After more than 26,000 votes, Asian Private Banker‘s readers have made up their minds on the private banks and asset managers with the best red packets in the Year of the Horse. Here, APB presents the winners of this year’s private banking and asset management poll, along with the messages and meanings represented in the winning designs. Julius Baer once […]

The post Revealed: These are the best red packets in the Year of the Horse appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Galloping into the Year of the Fire Horse, the race continues among private banks and asset managers to see who can distribute the most spectacular red packets to clients. More than just traditional gifts for family and friends, these laisee, or hongbao, have morphed into cult collectables, often trading on secondary markets for prices that rival the currency inside. Horses […]

The post Vote now: Who has the best red packets in Year of the Horse? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored article from Vontobel. Fed independence concerns, US isolationism, and central bank challenges persist, but strong credit fundamentals may offer alpha opportunities. Key Takeaways Significant caution is still warranted in positioning as volatility is likely to persist. Central bank policies continue to diverge. Political pressure on and influence over the Federal Reserve remain major concerns. The impact […]

The post Room to run in fixed income appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Vontobel has hired a distributions veteran from BlackRock, the Swiss investment manager said on Friday. Based in Singapore, Clarabelle Ho has been appointed as head of intermediary clients Asia to support the firm’s client engagements across the region, the firm said in an announcement. Ho will be responsible for developing the firm’s distribution business through establishing and strengthening partnerships with […]

The post Vontobel taps BlackRock for Asia intermediary clients head appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

 The impact investing market is estimated to have expanded to $715 Billion earlier this year, with Asia Pacific investors likely to increase exposure in impact and thematic investing over the next three years. We speak to Pascal Dudle, Head of Listed Impact at Vontobel Asset Management to find out what Asian investors need to know when it comes sustainable […]

The post APB Thought Leaders: Impact and Thematic Investing, what Asian investors need to know? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Avaloq is partnering with Vontobel to offer tailored structured investment products to private clients in real-time on the Avaloq Wealth platform. Avaloq Wealth will be integrating Vontobel’s multi-issuer structured products platform deritrade® onto its solution. According to Vontobel’s website, deritrade® is an open-architecture marketplace which “connects buyers and sellers of custom-made financial products”. The new offering will first be made […]

The post Avaloq Wealth expands structured products offering with Vontobel’s platform partnership appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Vontobel Asset Management has hired a director from DWS to strengthen the firm’s relationship building with global and regional private banks. Mavis Huang has been appointed as director, intermediary clients Asia. Huang is based in Hong Kong and was most recently an RM covering private banks and intermediary clients at DWS Group, according to the firm’s announcement on Tuesday. Prior […]

The post Vontobel AM hires director from DWS appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Luxembourg-headquartered private bank Quintet has named a market head, Asia International at its Swiss branch, Quintet Switzerland, according to the bank’s announcement today. Jing Zhang Brogle has joined the Swiss private bank to head its team of client advisors covering Asia. Based in Switzerland, she will take advantage of the bank’s multi-booking approach and family office capabilities. Zhang Brogle was […]

The post Quintet Switzerland names Asia International market head appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Vontobel Asset Management has opened a new office in Singapore and hired two for its intermediary business in the region. Benny Gay has joined as head intermediary clients Asia. He will be in charge of managing relationships with global banks and intermediary channels in Singapore and Hong Kong. Gay was most recently head of private banks and intermediaries at DWS. […]

The post Vontobel AM expands presence in Singapore, hires for intermediary business appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored article from Vontobel Asset Management. Following a two-year period during which returns on invested capital (ROIC) in global emerging markets expanded, we now expect ROIC to decline in 2020 before a recovery in 2021 sets in. How strong the recovery will be and which form it finally takes – V-shape, U-shape or even W-shape – is […]

The post Industry leading companies are better positioned in a world of low growth appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This week: EFG’s Simon Godfrey: HY defaults likely to increase despite central banks’ stimuli; Pictet WM raises gold price projection; UBS GWM: Be selective as equities are “fully valued”; Now is a “decent entry point” for credit investors: Indosuez WM, Vontobel AM; Weak economic data not suggestive of a bear market: DBS Bank’s Hou EFG’s Simon Godfrey: HY defaults likely […]

