Kuala Lumpur – Manulife Investment Management (M) Berhad announced today that it has entered into a distribution agreement with OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad (OCBC Bank). Through this, the company’s Manulife Global Thematic Fund will become available to OCBC Bank’s customers.
The Manulife Global Thematic Fund is a retail fund that invests at least 95% of its net asset value into the Allianz Global Investors Fund – Allianz Thematica (the “Target Fund”) which is managed by Allianz Global Investors GmbH. The actively managed Target Fund invests primarily in global equity markets with a focus on theme and stock selection and strives to build a diversified portfolio that is unconstrained by region, sector or market capitalisation. This enables the fund manager to pick companies that are aligned with the themes best positioned to benefit from long-term fundamental changes, thereby giving investors a chance to stay ahead of the investing curve.
Commenting on the partnership with OCBC Bank, Mr Jason Chong, Chief Executive Officer of Manulife Investment Management (M) Berhad said, “We are excited to partner with OCBC Bank, one of Southeast Asia’s largest financial services groups and among the world's most highly-rated banks. The collaboration brings together our combined strengths to add value to OCBC Bank’s customers while increasing Manulife Investment Management’s own reach to more investors in the country.”
“At Manulife Investment Management, we are committed to providing differentiated investment solutions that enable our investors to diversify their portfolios and to generate long-term sustainable returns. We are excited to kick off our partnership by offering the Manulife Global Thematic Fund to OCBC Bank’s customers. The fund enables investors to capture growth opportunities from four megatrends – urbanization, technological innovation, resource scarcity, and demographic & social change. These are areas in which structural changes are taking place and transforming the way people live. By choosing the right themes, investors are better positioned to navigate the market.”
Ms Anne Leh, Managing Director and Head of Consumer Financial Services, OCBC Bank, added that the Bank is delighted to be in a position to tap on to the investment opportunities arising from global structural shifts by working with Manulife Investment, a global investment manager with an extensive footprint in Asian markets.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated structural shifts in areas such as advances in technological innovations, and changes in demographics and consumer preferences globally. For instance, the work-from-home lifestyle that has emerged as a result of the pandemic has changed the way people live and do business, and uncovered new long-term investment opportunities in broader themes such as artificial intelligence and remote work technology. We trust this fund will offer yet another viable option to customers wishing to participate in the exciting growth areas of the world’s economy,” she said.
The Manulife Global Thematic Fund is suitable for investors who seek capital appreciation, have a long-term investment horizon and wish to seek investment exposure in global equity markets with a focus on specific themes.
