Manulife Asset Management (Thailand) Co Ltd (Manulife AM (Thailand)) has announced the launch of the Manulife Strength - Asian Small Cap Equity Retirement Mutual Fund (the MS-ASM RMF). The new fund is suited for long-term investors who seek to achieve internationally diversified portfolios with the potential to deliver capital appreciation to help finance retirement.
MS-ASM RMF is a feeder fund that will invest in a “master fund”: the Manulife Global Fund - Asian Small Cap Equity Fund. The master fund is actively managed and employs a bottom-up approach to identify underappreciated small-cap equities trading on Asia-Pacific markets which have unique market niches, capable management teams and the potential for strong profitability. It aims to make early stage investments and reap returns as the wider market recognises the potential of these stocks.
According to Tor Indhavivadha, CEO of Manulife AM (Thailand), “Manulife Asset Management’s Aging Asia series of research reports found that responsibility for retirement income security is increasingly shifting to individuals. However, a proprietary Manulife survey has found that many people in the region, including in Thailand, may underestimate the level of savings needed to ensure a comfortable and secure retirement.
“We believe the investment strategy of the master fund and the Asian small cap asset class is well suited for investors with a long-term investment horizon looking to contribute regularly to a retirement mutual fund, or RMF. Asian small cap stocks have outperformed their large-cap peers in 10 of the past 14 years without showing a higher degree of volatility.”
The launch of the MS-ASM RMF follows the 2012 launch of the Manulife Strength - Asian Small Cap Equity FIF (the MS-ASIAN SM), which is a feeder fund that invests in the same master fund.
According to Indhavivadha, “The launch of MS-ASIAN SM was received enthusiastically by Thai investors and rapidly grew to reach assets under management of THB4.198 billion, making it Thailand’s largest Asian equity fund[1]. This strong growth has been propelled by the master fund’s investment strategy, which has consistently delivered returns in excess of its benchmark[2].”
The MS-ASIAN SM has delivered cumulative return of 70.55% since its 31 January 2012 inception, outperforming its benchmark index by more than 50 percentage points[3].
The master fund is managed by Linda Csellak, Head of Asia Pacific equities with Manulife Asset Management Hong Kong. Csellak was named “Long-Only Equity Fund Manager of the Year - Small Cap” at The Asset’s Triple A Investor and Fund Manager Awards 2014.
Interested investors can subscribe to the MS-ASM RMF IPO during 25 June to 8 July 2014, with a minimum subscription of THB10,000. Those who invest in the MS-ASM RMF during the IPO period will receive investment units in the Manulife Strength - Money Market Fund (MS-MONEY) valued at 0.20% of the total amount invested in MS-ASM RMF (term & conditions apply). For more details, contact Manulife Asset Management (Thailand) Co Ltd at 0 2246 7650 #2, visit www.manulife-asset.co.th or contact any of our sales agents.
[1] As of 30 May 2014.
[2] The MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan Small Cap Index.
[3] Bloomberg, 30 May 2014.
MS-ASM RMF is a feeder fund that will invest in a “master fund”: the Manulife Global Fund - Asian Small Cap Equity Fund. The master fund is actively managed and employs a bottom-up approach to identify underappreciated small-cap equities trading on Asia-Pacific markets which have unique market niches, capable management teams and the potential for strong profitability. It aims to make early stage investments and reap returns as the wider market recognises the potential of these stocks.
According to Tor Indhavivadha, CEO of Manulife AM (Thailand), “Manulife Asset Management’s Aging Asia series of research reports found that responsibility for retirement income security is increasingly shifting to individuals. However, a proprietary Manulife survey has found that many people in the region, including in Thailand, may underestimate the level of savings needed to ensure a comfortable and secure retirement.
“We believe the investment strategy of the master fund and the Asian small cap asset class is well suited for investors with a long-term investment horizon looking to contribute regularly to a retirement mutual fund, or RMF. Asian small cap stocks have outperformed their large-cap peers in 10 of the past 14 years without showing a higher degree of volatility.”
The launch of the MS-ASM RMF follows the 2012 launch of the Manulife Strength - Asian Small Cap Equity FIF (the MS-ASIAN SM), which is a feeder fund that invests in the same master fund.
According to Indhavivadha, “The launch of MS-ASIAN SM was received enthusiastically by Thai investors and rapidly grew to reach assets under management of THB4.198 billion, making it Thailand’s largest Asian equity fund[1]. This strong growth has been propelled by the master fund’s investment strategy, which has consistently delivered returns in excess of its benchmark[2].”
The MS-ASIAN SM has delivered cumulative return of 70.55% since its 31 January 2012 inception, outperforming its benchmark index by more than 50 percentage points[3].
The master fund is managed by Linda Csellak, Head of Asia Pacific equities with Manulife Asset Management Hong Kong. Csellak was named “Long-Only Equity Fund Manager of the Year - Small Cap” at The Asset’s Triple A Investor and Fund Manager Awards 2014.
Interested investors can subscribe to the MS-ASM RMF IPO during 25 June to 8 July 2014, with a minimum subscription of THB10,000. Those who invest in the MS-ASM RMF during the IPO period will receive investment units in the Manulife Strength - Money Market Fund (MS-MONEY) valued at 0.20% of the total amount invested in MS-ASM RMF (term & conditions apply). For more details, contact Manulife Asset Management (Thailand) Co Ltd at 0 2246 7650 #2, visit www.manulife-asset.co.th or contact any of our sales agents.
[1] As of 30 May 2014.
[2] The MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan Small Cap Index.
[3] Bloomberg, 30 May 2014.
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