.

While there are many established families in Asia which have been involved in philanthropy for decades, the conversation has now turned to how to best engage the next generation of family members, Citi Private Bank’s Karen Kardos told Asian Private Banker. “When we talk to our clients about that, we try to help them to think through what they want […]

The post Next-gen engagement in philanthropy a key priority for Asian families: Citi PB appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The way in which family offices think about philanthropy is changing, with the next generation putting more emphasis on developing an effective philanthropic strategy, going beyond traditional charitable donations. This is according to a recent report from DBS Private Bank, The Asian Family Office: Driving Impact and Innovation, which surveyed over 200 senior executives in single-family offices across the region to […]

The post Next gens going beyond “chequebook philanthropy”, says DBS PB report appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

One of Singapore’s most famous philanthropists is on a mission to take the hassle out of giving. Laurence Lien, a former nominated member of parliament and chairman of the Lien Foundation, has launched the Asia Community Foundation (ACF), along with other philanthropists, to make the philanthropic efforts of the region’s U/HNWIs simpler, more streamlined and – most importantly – more […]

The post “An MFO for philanthropy”: Is Laurence Lien’s ACF the ultimate vehicle for giving? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Tze-wei Ng believes her truly unique career path, blending law, journalism and NGO work, grants her a unique perspective in the realm of private wealth management. Raised in Hong Kong, Tze-wei Ng grew up watching courtroom dramas, which led her to study law. However, her career went from lawyer to journalist, to NGO work, and then back to law again […]

The post How this lawyer blends journalism, NGO experience in the private wealth space 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.

Bank of Singapore has partnered with a non-profit organisation in the city-state to provide clients with greater access to philanthropic activities, an area that has gained a lot of interest among HNW investors. The deal will see the Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS) offer clients advice on charities that match their interests, as well as tailor-make targeted charitable programmes. For […]

The post Bank of Singapore inks philanthropic partnership appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The gradual but significant transfer of Asian wealth to the next generation is changing how philanthropy is practised in the region. Three banks share their observations with Asian Private Banker. More than merely “cheque writing” Garth Bregman, head of investment services, Asia Pacific, BNP Paribas Wealth Management, told Asian Private Banker that he has observed that many next-gen clients have […]

The post Three next-gen philanthropy trends to watch in 2022 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As the fifth wave of COVID-19 strikes Hong Kong, straining hospitals and adding hardship to the livelihoods of vulnerable communities, three private banks shared with Asian Private Banker how their philanthropy teams are channelling charitable funding from clients to alleviate the plight of the needy. BNP Paribas WM BNP Paribas Wealth Management has observed increased client interest in supporting local […]

The post As Hong Kong buckles under fifth COVID wave, BNP, HSBC and UBS explain philanthropic advisory services appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Pictet Wealth Management Asia has created the role of head of philanthropy services in the region to meet the increased demand for professional advisory in that regard, Asian Private Banker has learnt. Anthony Gao has been appointed to lead the philanthropic advisory services in Asia. He reports locally to Alex Ng, North Asia head and CEO Hong Kong Branch at […]

The post Pictet WM adds Asia philanthropy services head to meet rising needs in the region appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored article from HSBC Global Private Banking. Asia has a long track-record of giving and a strong idea of society. China’s clan-based charity, inspired by Confucianism, dates back a thousand years and Hinduism strongly encourages leaders to share their wealth, for example. Philanthropy as a concept, with distinct regional characteristics, has arrived on the back of the […]

The post Giving and ESG must converge for more powerful philanthropy appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Deutsche Bank has been analysing its entire business portfolio with a view to developing detailed plans for its transition to net-zero banking. A spokesperson for Deutsche Bank said it has put ESG at the core of its strategy. The bank has been monitoring and measuring emissions and exposure to climate risk in its loan book and applying the same method […]

The post Deutsche Bank prepares for transition to net zero by investing in “nature-based solutions” appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Asia’s wealthy are adopting more of a “business mindset” in terms of how they deploy their capital for philanthropic purposes, according to Pictet, as the region sees a sharp uptick in money being mobilised for these means. The Swiss bank said that in Singapore its philanthropic advisory has seen a record amount of donations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Christoph Courth, […]