The post CIO Weekly – Featuring EFG Bank’s Simon Godfrey appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As private banks in Asia continue to invest in technology, Asian Private Banker reviews the milestones that the industry has reached in the 2019 update of AppMap — the most comprehensive round-up of front-office and client applications deployed by the region’s wealth managers. Significant updates and tweaks in the last 12 months include reducing the friction of client-RM communications, upgrading […]

The post AppMap: The 2019 update appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

In tandem with the region’s exponential wealth creation, the intergenerational transfer of assets, and a growing need for asset diversification, activity in the independent asset management (IAM) industry has been marked by a palpable sense of change over the course of 2018. Looking back at the year’s developments, Asian Private Banker discusses a few of the most prominent themes and […]

The post IAMs 2018: A force to be reckoned with appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Vontobel Asset Management has captured 10% of the market share of emerging market hard currency bond inflows year-to-date, with a considerable portion coming from Asian HNW clients who have been tending towards short duration investment grade strategies. “Compared with 2017, the appetite has slowed down. The recent flow of news coming from Argentina and Turkey, and on top of trade wars, […]

The post Vontobel AM captures 10% of EM bond inflows YTD, HNW clients tilt to short duration appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Vontobel has appointed its 11-year incumbent head of financial products, advisory and distribution unit to head up a new team and take charge of business development in Asia from 1 January 2019. Georg von Wattenwyl has been appointed to assume worldwide responsibility for the sale of IAM-related products to family offices, underlining the Swiss bank’s ambitions to harness the “huge […]

The post Vontobel looks to Asian IAM market with senior appointment appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Vontobel Wealth Management has named a new chief operating officer for Asia, Asian Private Banker can reveal. Stephan Kolz, currently Vontobel WM’s regional head of investment management, has also taken on the duties of Asia COO. He succeeds Michael Haupt, who is returning to Switzerland to pursue other opportunities after three years in the role. Haupt previously spearheaded the private bank’s private […]

The post Vontobel Wealth Management appoints new Asia COO appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Despite a reversal in momentum for global fixed income products, flexible bond funds have emerged as an outlier that continues to attract net inflows year-to-date across Asia, according to Morningstar data. Amid the rising interest rate environment — which weighs on overall fixed income strategies — markets, year-to-date (YTD), have seen approximately US$3.3 billion in outflows from overall global fixed income […]

The post Flexible bonds, outliers attract inflows amid reversal in FI momentum appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Private banks’ increased allocation to passive funds will not harm active fund managers. Instead, it bodes well for those that are highly active and unconstrained, according to Jupiter Asset Management. In order to improve net portfolio returns, private banks in Asia — especially discretionary managers — have, over the past few years, focused on total expense ratios. Widely recognised as […]

The post PBs’ greater allocation to passive funds won’t threaten active fund managers appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Robust Asian demand for absolute return strategies is translating into a wider acceptance of performance fee models in discretionary mandates from independent asset managers (IAMs) who use actively managed certificates (AMCs). This is an intriguing development for an investment management industry that faces fee compression, driven largely by lower returns (and return expectations) and low-cost substitutes like ETFs. In sharp […]

The post AMC-based DPM solutions create market for performance fees appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Unconstrained fixed income funds will continue to garner the attention of Asian investors in 2018, with the region’s wealthy seeking “alternative sources” of returns in this more challenging investment environment, Vontobel Asset Management has told APB Mandate. According to data from Broadridge, the majority of fund flows in Asia in 2017 went to global bonds. At the end of last […]

The post Unconstrained bond funds to remain a key focus for Asian investors: Vontobel AM appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

APB Mandate recently spoke to Lars Kalbreier, Vontobel Wealth Management’s CIO, on among other things the inflation outlook. His message: “Inflation is likely to remain subdued for longer than what many would expect.” Why? Kalbreier cites three key factors: price transparency, employees’ lack of aggressiveness around wage increases and input costs in the context of shale gas. Kalbreier shares his thoughts below. […]

The post Vontobel WM’s CIO: Three factors that will keep a lid on inflation appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored article from Vontobel. In an investment landscape characterised by elevated geopolitical uncertainties and stretched valuations within traditional assets, TwentyFour Asset Management (TwentyFour AM), a subsidiary of Vontobel, advises investors to focus on capital preservation while pursuing alternative sources of return. A specialist in fixed income, TwentyFour AM, was established in 2008 and to 30 June 2017, […]

