Criteria for Section A, PERFORMANCE AWARDS

For Section A Performance Awards, please upload the monthly performance returns (gross) for the award period and the monthly benchmark returns (if relevant).

For the ESG fund awards, they will recognise performance that incorporates ESG themes by applying negative/positive filters or scoring systems in their investment process. The fund’s performance benchmark should be ESG related.

For the Asia Absolute Return Fund, please briefly explain the strategy, the underlying assets and the investment process including the use of leverage, if any. For the Global Absolute Return Fund, please briefly explain the strategy and the underlying assets and use of leverage, if any.

All performance data is for the period ending September 30, 2023. Please upload your monthly returns (gross) for the award period chosen and the benchmark returns in an excel file. For example if applying for the ASEAN three-year category, we require the monthly returns (gross) for 36 months to September 30, 2023 and the relevant benchmark returns. You may download the excel template here for guidance.

Please note that for Section A Performance Awards, the end period used is September 30, 2023.

Criteria for Section B, REGION/COUNTRY AWARDS (region/country specific awards below)

For Sections B Region/Country Awards, the performance and data is for the period to November 30, 2023.

Best Bond Manager. Please describe your investment and research process and how your firm has coped in the past one year and managed country specific issues and challenges. Please indicate the performance over the past one year and the size of the bond assets. Please provide supporting data for the period to November 30 2023.
Best Equity Manager. With global macro issues such as rising rates and inflation continuing to dominate the investment landscape, please explain how your domestic equity strategies have coped in the past one year, your successes and achievements for the period to November 30 2023. Please indicate the size of your equity assets under management in the last two years.
Best ESG Manager. In a post pandemic world, ESG strategies remain more relevant than ever. Even so, the ESG universe has come under much sharper focus with regulators addressing a host of issues not the least of which is greenwashing. Please explain your firm’s ESG approach, its set up at the country level in which you are applying for, and more importantly, provide specific examples at the country level of your ESG investment strategies. For example, if applying for Country X Best ESG Manager, please indicate the size of your local ESG team, resources, products and assets under management.
Best Application of ESG. ESG strategies have three major components: environment, social and governance. Specific to your firm’s ESG approach, please explain how the three components are applied across your research and investment processes at the country level for which you are applying. For example, for country X, please explain how your firm’s ESG policies and strategies have been adopted and integrated into your portfolios (whether firm wide or by specific asset classes) and the research methodology and scoring system used. Please provide supporting data on assets and third party endorsements, if any.
Best ESG Engagement Initiative. With the increasing adoption of ESG strategies and the implementation of the stewardship code of conduct and in line with the SDG goals, institutional investors play a critical role in improving corporate governance of listed companies. Please explain how your institution is set up in terms of stewardship and engagement, reporting on voting and market impact at the country level in which you are applying for. Please also provide how your ESG team is structured and the number of company engagements in the past 12 months at the country level and the outcomes for the period to November 30 2023.
Best Climate Change Strategy. Climate risk is now recognised as an existential threat globally and the recent evidence bears this out; this award will recognise an institution (stock exchange, bank, asset manager, insurer, sovereign wealth fund, corporate) for its efforts in de-carbonization in the ongoing energy transition as part of the journey to achieve a Net Zero emission world. Please explain how your institution is responding at the country level to this challenge and steps implemented to date and plans for the future.
Best Fund House. Whilst overall market share is a key consideration, based on net assets raised from both retail and institutional investors, the award also recognises how your firm has coped in the past one year in terms of management stability and new initiatives, if any. Please provide supporting data on the growth of your assets in the past two years for the period to November 30 2023.
Best House for Alternatives . Please explain the particular strategy that your firm has excelled in, the investment and research process, performance record, size of client base, and client endorsements, if any.
Best Institutional House. Key factors for consideration are market share, client retention and new business won for which supporting data is required. Please also indicate stability of senior management team, new initiatives launched or planned.
Best Investor Education . Investor education is a critical area given the urgent need to raise awareness about financial planning in order to enhance retirement savings. With rising longevity globally, now more than ever, investor education has a central role to play. Please explain how your firm, industry body or association, or government agency has addressed this issue and initiatives aimed at the wider public, the channels deployed, use of technology, and impact of these efforts at either the country or regional level.
Best Member Communications . This award recognises the platform that has been created to enhance the engagement and reporting process for scheme members through an array of web-based tools and mobile apps. The award recognises service providers, asset managers and pension funds. Please indicate service benchmarks.
Best Multi-Asset Manager . Please explain how robust is your firm’s approach in building these portfolios for your retail and institutional clients while demonstrating superior capital markets and risk management expertise. Please provide supporting performance data.
