Explore Emerging Themes Impacting Expansion in Southeast Asia

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Manni Huang
Associate Director, Account Management, Asia
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Tap into Retail, Institutional, and Product Opportunities in Southeast Asia
Trends Among Retail Investors
Thematic and Greater China strategies have gained popularity among retail investors in Southeast Asia in the past year. Cerulli notes that these strategies will continue to stand out as investors seek investment in high-growth sectors and markets.
Which Funds Are Driving Retail Assets?
Thematic funds in the technology and healthcare sectors, as well as Greater China strategies, were among the top-10 fund sectors in 2020.
Trends Among Institutional Investors
Prolonged low interest rates and growing pension assets are pushing asset owners to increase allocations to alternative and offshore markets. Cerulli also sees high growth potential in the retirement segment.
Institutional addressable assets in the Southeast Asia region grew 9.8% to US$369.2 billion in 2020, slower than the 12.4% growth recorded in 2019. Some asset owners have delayed their plans to issue new institutional investment mandates amid market uncertainty.
Southeast Asian Institutional Addressable Assets by Institution Type, 2016–2020E(US$ billions)
Helping asset owners meet their target returns, as well as manage liquidity and risks, are the main focus areas for managers this year.
The Rise of Shariah Asset Management
Shariah investments have the potential to play a bigger role in the Southeast Asian asset management industry. Shariah mutual fund assets under management (AUM) in Southeast Asia have been expanding at a steady pace, recording a compound annual growth rate of 9.7% over the five years to 2020.
New partnership opportunities with global managers will emerge as innovation—combining the principles of Shariah and ESG—into a product take shape.
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Subject Matter Experts

Ken Yap, CFA
Managing Director, Asia
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Ken Yap, CFA
Managing Director, Asia
Ken Yap is managing director of Cerulli’s Asia Pacific office. He oversees Cerulli’s business development strategy and research initiatives in the region. For more than 20 years, Ken has worked with asset managers, distributors, and financial institutions, identifying expansion opportunities with his deep knowledge of the market. He specializes in product development and market entry strategies into Asia’s established and emerging markets.
Prior to leading the Singapore office, Ken covered local and global asset management and distribution trends in Cerulli’s London and Boston offices. Before joining Cerulli, Ken was a consultant at Analysys’ Cambridge office in the U.K.
Full biography here.

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