The post Asian families adopting “business mindset” to philanthropy: Pictet appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBS’s group-wide sustainability drive reached a new crescendo in 2020, with invested assets in what the bank calls “Core Sustainable Investments” rising by 62% to US$793 billion. In all, Core SI products and mandates accounted for 19% of total invested assets at the bank — up from 13.5% at the end of 2019. The increase was helped along by a […]

The post Sustainable assets at UBS jumped 62% in 2020 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) shared with Asian Private Banker its aspiration to become a regional hub for philanthropy, as part of its strategy to develop the city-state into a globally connected family office (FO) ecosystem. “We are seeing wealthy individuals and families taking greater interest in using their wealth as a force for good,” Jacqueline Loh remarked on […]

The post Singapore aims to be regional philanthropic hub: MAS appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Singapore has the leg up on Hong Kong in terms of facilitating philanthropy by offering larger tax incentives and better efficiency in setting up charities, according to the Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS). By offering a 250% tax deduction on charitable donations to both individuals and corporates, Singapore tops the table for the biggest charitable tax incentives, both in […]

The post Hong Kong lags Singapore in facilitating philanthropy appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Smaller philanthropic foundations that are limited in terms of the impact they can generate are increasingly opting to collaborate on projects to achieve greater effectiveness, according to Anna-Marie Harling, head of UHNW Philanthropy Center, UBS Global Wealth Management. Harling’s observation comes on the back of a global philanthropy report published by UBS last week, which found that over half of those foundations […]

The post Collaboration on the rise as philanthropic foundations seek to mitigate scale issues appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Philanthropic endeavours in Asia Pacific have a bright outlook with foundations having grown 75% since 2000. Although the from a low base, Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region on the global stage, according to a recent report produced by Harvard and UBS. Despite the size of its economy and population, Asia’s 13,170 institutional foundations represent just 5% of the global […]

The post Total APAC foundations grow 75% since 2000, UBS report says appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The UBS Oncology Fund, one of the first major impact investment strategies to garner significant inflows from private investors in Asia, has made its first financial contribution ahead of schedule. The total donation of just under US$2.5 million not only marks a major milestone for UBS Wealth Management, whose strategic priorities are tied to the future of sustainable investing, but […]

The post UBS WM’s sustainable investing thesis “proven correct” as Oncology Impact Fund makes early donation appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS) has launched its inaugural research results on Asian philanthropy on Tuesday, pointing to the potential of an annual US$500 billion in funding and donations the region could provide with proper policies in place. Despite being home to 5.5 million HNWIs in 2016 and a US$18.8 trillion HNW wealth pool, Asia Pacific is […]

The post Asia presents over US$500 billion potential in philanthropic giving appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBS Wealth Management is considering launching a development impact bond (DIB) for its philanthropically-minded APAC clients seeking sustainable impact options, Wei Wei, Asia head of UBS Wealth Management’s philanthropic arm, UBS Optimus Foundation, tells Asian Private Banker. “In APAC, we see an ever growing number of philanthropists standing ready to give [but all] too often they are unsure about the […]

The post UBS WM exploring development impact bond launch for APAC investors appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Ageing is becoming an increasingly prominent issue in Singapore, although the sector still faces “major funding challenges”, according to Francesco de Ferrari, Credit Suisse’s head of private banking, APAC and CEO Southeast Asia and frontier markets. Speaking at the Swiss bank’s annual global philanthropists forum in Singapore last week, de Ferrari stressed the need for greater private funding given that […]

The post In Singapore, eldercare “funding challenges” an opportunity for philanthropists: Credit Suisse’s de Ferrari appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Wealthy Chinese individuals are becoming increasingly philanthropic – donating as much as US$16.7 billion in 2014 while Chinese-Americans gave another US$500 million – although researchers say that professional assistance is needed for these funds to have maximum impact. “There are over 6,000 private foundations [set up by wealthy Chinese], and 80-90% of them don’t have formal staffing,” according to Victor […]

The post Chinese philanthropic foundations “lack professionals” appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The UBS Global Family Office has noticed that wealthy families in Asia are using philanthropic projects to teach investment skills to the next generation, according to Edith Ang, executive director, family advisory group, Asia Pacific, at UBS Wealth Management. “In Asia, philanthropy is used as a way to train the next gen as families perceive it to be a good entry […]