Best New ETF. Please explain the success that your firm has achieved following the launch of the new ETF. Please explain its particular features and benefits. Please provide supporting date for the period to November 30 2023.
Best Pension Fund Manager . For this award, applicants will be assessed over a three and five-year basis on how well they have managed their domestic pension mandates, the size of these mandates and returns against the relevant benchmarks. Please provide supporting data.
Best Retail House. The award is based on existing share of the retail market, net assets raised during the year, new funds launched, if any, new initiatives in investor education, and achievements in securing new distribution arrangements. Please explain your online presence and how technology is deployed to improve the client interface experience.
CEO of the Year. Please explain how you have managed during the past one year, in particular demonstrating leadership at a time of very challenging markets. Please explain how your franchise has fared, its assets under management, and new initiatives implemented, if any.
CIO of the Year. This award recognises the achievements of a chief investment officer at the country level for a pension fund or fund management company. Please explain how you have navigated the markets, mitigate risks and position your portfolios for the next market cycle. Please provide supporting data on the portfolios that you are responsible for, size of investment team, investment performance, and new initiatives, if any.
ETF Manager of the Year. The country awards address the key achievements of the provider in the last 12 months, recognising the successful launch of new products or listing of funds this year, and expansion of franchise.
Fintech Innovation in Asset Management. This award recognises a firm’s product or service offering that has made a significant difference for your clients. Please explain how your firm is deploying or has deployed cutting edge technology or technologies to offer better outcomes for your clients at the retail, wholesale or institutional level. Please explain your online presence and use of apps, if any.
Best Digital Wealth Management. The digital era has opened up new opportunities for the asset and wealth management industry and in so doing is making investments for individuals for financial planning and retirement savings far more efficient and at lower costs. Please explain how your institution’s platform is structured, scale of investment offerings, size of your franchise, innovative practices and ease of use. Please provide supporting data for the past two years.
Fund Launch of the Year. Please explain how your firm has been able to launch your new fund and made an impact in the past one year to November 30 2023. Please explain the innovative strategies used during the launch period and provide supporting data on amounts of monies raised.
Most Innovative Product . Your firm has been able to design and successfully launch a new and innovative fund or product for your clients in the past year and to anticipate market demand early on in the investment cycle at either the country or regional level. Please provide supporting data and to show amount of monies raised.
Best ESG Index Provider. Allocations to ESG strategies are growing in the local market. Please explain how your institution is meeting client demands by structuring innovative indexes based on your proprietary research methodology; please provide supporting data on take-up and size of client assets that track these indices.
Most Innovative Index. Your organisation has developed and launched an index (or a series of indices) that are leading edge and captures the new opportunities that are presenting themselves; these are indices that track new sectors or industries in the New Economy such as in the clean energy universe, technology, transportation, healthcare and infrastructure.
Best Impact Investing Manager. Impact Investing is still a relatively new theme and assets under management are still relatively low. At its core, impact investing combines financial returns and societal returns for a specific mandate or cause. Please explain how your firm is making a difference in deploying this strategy in either public markets or private markets, the research and investment process, and assets under management.
Most Innovative Application of Artificial Intelligence. AI strategies are gaining traction as firms incorporate these technologies into their investment process in managing portfolios. Please explain how your institution is positioned for example in using CHATGPT and Large Language Models or other processes and their outcomes and impact for your clients in the region.

For Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia only

Best Islamic Fund House . Whilst overall market share is a key consideration, based on net assets raised from both retail and institutional investors, the award also recognises the progress made in expanding distribution, stability of management, and investor education programmes implemented, if any. Please provide supporting data on the growth of your assets in the past three years.
Best Islamic Fund. This award recognises excellence in long-term performance in the local market. Please provide the relevant data and the benchmarks used for the fund for the three-year, five-year and 10-year periods respectively where applicable.
Best Sukuk Manager. This award recognises growth in assets, profitability, strategic relationships, customer service, competitive pricing, and innovation. Also provide information on the firm’s online presence and investments in new technology or support infrastructure.
Islamic Retail House of the Year. Please explain how your firm has been able to retain and grow your market share in the past one year. Please indicate new fund launches, if any. Please provide supporting data on growth of assets, number of funds, and net fund inflows.
Islamic Institutional House of the Year . Please explain how your firm has retained and expanded client assets, how client engagements have been structured, and any new initiatives launched in the past one year. Please provide supporting data to show growth of assets.
Most Improved Fund House (Malaysia) . In the second year of this new award, we will recognise a manager’s strong financial performance as measured by growth in revenues and profits in the past two years. Other metrics such as cost to income ratios and net profit margins will also be a determinant in selecting the winner for this award. Please provide relevant and supporting data.

