CGS International expands asset management, boosts ASEAN market access

ASEAN bourses are rolling out initiatives such as Singapore’s SGD 5 billion ($3.8 billion) Equities Development Programme, Malaysia’s Catalysing MSME Access to the Capital Market Roadmap, and Thailand’s Capital Market Attractiveness Initiative to broaden investor access and revitalise capital markets.

To support the rejuvenation efforts, CGS International has been working to introduce more deals to the markets, such as secondary listings of Chinese firms in Singapore, and dual listing of Singapore-listed UMS Holdings' secondary listing on Bursa Malaysia.

The group's asset management team in Singapore is further supporting this effort with the introduction of a new discretionary portfolio mandate. Named CGSI Ascend Access Strategy, it is designed to offer investors access to inital public offerings (IPOs) and secondaries traditionally reserved for institutional investors, and disciplined stock selection in recently listed equities in ASEAN and Hong Kong, targeting at least 50% allocation to Singapore. Through this, they can participate in ASEAN's growth story, as well Hong Kong's renewed strength as a leading global IPO market.

Strong asset management team with regional expertise

CGS International's seasoned asset management team comprises:
James Ong, group head of asset management, an industry veteran with 29 years of proven track record in asset management, strategic planning and governance.

Phua Zhenghao, group head of investments, with over 15 years of investment experience in leading multi-asset portfolios in global institutions, consistently delivering tactical outperformance.

Grace Yan, senior portfolio manager, has more than 17 years of expertise in Asia's (ex-Japan) small- and mid-cap equities, built on a career that spans portfolio management and fundamental equity research.

Together, the team brings institutional-grade discipline and regional insight to every allocation. It will leverage the research depth of CGS International's award-winning research teams in Asia and deep regional presence and connectivity to provide an end-to-end perspective few other firms can provide.

Ong said, "CGS International is expanding our regional investment capabilities to give our clients access to rising opportunities in both public and private spaces in Asia. Starting with the CGSI Ascend Access Strategy, we provide regional expertise to broaden public market access, and independent governance through the appointment of equities market veteran, Chew Sutat, as chair of the investment committee. Our highly experienced team is well-placed to provide high-conviction deal participation, alpha from recently listed equities, disciplined risk management and dynamic capital preservation, as we introduce more products for our investors in the future."

Re-disseminated by  Wealth and Society