The post TwentyFour AM: Finding opportunities in fixed income appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Vontobel expects private clients in Asia to buy more structured products to hedge risks as volatility rises. “Having leveraged products in the market not only helps investors amplify their returns, but also enables them to hedge against downside risks,” Simon Yung, head of public distribution at Vontobel in Hong Kong, told APB Mandate. While volatility and interest rates remain near […]

The post Demand for structured products set to rise in Asia: Vontobel appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Vontobel Financial Products launched its first ten listed structured products on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange today, with the intention of tapping into sophisticated retail investors’ “big appetite” for leveraged products. “Hong Kong is the biggest market globally for leveraged products in terms of trading volume and the percentage of total market turnover,” said Simon Yung, head of public distribution […]

The post Vontobel launches HK-listed structured products, targets “big appetite” for leveraged solutions appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Last year, US$30-35 billion in AUM was widely seen as the “magic number” needed to run a sustainable private banking business in Asia. Industry leaders speaking to Asian Private Banker cited more onerous capital requirements, regulatory tightening around KYC and AML and fickle transactional revenues as inhibitors of profitability and a primary reason why the previous AUM threshold of US$10-15 billion has risen so […]

The post Are AUM survival thresholds more myth than reality? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Vontobel has set ambitious growth targets for its external asset manager (EAM) business, which includes enhancing the service offering in Asia, the bank’s latest earnings report stated. The Swiss bank said that it has made significant progress in its EAM business – launched in 2009 – including an upgrade of its digital platform and the introduction of a number of solutions. Accordingly, the bank […]

The post Asia figures in Vontobel’s EAM growth plans appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Amid the low interest rate environment, yield-hungry investors in Asia are warming to hard-currency emerging market bonds, says Ulrich Behm, Vontobel Asset Management’s Asia Pacific CEO. “Emerging market bonds have clearly made their way into the portfolios of private banking clients in Asia,” Behm tells APB Mandate, adding that investors in the region do not want to “miss attractive entry […]

The post Asian investors show greater appetite for hard-currency EM debt, says Vontobel AM’s Asia head appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Bank of Singapore has inked a strategic cooperation agreement with Swiss banking group, Bank Vontobel, that will enable its clients to book assets in Switzerland. According to the agreement, Bank of Singapore ultra and high net worth clients will be able to open accounts with Vontobel and place assets in the Zurich-based booking centre. Clients will have an option of choosing […]

The post Bank of Singapore inks Swiss booking centre agreement with Vontobel appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

(This article first appeared in Issue 106 of Asian Private Banker’s monthly print magazine, published in the first week of December 2016. This piece is part of The Final Word series, where top private banking and wealth management heads share their views on trends related to technology in 2016 and the year to come.) How important is it that tech […]

The post The Final Word: Technology appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

(This article first appeared in Issue 106 of Asian Private Banker’s monthly print magazine, published in the first week of December 2016. This piece is part of The Final Word series, where top private banking and wealth management heads share their views on trends related to regulations and compliance in 2016 and the year to come.) What measures are you […]

The post The Final Word: Regulations and compliance appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

(This article first appeared in Issue 106 of Asian Private Banker’s monthly print magazine, published in the first week of December 2016. This piece is part of The Final Word series, where top private banking and wealth management heads share their views on investment products and services trends in 2016 and the year to come.) Client appetite for equities remains […]

The post The Final Word: Investment products and services appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

(This article first appeared in Issue 106 of Asian Private Banker’s monthly print magazine, published in the first week of December 2016. This piece is part of The Final Word series, where top private banking and wealth management heads share their views on talent trends in 2016 and the year to come.) In 2017, will you place a greater emphasis […]

The post The Final Word: Talent appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

(This article first appeared in Issue 106 of Asian Private Banker’s monthly print magazine, published in the first week of December 2016. This piece is part of The Final Word series, where top private banking and wealth management heads share their views on industry trends in 2016 and the year to come.) Given this year’s downturn in transactional activity, how […]

The post The Final Word: Business performance appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

(This article first appeared in Issue 106 of Asian Private Banker’s monthly print magazine, published in the first week of December 2016. This piece is part of The Final Word series, where top private banking and wealth management heads share their views on industry trends in 2016 and the year to come.) What is your view on the one-bank approach […]