The post Wealthy Asian families use philanthropy to “train” the next generation: UBS WM appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBS continues to forge ahead in the relatively uncharted impact investing space, having launched a series of investment products aligned to the 17 UN sustainable development goals. The products will be linked to sustainability and impact investing indices that fit with various themes, the bank said in a statement. The series will include a global sustainability index, a social equality-based […]

The post UBS launches series of impact investing indices appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Lombard Odier said today that its philanthropic arm will support an impact investing bond aimed at providing humanitarian services to people in conflict-affected countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The private bank has pledged to be a “social investor” in an initiative that has been dubbed as the “world’s first high-impact private debt transaction”, launched by the International Committee of the Red […]

The post Lombard Odier participates in humanitarian impact bond appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Greetings, Holiday season is in full swing. It’s also interim earnings season. Here are a few highlights: Bank of Singapore | AUM +US$4 billion to US$89 billion in Q2; “very marginal” outflows stemming from Barclays integration; Tsien: OCBC’s onshore private banking business in Indonesia had “a very strong start”. BNP Paribas WM | “good asset inflows” in Asia and France […]

The post Top Eight for Week 28 July – 3 August 2017 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Auma Obama, project leader at Kenya’s Sauti Kuu Foundation, speaks to Asian Private Banker about the challenges that NGOs face as a result of being dependent on donations from philanthropists. Speaking on the sidelines of the UBS Philanthropy Forum Asia, Obama shares her thoughts on how private banks can have a positive social impact. What is the purpose of your […]

The post Auma Obama encourages private banks to fund entrepreneurship training programmes appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Donations from the top 100 philanthropists in Mainland China rose from US$1.3 billion in 2010 to US$4.6 billion last year, according to a report by UBS Wealth Management and Harvard University’s John F Kennedy School of Government. The study, called “Values and Vision: Perspectives on Philanthropy in 21st Century China”, which is based on interviews with wealth holders, experts and […]

The post Philanthropic donations in China more than triple in six years appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBS Wealth Management’s new senior impact investing strategist, James Gifford, says that for impact investments to become mainstream strategies, more opportunities that make financial sense are needed. “The key to pushing the impact market forward is making sure there are enough commercially sound investment opportunities that perform in line with the expectations of clients in terms of market returns,” he […]

The post UBS WM’s James Gifford: Impact investing space needs more “commercially sound opportunities” appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Gone are the days of checkbook philanthropy. Asian HNWI and UHNW individuals are seeking more bang for their charitable buck by building social portfolios that rely on strategic frameworks.  Asian Private Banker speaks to Jean Sung, J.P. Morgan Private Bank’s head of The Philanthropy Centre, Asia, on how families are going about constructing their social portfolios and how the American […]

The post Asian families are allocating between 10-30% of their wealth to philanthropy, says J.P. Morgan PB’s Jean Sung appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

A day out from International Women’s Day, UBS has announced its partnership with UN Women to launch an investing institute that aims to tackle gender-related issues. Dubbed the “Gender-Lens Investing Institute”, the initiative is intended to mobilise investors to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 (UN SDG 5) which focuses on gender equality and the empowerment women and girls […]

The post UBS to launch “gender-lens” investing institute with UN Women appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Credit Suisse has named a new CEO for SymAsia Foundation, the umbrella philanthropic foundation of Credit Suisse in Asia, according to a press release. Young Jin Yee, market group head for Singapore, private banking Asia Pacific, Credit Suisse, will take on the additional role as CEO, SymAsia Foundation. She replaces Benjamin Cavalli, Credit Suisse’s Singapore CEO, head of private banking Southeast […]

The post Credit Suisse appoints new CEO for SymAsia Foundation appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBS Wealth Management’s first ever development impact bond (DIB) is garnering interest from Hong Kong-based clients, due in large part to the philanthropic initiative’s focus on delivering predefined outcomes, Phyllis Costanza, CEO of UBS Optimus Foundation, tells Asian Private Banker. Launched a year ago, the initiative is a joint venture between UBS Optimus Foundation (the Swiss bank’s philanthropic arm), Indian non-governmental […]