For China only

Best Domestic Private Fund Manager. Private fund managers have made significant inroads with diversified strategies in bonds and equities, macro trading, private equities or venture capital investment. They have established a strong foothold in fund raising from institutional and high net-worth investors. Please explain your particular strategy, product focus, performance and size of assets under management in the past three years.
Best Enterprise Annuity Scheme. This award recognises the size and coverage of the scheme apart from maintaining consistent investment returns over the past three years. Please provide supporting data for the past two years including client endorsements if possible.
Best Occupational Annuity Manager . Launched in 2015, this scheme is set to expand at a faster pace in the next few years as more state organisations are enrolled. Please explain how your firm has managed in the past one year in terms of work practices, client engagements and managing scheme assets.
Best Pension Product. Rising longevity rates in China mean that employees have to increase their rates of savings and investments in order to be able to provide a safety net after their retirement. In view of this, investing in a well-designed pension product is important, one that caters to people in different age groups and with different expectations and requirements. Please explain the features and benefits of your product, its cost structure, level of transparency, track record and market impact.
Best Provider for Private Pensions . China’s third pillar of private pensions is still in its early stage. Assets under management currently represent less than 1% of the size of the overall market but long-term growth is promising. Target date funds, for example, have been introduced. Please explain your firm’s current coverage, footprint and strategy for the market. Please provide supporting data on size of assets.
Best WFOE House. The mainland market’s reforms have opened the door for foreign fund houses to establish their wholly foreign owned enterprises for domestic fund raising. Please explain how your firm has established a presence, its product and distribution arrangements, market acceptance and funds raised in the last 12 months.
Pensions CEO of the Year: This award will recognise the achievements of an individual in the pensions market in China, one who has been able to demonstrate and implement a clear strategy for his or her firm in the fast growing pensions industry. Please explain how you have managed your team during the ongoing pandemic, engaging clients (online and offline), and any new initiatives and plans for the future.
Fintech Innovation in Pensions: This award will recognise the achievements of a provider in the pensions market in China; given China’s leading use of fintech and artificial intelligence, the applications of these leading-edge technologies in pensions management will bring significant benefits to both employers and employees. Please explain how your firm’s leading edge has enhanced your market profile and standing and especially so at a time of the pandemic.
Best China Index Provider. Please explain how your firm has been successful in the Mainland by offering sophisticated indices to meet demand for innovative strategies across various asset classes for retail and/or institutional investors. Please provide supporting data to indicate growth of assets that track these indices over the past two years and new initiatives, if any.
Best ESG China Index Provider. Allocations to ESG strategies are growing sharply in China. Please explain how your institution is meeting client demands by structuring innovative indexes based on your proprietary research methodology; please provide supporting data on take-up and size of client assets that track these indices.

For Hong Kong SAR only

Best China Fund House. This award recognises the achievements and progress made by Mainland fund houses, specifically their pool of assets managed in Hong Kong, their investment strategies and supported by their size of their research and portfolio management teams. Please provide data on staff resources and assets under management. Also provide information on the firm’s online presence, innovatory practices and investments in new technology or support infrastructure.
Best ORSO Scheme. This award recognises a retirement scheme in Hong Kong that takes a holistic approach in managing the retirement savings of its employees, offering good employee choice options, a superior member communications programme, enhanced level of contributions and sound financial planning services.
Best ORSO Scheme for Member Communications . Please explain how your scheme’s platform is structured to engage with members, latest tools and apps used and enhancements added to improve the overall experience; please also provide supporting data on engagement metrics.
Best MPF Scheme Provider . This award will recognise overall excellence of a provider in the more than two decades since the launch of the system. Please also explain how your institution is positioning itself for the future, to remain competitive and capture new opportunities with the impending launch of the e-MPF platform.
Best MPF Scheme for Member Communications. This award will recognise how successful your institution has managed the engagement process with members, use of technology and apps including enhancing financial literacy. Please provide engagement metrics and outcomes.
Best RMB Manager. The winning asset manager will have demonstrated the ability to deliver service, performance, and innovative solutions with its RMB offerings globally. Please provide supporting data for the period to November 30 2023.