The post The Final Word: Industry trends appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Vontobel Private Banking clients are now able access the bank’s digital advisory platform and view their portfolios, irrespective of the time and place, the bank has announced. Clients using Vontobel Mobile Private Banking – which replaces its e-banking platform – can also access investment banking products and even trade on desktop, mobile and tablet. Transferring between accounts is now possible, as well as the creation of e-documents […]

The post Any time, any place: Vontobel’s private banking clients get worldwide access to digi platform appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Vontobel Wealth Management’s Asia Pacific business has added its second ex-CTBC private banker in less than two months, the bank announced today. Joannes Ho has been appointed executive director and senior relationship manager, effective 25 April 2016. In this newly created role, Ho will report to Alex Fung, APAC chief of Vontobel Wealth Management, and will be based in Hong Kong. […]

The post Vontobel WM adds another ex-CTBC banker to Hong Kong office appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

A year since its launch in Singapore, Credit Suisse Private Banking’s digital private banking mobile and tablet app has seen an increase in traffic, with the number of users doubling in the last three months since access was extended to the iPhone. In addition, the app has seen strong trading activity in the US market as more clients adopt it, the […]

The post Users of Credit Suisse’s app doubles in three months appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The Swiss lender has hired an ex-CTBC Bank high net worth (HNW) banker in Hong Kong. Christine Chen joined Vontobel Wealth Management Asia Pacific with effect from yesterday 14 March and reports to Alex Fung, Vontobel’s APAC chief executive. Previously, she was an associate director with CTBC responsible for HNW clients in China and Taiwan, and has also worked at […]

The post Vontobel adds senior RM appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The external asset management industry is set to consolidate the way private banks have been doing so in Asia, says a veteran Julius Baer banker who recently set up shop as an external asset manager (EAM). “We are currently witnessing the beginning of an exodus trend of private bankers moving to the EAM industry. However the EAM industry is still highly fragmented […]

The post EAMs to consolidate, says former Julius Baer banker appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Despite market turmoil in the first weeks of the year, Vontobel’s wealth management division posted a 3.5% increase in client assets year-on-year, according to the latest reports. The Swiss lender’s private bank saw its global client assets rise to CHF 35.1 billion (US$36 billion). The number of client advisors also increased by 7% for the private banking unit. However, Vontobel’s […]

The post Vontobel’s WM AUM up by 3.5% in 2015 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The second of a two-parter, in which top private banking heads talk to Asian Private Banker about key issues in 2015 and 2016. (This article first appeared in Issue 94 of Asian Private Banker’s monthly print magazine, published in the first week of December 2015.) Standard Chartered Private Bank – Michael Benz, global head (MB, SC) (who has since stepped down from […]

The post The Final Word (2): On Hiring and Client Trends appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Control of Vontobel Holding will remain in the hands of the founding family, following talk that the bank or parts of it might be sold after the death of patriarch Hans Vontobel last weekend. Media reports cited an internal memo to staff, in which former chairman Hans-Dieter Vontobel, the son of Hans Vontobel, said: “Our families are fully committed to […]

The post Swiss bank Vontobel not for sale despite speculation appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The first of a two-parter, in which top private banking heads talk to Asian Private Banker about key issues in 2015 and 2016. (This article first appeared in Issue 94 of Asian Private Banker’s monthly print magazine, published in the first week of December 2015.) Standard Chartered Private Bank – Michael Benz, global head (MB, SC) (who has since stepped down […]

The post The Final Word (1): On 2016 and Compliance appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As structured product distribution providers continue to jostle for a larger slice of the private banking pie, Vontobel Financial Products adds a decision making tool for buying structured products using smart and crowd data to its Deritrade platform. Vontobel Financial Products rolled out the Deritrade SmartGuide in Europe and Asia, extending its structured products distribution platform from investment banks to […]

The post Vontobel adds RM tool to its structured product platform appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Having transferred 80% of assets under management (AUM) as part of the Falcon Private Bank acquisition in Hong Kong, EFG is now looking to bulk up its relationship manager (RM) headcount by the end of 2015. “We continue to see very strong pipeline of senior RMs candidates and are confident to grow our numbers of senior bankers in the region,” […]

The post EFG aims for 115 RMs by end-2015, open to acquisitions appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Vontobel Wealth Management (WM) is planning for a robust 2016 in Asia and the Swiss pure play aims to double its assets under management (AUM) in the region in the next four years, its Hong Kong-based Asia CEO tells Asian Private Banker. “China is one of our main market focus as its economic development and rapid wealth creation point to great […]