The post UBS WM’s development impact bond turns heads in HK appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Impact investing – an approach that aims to effect a positive social impact and generate positive financial return – is yet to go mainstream. Even so, more (U)HNWIs are taking a serious look at philanthropic instruments, attracted by the unlikely marriage of philanthropy and private equity and the opportunity make a difference while making money. Earlier this year, UBS Wealth […]

The post When impact investing met private equity… appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Family offices in Asia are leading the way when it comes to adopting social impacting investing methods, a new EY report has found, with the average Asian family office allocating 3.4% of its wealth to social impact investing.    Nearly 50% of family businesses are engaged in impact investment as part of their philanthropic endeavours, with larger businesses occupying the […]

The post Asian family businesses lead the way in social impact investing appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

BNP Paribas’ private banking arm has added to its philanthropy team in Singapore. Dickson Lim has joined BNP Paribas Wealth Management as a vice president for the individual philanthropy services team, Asia Pacific. He reports to Christina Lee, head of philanthropy advisory, Asia Pacific. When contacted, a spokesperson from the bank declined to comment on Lim’s hire. Lim harks from a philanthropy background, […]

The post BNP Paribas Wealth Management builds philanthropy team appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The distinct dearth of impact investment solutions on private banks’ product shelves is hampering interest in strategic philanthropy, according to a panel of UBS Wealth Management specialists and philanthropists speaking the UBS Philanthropy Forum Asia. “Many private banks are still in an experimental phase with their impact investment products,” said Mario Marconi, chairman philanthropy at UBS Wealth Management, observing that while private […]

The post Dearth of product stunting impact investment growth appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Credit Suisse has set its sights on Thailand’s onshore wealth pool by establishing a wealth management presence in the Southeast Asian nation’s capital, Bangkok. The Swiss major is targeting the nation’s more than 91,340 high net worth (HNW) and ultra high net worth (UHNW) individuals, whose combined wealth rivals that of South Korea and Singapore. The offering is aimed at HNW and […]

The post Credit Suisse targets Thailand, sets up Bangkok-based wealth management team appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Although impact investing remains in its nascency in Asia, UBS Wealth Management has raised a chunky US$471 million – 60% of which came from its Hong Kong and Singapore bases – for the final closing of its impacting investing fund dedicated to cancer research. The UBS Oncology Impact fund, where investments are made to accelerate the development of new cancer […]

The post UBS impact investment fund raises US$471M since September; HK, Singapore investors contribute 60% appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

More than any other region, millennial entrepreneurs in Asia are growing bigger businesses than previous generations, a HSBC Private Bank survey has found. A “significant” portion of over 50% of surveyed respondents added that making a positive community impact was a key factor in their wanting to do business. These findings are part of an international online survey conducted by […]

The post Young Asian entrepreneurs building bigger businesses, social impact appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Entrepreneurs under the age of 35 are more focused in making “positive impact” in the world than their last generation, and are more hands-on in their approach to wealth management (WM) and philanthropy, HSBC Private Bank says. In a report, the UK lender notes that entrepreneurs of this age group are more focused in generating “maximum impact” to their communities; […]

The post WM needs to catch up with millennial appetite for philanthropy appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

It is perhaps a reflection of how markets have gone that veteran private bankers like Janssens are more cautious when it comes to growth forecasts these days. Last month, we spoke to him about how RBC’s wealth management unit should grow in Asia while coping with a higher regulatory burden and China’s economic slowdown. (This article first appeared in Issue 96 of Asian Private […]

The post Straight Talk: Barend Janssens, head of wealth management, Asia, The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

In collaboration with a bio-venture capital fund manager, the Swiss lender has raised US$340 million in the first round of a project for the betterment of cancer treatment. This project comes as another push for the expansion of the impact investment universe in Asia Pacific, a nascent space in the region. This project with MPM Capital sets out to make […]

The post UBS raises capital for sustainable investment project appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The population of female billionaires is expanding faster than the number of their male counterparts in Asia, says a report by UBS Wealth Management and PwC. The number of female billionaires grew by a factor of 6.6 from 1995 to 2014 compared to the number of men which grew by smaller factor of 5.2, stated The changing faces of billionaires study. Particularly […]

The post Asia has highest growth of female billionaires appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As many Asian HNWIs and UHNWIs transition their businesses to the next generation, succession planning is becoming an increasingly pressing issue among families with a particular trust structure gaining popularity, says Harry Ng, Nomura’s newly appointed head of wealth planning strategy and solutions, Asia ex-Japan. “A revocable discretionary trust structure with reserve power has resonated with our clients in Asia […]