For India only

Index Provider of the Year. Please explain how your institution has been successful in the domestic market by offering sophisticated indices to meet demand for innovative strategies across various asset classes for retail and/or institutional investors. Please provide supporting data to indicate growth of assets that track these indices over the past two years.
Best Custodian of the Year . Providers for custody and related services, both domestic and foreign, are playing a vital role in the growth of the Indian financial markets. Please explain how successful your institution has been in 2023 and the past three years in terms of business strategy, growth in AUC, increase in client base and revenue, products/services launched, investments in technology, market advocacy, and significant mandates won. Supporting testimonials from a few key clients will be helpful.
Securities Services Leader of the Year . This award celebrates the achievements of an individual who is currently working in a domestic or foreign custodian, fund administrator, depository, or other securities services organisation in India who has made outstanding contributions to the industry. Please provide specific examples, data and testimonials to support the nomination.

For Singapore and Japan only

Best REITs Manager. Please highlight current size of franchise, fund performance, new initiatives undertaken, new launches and plans for the future. Please provide supporting data for the period to November 30 2023.

For Taiwan only

Best House for Offshore Funds. The award is based on net assets raised for funds investing globally and structure of the funds in terms of their strategy, product innovation and market impact. Also provide information on innovatory practices and investments in new technology or support infrastructure used to support the firm’s online presence.
Most Active ETF. This new award will recognise the most heavily traded ETF on the local exchange in the past 12 months. Please provide supporting data for the period to November 30 2023.

For Thailand and Korea only

Best Pension Plan Sponsor. The award recognises the progress and achievements of a pension fund in Thailand and Korea. Please explain how your pension fund has fared in the last one year. Please also explain any new initiatives undertaken for the period to November 30 2023.

Criteria for Section C, REGIONAL AWARDS

For Regional Awards, the performance and data is for the period to November 30, 2023.