The post Vontobel WM plans to double AUM by 2020, open to acquisitions appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Vontobel Wealth Management’s new mobile and tablet app is now live for all its clients in Hong Kong and China, with the pure play using its Swiss inhouse capabilities to develop the tool. This allows it to circumvent the issue of a lack of scale in individual markets.  This comes as front-end digitalisation continues to sweep through private banking. The new […]

The post Vontobel Wealth Management launches new app in Asia appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

In a bid to cut integration costs and create a seamless experience for its clients and relationship managers (RMs), LGT’s newly-appointed Markus Weidmann, head of IT, Asia says it is imperative to roll out its digital initiatives onto a centralised platform. “The LGT SmartBanking program will make the core banking platform accessible for RMs, prospects and clients from anywhere and […]

The post LGT to centralise digital tools on single platform appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Vontobel Financial Products has expanded its dedicated team in a bid to strengthen its multi-issuer platform deritrade, among an increasingly crowded technology vendor space in Asia. Shina Ho has joined the firm in Asia as its account manager multi-issuer platform, based in Singapore. When contacted, a spokesperson from the bank declined to comment. Ho joins the technology platform of the […]

The post Vontobel Financial Products makes new tech platform hire appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

After just over a year with the Swiss-based financial institution, Vontobel’s head of financial products sales for the region has left the bank. Eugene Lee is no longer with Vontobel. He was responsible for overseeing local sales activities of Vontobel’s financial products as well as its multi-issuer platform deritrade. Anup Gupta, currently the regional head Asia Pacific for deritrade, will […]

The post Vontobel head of sales for financial products APAC leaves appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Vontobel Wealth Management has hired a senior relationship manager from its Swiss banking rival EFG as it continues to boost its Asian operations. Tony Lai joins Vontobel in a newly created role – senior relationship manager- based in Hong Kong, the wealth manager’s sole Asian presence. He will report to Alex Fung, chief executive officer for Asia, who joined in July […]

The post Vontobel picks one from EFG appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Two months after Monique Chan stepped down as the bank’s Hong Kong CEO, Edmond de Rothschild (Rothschild) has named her replacement. Jing Zhang Brogle is the new CEO of the Swiss bank’s Hong Kong market, effective 1 August. Zhang Brogle will focus on developing the private banking business, leveraging her expertise in the multi-family office space. She will report to […]

The post Edmond de Rothschild names new Hong Kong CEO appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Vontobel Financial Products has added to its growing roster of distributors joining its structured products distribution platform in Asia, this time in the form of a French bank. Crédit Industriel et Commercial (CIC) has joined the Swiss financial group’s structured products multi-issuer platform, deritrade MIP. The platform automates the structured products distribution from investment banks to private banks including price […]

The post Vontobel onboards another distributor appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Thomas Süssli, CEO, head of financial products, Vontobel Investment Banking  What keeps my team and me awake at night is the decreasing margins and increasing efforts for producing structured products, which might eventually force some private banks to stop offering that popular product to their clients. Recently a friend of mine, he’s an executive at a private bank in Singapore, […]

The post What keeps CEOs awake at night? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Vontobel Financial products announces a new APAC CEO, to take over on the July 1, as part of wider organisational changes in Asia. Remigio Luongo, will take over from Thomas Süssli as APAC CEO, Vontobel announced in a press release today. Luongo is currently responsible for platform management worldwide, while Süssli will be leaving Vontobel at the end of June to take up […]

The post Vontobel Financial Products replaces Asia Pacific CEO appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

In a bid to boost its presence in Hong Kong, Vontobel Wealth Management hires a chief operating officer and a relationship manager for its Hong Kong office. Michael Haupt joins the Swiss bank as the new Asia COO effective June 1. In his new role, he will be responsible for developing the bank’s wealth management business strategy in the region. Steven […]

The post Vontobel Wealth Management appoints new Asia COO appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

European pharmaceutical stock linked ELN Currently we see demand in ELNs that are linked to European pharmaceutical stocks. This allows clients to enjoy a better risk versus reward through a combination of auto-callable levels with a conditional coupon at a different level and a conditional protection on the downside (European knock-in). The client can comfortably look for a higher yield […]

The post Structured product play of the week appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Asian investors have been seeking opportunities in equity-linked notes (ELNs) over the last two months because of the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect. “The Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect has, in particular, given A- and H-shares a powerful rally, lifting market sentiment in the whole region, if not all major markets,” says Roger Meier, head of structured products sales Asia at Julius Baer. […]