The post Trust structures with reserve power gain popularity: Nomura WM appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

A SFO can achieve a lot, because it does not account to multiple shareholders and views. Markus Jebsen, group chairman of the multimillion-dollar holdings and venture capital company MF Jebsen International Ltd, chose to position his toward conservation of global biodiversity, wildlife and nature, with his Eco-Land Bank projects focusing on long-term truly Sustainable Investment (“an often abused term”) and Eco-Tourism. (This article first […]

The post A unique SFO proposition appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Ultra rich investors in Asia are expected to raise allocations in impact investing – vis a vis philanthropy – to 44% by 2018, from 30% in 2012 , notes Credit Suisse, partly in the belief that funds will be used more efficiently for social needs. This, the bank says in joint study with Campden Wealth Research, is “no doubt linked to […]

The post UHNWIs to raise allocations in impact investing strategies appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This article first appeared in Issue 93 of Asian Private Banker’s monthly print magazine, published in the first week of November 2015. The recent explosion of new wealth, a Chinese economic slowdown and changing dynamics with families with aging patriarchs means Asia’s UHNWIs are shifting toward building structures to house long-term wealth and formalise governance within family offices (FOs). Asian tech […]

The post Family office boom a private banking boon appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As well-documented debacles of family-owned corporations increase in Asia, the need to focus on succession planning strategies is imperative, says HSBC Private Bank. “Wealth tends to erode after the third generation,” says Bernard Rennell, the bank’s regional head of global private banking for Asia-Pacific, in a podcast. Rennel is also the bank’s global head of family governance and family enterprise […]

The post Succession planning key as family struggles come to light, say HSBC Private Bank appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Family offices in Asia – the fastest growing wealth market in the world – came in a close second in performance in 2014 by making 6.3% in gains, according to a joint UBS and Campden Wealth report. Asia’s focus on high growth strategies allowed family offices in the region to outperform others, and fall only a hair’s breath behind their […]

The post APAC family office portfolios nearly top global peers appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Touted as the silver bullet of philanthropy, impact investing has amassed more attention through sustainable investing initiatives such as HSBC Private Bank’s Clean China theme, says the bank’s Asia head of investment strategy. The initiative, which was launched six-to-nine months ago in Asia, has proven to be a popular avenue of impact investing – an investment approach that generates market returns […]

The post Impact investing through Clean China theme grows, says HSBC Private Bank appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBS Wealth Management (WM) makes strides in impact investing through its recent collaboration to push development for cancer cures. The Swiss private bank announced that it will work with MPM Capital, a bioventure investment firm, to help with academic research and better access to cancer care in the developing world. The drive spotlights impact investing – a nascent but increasingly […]

The post UBS WM launches impact investing venture appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Metrics measuring environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks within investments are playing an increasingly prominent role in global portfolios but are Asian HNWIs ready for this less-than-sexy topic? Morningstar’s Steve Smit, who heads the global research firm’s ESG programme, believes so. Although assets from Asia invested into ESG principles is still relatively low, Smit is already observing interest from private […]

The post Asian HNWIs buying into sustainable investing, says global research firm appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As wealthy families increasingly seek different philanthropic strategies to make a social impact, UBS launches a philanthropy forum in Singapore today. The UBS Philanthropy Forum Asia in Singapore will be held from 2 July to 3 July in a bid to help philanthropists and patriarchs create a family legacy through innovative philanthropy practices. “With embracing innovation as our theme, the […]

The post UBS bets big on philanthropy with forum launch in Singapore appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The nascent but growing sustainable investing (SI) industry in Asia, valued at US$45 billion, is yet to resonate among ultra high net worth individuals (UHNWIs), Simon Smiles, chief investment officer for UHNWIs at UBS Wealth Management says. “Not many ultra high net worth individuals have taken to sustainable investing yet,” says Smiles. The investment strategy that involves rewarding socially responsible […]

The post Asia’s US$45 billion SI industry still untapped by UHNWIs appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Spurred by a strong demand for philanthropic solutions dedicated to the Nepal earthquake disaster relief, the UBS-run Optimus Foundation will commit to over US$1.6 million solar suitcases across Africa and Asia. Solar suitcases, a solution engineered by We Care Solar which received the UBS Optimus Foundation prize, captures the sun’s energy during the day and provides a reliable source of […]

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J.P. Morgan Private Bank’s China market manager has left the bank after nearly four years to pursue other opportunities. Hong Kong-based Rebecca Lum has left the American lender’s private banking arm. Lum was believed to have covered J.P. Morgan Private Bank’s Chinese UHNW clients, advising across investment, wealth transfer, credit and philanthropy services. A spokesperson for the bank confirmed Lum’s […]

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About 10% of high net worth individuals in Singapore have made social impact investments over the last four years, according to a Barclays Wealth report. Impact investments, often touted as the future of philanthropy because of their ability to generate market returns as well as address key social and environmental challenges, have garnered attention worldwide, and are starting to gain […]

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ANZ is to offer its private banking clients a digital platform that will allow them to donate to more than 150 charities. The platform has been developed by Shout for Good, a technology startup. It allows for easy donations through a mobile- and tablet-friendly interface. ANZ completed the acquisition of Shout for Good last week and will begin to roll […]

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While philanthropy has been on an upward trend over the last three years globally, Asia’s score dropped in 2014 in BNP Paribas’ Individual Philanthropy Index, a measure of the commitment of philanthropists in four regions. The data which constitutes the index is taken from a survey of some 400 individuals across the four regions and with at least $5 million […]

The post Asia’s score drops on BNP Paribas’ philanthropy index in 2014, pegged to pick up in 2015   appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As more and more ultra-high net worth individuals (UHNWIs), typically with US$30 million or more in investable assets, increase their use of trust services, they continue to look for ways to structure the transition of their wealth to the next generation, and there is a growing trend to set up philanthropic trusts among those sitting in the higher wealth pool […]

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At the fourth annual global philanthropists forum in Singapore, Credit Suisse Private Banking’s Asia head addressed the nascent industry of impact investing, announcing that the Swiss lender currently manages US$2.8 billion in assets globally. “While impact investing has become a vogue, there is still much room for better understanding and it is an important topic for Credit Suisse,” said Francesco […]

The post Credit Suisse Private Banking manages US$2.8 billion in assets across impact investments appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Over the last four years, interest in succession planning solutions in the Greater China region has seen strong growth as families seek long-term legacy strategies, according to Lee Woon Shiu, Bank of Singapore’s managing director and head of wealth planning. “We have seen double digit growth in the China market when it comes to high net worth families seeking succession planning […]

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Since the term was coined by the Rockefeller Foundation in 2007, impact investing – the investment approach that is often touted as the future of philanthropy because of its ability to generate market returns as well as address key social and environmental challenges- has amassed attention worldwide. Indeed, the global impact investing market is touted to grow to $500 billion […]

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High net worth individuals (HNWIs) in Asia are showing a higher propensity to co-invest in their impact investments, a market that is touted to grow to US$500 billion in the next four years, according to philanthropy advisors and private bankers. “Co-investing and direct investments in social enterprises are resonating more with Asian HNWIs as they allow them to select the […]

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Family philanthropy remains a key feature of major donor giving in Hong Kong, with US$935 million in total donations in 2013, according to the recently released Coutts’ Million Dollar Donor Report 2014. Both the number and value of million dollar donations increased in 2013 in Hong Kong, attributed to the Ya’an earthquake response where most donations were in the US$1 million […]

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With projections that the global impact investing market could grow to US$500 billion in the next four years, philanthropy advisors in Asia’s private banking industry question whether it can stand as an asset class on its own. “Intellectually and theoretically, it makes sense to dedicate or make a separate asset class for impact investing,” says Andreas Ernst, head of Impact Investing, […]

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While impact investing has been touted as the silver bullet of structured philanthropic giving for many in the industry, UBS Wealth Management will launch its own new subset of philanthropy that focuses on attracting traditional investors seeking financial returns in Hong Kong next month. With hopes to mirror its capabilities in Switzerland, UBS Wealth Management will introduce a value-based investing (VBI) […]