The post Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect adds to ELN demand appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Chinese tech stock linked ELN Clients who bought the note were interested in a “high” yield equity-linked notes with an exit strategy which is less leveraged than an accumulator but has a similar risk and reward profile. The underlying equity is in Chinese technology stocks. The note pays 20% annualised coupon. How it works is that if the underlying rises by 5%, the note […]

The post Structured product play of the week appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Vontobel’s multi-issuer platform, deritrade, has signed on another private bank, taking its distributor count in Asia to five. United Overseas Bank (UOB) has signed on with Vontobel Financial Products’ multi-issuer structured products distribution platform, according to an industry source. The Singaporean lender joins a growing roster of buy-side private banks in the Asia Pacific using deritrade, including LGT, Maybank, KGI […]

The post Heard on the street: Vontobel onboards another private bank appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

After more than five years with the Swiss bank, BSI’s head of structured products in Asia leaves to join an external asset manager (EAM) – a growing industry that is estimated to reach up to US$100 billion in assets by 2017. Vinit Sarangdhar has resigned from BSI Bank where he was head of structured products, based in Singapore. He is […]

The post BSI’s Asia head of structured products leaves to set up EAM appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

While private banks have been catering to the revival of Asian investors’ appetite for structured products, there is a growing need to structure product offerings to those residing in the higher wealth tiers, most notably ultra-high net worth individual (UHNWI) clients, a segment with US$30 million or more in investable assets. “When it comes to dealing with demand for structured products […]

The post Private banks need to rethink approach to capture structured products revenue from UHNW segment appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Even though Singaporean banking giant DBS concluded its acquisition of Société Générale’s private banking business in Asia on the 6th of October this year, questions abound on whether the acquisition was worth the organisational energy the integration of two very disparate businesses would take? “There was a sound rationale to the acquisition,” says one Singapore-based head of a private bank. “Société […]

The post DBS, Société Générale private banking: more trouble than it’s worth? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Vontobel Wealth Management’s Asia CEO, Alex Fung, speaks exclusively to Asian Private Banker for the first time since he joined from Société Générale in July. This is an interesting time for Vontobel to establish a private banking presence in Asia – the market has never been so crowded. What do you believe your differentiator will be? You’re right, the market is crowded […]

The post Straight Talk: Alex Fung, chief executive officer, Vontobel Wealth Management Asia appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

After five years with the Swiss pure-play, EFG’s head of investments for Asia Pacific resigns to join a segment that is estimated to reach up to US$100 billion in assets by 2017 – the external asset manager (EAM) industry. Harmen Overdijk is reportedly leaving EFG Asset Management where he was responsible for discretionary portfolio management services across the region as […]

The post EFG’s Asia head of investments leaves to set up shop appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

With ambitions to capture a greater share of Asia’s structured products market especially in light of the region’s transactional high net worth investors, Vontobel names a new head of financial products with a hire from Credit Suisse’s external asset manager (EAM) team. Vontobel hires Thomas Süssli to assume oversight of Vontobel Financial Products, Asia Pacific, based in Singapore and effective […]

The post Vontobel hires new head of financial products from Credit Suisse’s EAM team appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Even as the integration of Société Générale’s private banking business in Hong Kong and Singapore with DBS continues, the French bank loses another senior banker to competition. Swiss bank Vontobel, which hired Alex Fung, CEO private banking Hong Kong at Société Générale earlier this year has now appointed Christopher Tang as a managing director and team head China. Tang worked closely […]

The post Société Générale Private Banking loses senior banker appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As previously reported, Swiss Bank Vontobel continues to underscore its commitment to the industry with the hire of an industry veteran as the CEO of its private wealth management business in Asia. Alex Fung takes on the role of Vontobel’s CEO for North Asia as well as CEO of Vontobel’s wealth management in Hong Kong, replacing Jing Zhang Brogle. Fung […]

The post Vontobel appoints former Société Générale Private Banking head as CEO appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

After receiving offers from the industry’s biggest and best, Morgan Stanley agrees to sell its Swiss private banking business to J. Safra Sarasin. The American lender will now refocus its efforts to grow its Asia private wealth management business and, according to a source close to the matter, expand its frontline by 20%. “[Morgan Stanley] will look to make senior […]