The post UBS Wealth Management plan to roll out new subset of philanthropy for Asian clients appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The average Asia-Pacific family office is becoming more structured, opting for more direct investments such as private equity and real estate and smaller allocations to the capital markets, according to UBS and Campden Wealth Research’s Global Family Office Report 2014. “In Asia, we are seeing more and more families professionalising their family structures, implementing a governance framework for the family, […]

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While it has been touted as the future of philanthropy, impact investing may still need a push from the next generation of high net worth individuals (HNWIs) to gain traction in Asia, says a philanthropy consultant and former investment banker. Philo Alto, founder and CEO of Asia Value Advisors, says the next generation have a large part to play as they […]

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With high return expectations, high net worth individuals (HNWIs) in the region are concentrating on re-risking their investments – a marked contrast to their counterparts in the West, a survey found. According to the “Asset Allocation: No Longer One Size Fits All” report commissioned by investment solution provider, Principal Global Investors, the HNWI pool in Asia is largely dominated by […]

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With a vast majority of those seeking philanthropic guidance opting to get involved with local trusts outside of their private banks according to a recent report, Gary Tiernan, global head, client segment management at Standard Chartered Private Bank says there lies an opportunity for private banks in the region to ramp up their philanthropic offering. “With this growing trend towards […]

The post Private banks have a large role to play in developing Asia’s philanthropic landscape: Standard Chartered appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

While numerous private banks wind down their India onshore businesses, those that have maintained presence in the region are in a prime position to capitalise on a surging ultra high net worth (UHNW) population. With 117,000 ultra high net worth individuals (UHNWIs), a 16% year-on-year increase, India’s UHNW population is set to treble over the next five years, according to […]

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Over 70% of high net worth individuals (HNWIs) in Singapore alone support social impact investing according to a recent survey, also indicating that HNWIs are asking for more support from their wealth managers in achieving social impact goals including impact investing. To match this growing demand for impact investing solutions,  Philo Alto, founder of Hong Kong-based philanthropy advisory firm, Asia […]

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In a bid to match the growing demand of Asian high net worth individuals’ (HNWIs) desire to make a social impact, UBS Wealth Management have launched two new initiatives at the UBS Family Legacy and Philanthropy Forum in Shanghai to help social entrepreneurs structure their philanthropic strategies. The Swiss bank rolled out UBS Philanthropy Compass, developed in partnership with Cass Business […]

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Despite the growing number of centa-millionaires (ultra high net worth individuals with at least US$100 million in investable assets) in Asia, the usage of financial intermediaries such as single family offices (SFOs) to manage the plethora of financial and fiduciary needs and interface with external institutions such as private banks remains in its infancy. Credit Suisse believes this could very […]

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While North America maintains the top position as the wealthiest region in the world with US$14.9 trillion in investable wealth, its wealth growth rate of 17.1% was just shy of Asia Pacific’s strong growth rate of 18.2% bringing total wealth in the region to US$14.2 trillion, according to the Capgemini and RBC Wealth Management’s World Wealth Report 2014 . Asia […]

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Spurred by a strong demand for philanthropic solutions among the region’s private clients, UBS-run Optimus Foundation marks its first anniversary with the announcement of investing more than US$6 million and the addition of 18 new projects in Asia. The foundation’s new projects will focus on the health, education and protection of underprivileged children sectors, spanning across regions including Bangladesh, China, […]

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With an estimated US$41 trillion expected to be passed down from the current generation of private banking clients to their children over the next 50 years, private banks will soon find themselves at a critical juncture. If they fail to successfully transition from one generation of client to the next, they risk losing millions in future business. Opinion-based research consistently suggests that many clients are likely to […]

The post Banking for new blood: How are private banks adapting to secure next generation wealth? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

According to the BNP Paribas Individual Philanthropy Index report for 2014, Asian donors are more impatient for returns on their philanthropic investments than their contemporaries in Europe, the Middle East and the US. The index interviewed 400 high net worth individuals globally. Of the Asian investors surveyed, 69% expected to see results in less than ten years – the highest […]

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While it has been touted as the future of philanthropy, impact investing may not be suited to all forms of philanthropic giving in Asia, says Maya Prabhu, head of philanthropy services at Coutts Institute. “Impact investing is not a silver bullet. Some types of social and environmental interventions can only be supported by grants,” says Prabhu. “For example, emergency aid […]

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