The post Morgan Stanley looks to boost Asia frontline by 20% after selling Swiss private banking business appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As the battle to be the best digital wealth management software provider in Asia continues, independent technology provider, AGDelta, bolsters its presence by hiring an industry veteran from Vontobel. AGDelta appoints Robert Saly as global chief product officer and managing director, to be based in Singapore. Saly joins AGDelta with more than 30 years of industry experience, including more than […]

The post Industry veteran leaves Vontobel, joins wealth management technology provider appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The potential sale of Morgan Stanley’s Swiss private banking business has attracted overtures from the biggest and the best, including a few surprising bidders. “Credit Suisse and Julius Baer have both made the case for buying us,” confirmed one staff member at the bank, “with detailed presentations for their plans after the acquisition.” A presentation by Vontobel – an unexpected […]

The post Morgan Stanley beauty parade attracts industry leaders and boutique banks appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Swiss bank Vontobel has reiterated its ambitions as a private bank in Asia by hiring an industry veteran as its CEO for North Asia, sending out a strong message to the market in the process. Alex Fung, who was until recently CEO of private banking Hong Kong at Société Générale, is joining the Swiss pure-play to further cement its footprint […]

The post Vontobel fires first salvo, hires heavy-hitter as North Asia private banking head appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Asian Private Banker presents the latest figures on revenue and assets under management (AUM) for the top private banks in the region. This week features Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management, RBC Wealth Management and Standard Chartered Private Bank, as well as comments from an industry insider. March 5 Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management reported an increase in their global revenue […]

The post 2013 results table: Revenue and assets under management appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As the youngest-ever CEO of an almost 90-year old institution, Dr. Zeno Staub, chief executive officer of the Vontobel Group, clearly thrives under pressure. But even his considerable calm is likely to be tested by the legendary fickleness of Asian clients and markets as Vontobel tries to carve a niche for itself in the region’s rapidly-crowding private banking market. Your […]

The post Straight Talk: Dr. Zeno Staub, chief executive officer, Vontobel Group appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Cementing their partnership following a November 2012 memorandum of understanding, ANZ and Swiss financial institution Vontobel have signed a long-term strategic alliance agreement. Set for an initial period of five years, the agreement allows ANZ Global Wealth, and its private clients in the Asia Pacific region, access to Vontobel’s investment and product expertise on areas such as global investments, client […]

The post ANZ and Vontobel further commit to strategic cooperation in Asia appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Following the establishment of Vontobel’s structured products business in Singapore last year, the Zurich-based financial institution appoints a new head for the city-state and Asia Pacific. Fredy Flury joins the structured products provider as head financial products Singapore and CEO of Vontobel Financial Products, Asia Pacific. “With Fredy R. Flury, we will be able to step up our regional activities […]

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Not long after the ribbon was cut at its new Middle East office in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Coutts hires a new managing director for its business in the region. Michael Dismorr joins the boutique private wealth manager as a managing director, reporting to Amir Sadr, co-head, Middle East. Dismorr will be responsible for developing new and existing […]

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A little over a year after its launch, Swiss private bank, Vontobel, will shift its Dubai-based onshore business to Geneva, using the Swiss office as a hub for its Middle East business. “Our first priority is to ensure that we systematically focus on our clients,” said Georg Schubiger, head of private banking, commenting on the move. “We are therefore also […]

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ANZ has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Switzerland’s Vontobel Group, bringing together both parties’ capabilities for the development of a distinctive private bank offering for ANZ’s clients across the Asia Pacific region. The planned alliance will provide Vontobel Group – a Swiss private bank with approximately CHF140 billion (US$151 billion) assets under management – with the opportunity to further […]

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As yet another publicly-listed Swiss bank announces it is looking to make acquisitions in the private banking/asset management space, it becomes clear Switzerland’s wealth managers are using reserve capital to build size and rebuff unsolicited suitors. Chief executive Zeno Staub at Swiss bank Vontobel told analysts on Friday that he planned to use his war chest of CHF600 million (US$615 […]

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Harcourt Investment will offer a UCITS III compliant fund of hedge funds on June 1. The fund will target return of Libor plus four percent (over five years) with a target volatility of 6%–8% per year. The fund’s investment manager is Vontobel Europe with Harcourt Investment Consulting as its sub-adviser. The management fee is 75bp for institutional investors and 1.5% […]

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