Alternatives House of the Year. This will be awarded to an alternatives house that the judging panel believed has achieved an outstanding level of performance and client servicing capability in the region. The firm can be managing a variety of alternative strategies such as long/short equity, private credit and bank loans, funds of hedge funds, funds of private equity funds, macro, and convertibles including property or real estate. Please provide supporting data on AUM and third party endorsements, if any.
Asian Asset Consultant of the Year. Given the issues and challenges of navigating global markets at a time of heightened uncertainties, the role of asset consultants is also coming under sharper focus. This award will recognise the role and contribution of an asset consultant to the funds and pensions industry in Asia; the incumbent has to demonstrate a solid track record in pensions advisory and a high level of strategic input for its clients. Please also explain new initiatives in the region in the past year and plans for the future.
Asian Bond House of The Year. Please explain how your institution has progressed in the past one year and steps implemented to retain market share at a time of heightened competition. Please provide supporting data on AUM, size of team and resources and new initiatives undertaken for the period to November 30, 2023.
Best Securities Trading Platform. This award will recognise how your institution is capturing new volumes in Asia from market participants based on your robust platform, its benefits and efficiency of execution whether for hard or local currency bonds. Please provide supporting data and third party endorsements, if any.
Asian Rising Star. This award will go to the market participant that has become the one to watch having already demonstrated great promise within the country’s asset management industry. The winning entry will have demonstrated significant financial achievement, enterprise, integrity, innovation and strategic development. Please provide supporting data on assets under management.
Best Application of ESG. ESG strategies have three major components: environment, social and governance. Specific to your firm’s ESG approach, please explain how the three components are applied across your research and investment processes in Asia. Please explain how your firm’s ESG policies and strategies have been adopted and integrated into your portfolios (whether firm wide or by specific asset classes) and the research methodology and scoring system used. Please provide supporting data on assets and third party endorsements, if any.
Best Climate Change Strategy in Asia. Climate risk is now recognised as an existential threat globally and the recent evidence bears this out; this award will recognise an institution (stock exchange, bank, asset manager, insurer, sovereign wealth fund, corporate) for its efforts in de-carbonisation in the ongoing energy transition as part of the journey to achieve a Net Zero emission world. Please explain how your institution is responding in Asia to this challenge and steps implemented to date and plans for the future.
Best ESG Engagement Initiative. With the increasing adoption of ESG strategies and the implementation of the stewardship code of conduct and in line with the SDG goals, institutional investors play a critical role in improving corporate governance of listed companies. Please explain how your institution is set up in terms of stewardship and engagement, reporting on voting and market impact in Asia. Please also provide how your ESG team is structured and the number of company engagements in the past 12 months in Asia and the outcomes.
Best ESG Manager in Asia. In a post pandemic world, ESG strategies remain more relevant than ever. Even so, the ESG universe has come under much sharper focus with regulators addressing a host of issues not the least of which is greenwashing. Please explain your firm’s ESG approach, its set up in Asia and more importantly, provide specific examples of your ESG investment strategies in Asia. Please indicate the size of your ESG team, resources, products and assets under management in Asia for the period to November 30, 2023.
Best Impacting Investing Manager. Impact Investing is still a relatively new theme in Asia and assets under management are still relatively low. At its core, impact investing combines financial returns and societal returns for a specific mandate or cause. Please explain how your firm is making a difference in deploying this strategy in either public markets or private markets, the research and investment process, and assets under management.
Best Asset Management House. Post pandemic please explain how your firm is benefitting from the measures implemented in the past two years and how your firm is poised for the next chapter of growth in the region going forward as new opportunities beckon. Please provide supporting data for the period to November 30, 2023.
Best Asset Management House in Asia – 28 years (new). As part of AAM’s 28^th anniversary this year, the judging panel will honour one institution for the progress that the firm has achieved in the past 28 years in Asia. Progress is measured in terms of size of AUM over this period, expansion of franchise and regional presence as well as introducing innovative products that have made an impact in the region. Please provide supporting data for the period to November 30, 2023.
Best Value Investing Manager. Value Investing is making a comeback and the renewed focus on fundamentals (profits and cash flow) is opening up new opportunities. Please explain how your firm is set up, size of AUM, track record and new initiatives in the past one year to November 30, 2023.
Best Digital Wealth Management in Asia. This award will recognise how your firm has been able to harness new technology to enhance the distribution of innovative investment products and to provide a platform for investors to manage their savings and investments in a timely and cost efficient manner. Please provide supporting data to show investment range of investment offerings, size of franchise and amounts raised in the past two years.
Best Fund Administrator in Asia – Retail. This award will recognise how fund administrators are addressing the needs of clients in a more demanding regime not just in terms of the evolving regulatory requirements but also in the critical area of more innovative and cost effective solutions using the latest technologies and systems. It will also address the investments being made to improve the automation processes, service delivery of end-to-end solutions, and compliance monitoring. The judging panel would also like to see the staff resources and level of expertise within the group. Please provide a list of mandates won by types of clients and funds in the region in the last 12 months to November 30, 2023.
Best Fund Administrator in Asia – Alternatives. This award will recognise how your institution has adapted to the complex and challenging world of administering alternative products in the region, providing top notch end-to-end solutions, compliance monitoring, and regulatory reporting using the latest technologies and systems. Please provide supporting data on scale of franchise, mandates won by number and types of clients in the past 12 months to November 30, 2023. Client endorsements will be helpful too.
Fintech Innovation in Securities Servicing. Please explain how your institution is embracing Fintech for the buy side in Asia to enhance your value proposition and how your clients are benefiting from these innovative solutions at a time of heightened competition. Please explain how your firm is addressing the critical challenges in cyber security.
Best Middle and Back Office Services Provider. This award will recognise a provider with best-in-class solutions for the buy side for their middle and back office requirements in Asia. Please explain how you address evolving client demands in data and service delivery for timely decisions, operational efficiency and regulatory requirements, with supporting data on your client base in the region, significant mandates won in 2023, and testimonials from a few key clients.
Best Global Custodian in Asia-Pacific. Please explain how your institution has fared in the region in the past 12 months in terms of assets growth, significant mandates won, new markets developed, etc. in light of the issues affecting global markets. How are you responding to client demands in the region across the broad range of services and markets that they operate in terms of new demands? How are you meeting the heightened requirements of risk and compliance and the increasing move to provide the full range of front, middle to back office services? How are you addressing developments shaping digital currencies and assets? Please provide supporting data of your franchise in Asia-Pacific.
Best Custodian in Asia-Pacific – 28 years (new). In recognition of the 28^thAnniversary of AAM this year, the judging panel is looking to honour one institution that has significantly expanded its franchise in terms of growth of assets under administration, network and resources, and made significant contributions to the region’s financial markets in the past 28 years. Please provide supporting data citing specific past and present achievements for the period from 1995 to November 30, 2023.
Best Digital AssetsCustodian for Institutional Investors. The digital asset universe is gathering momentum with the growth of cryptocurrencies, tokenisation of traditional assets and rollout of central bank digital currencies in the pipeline in several jurisdiction. Please explain how your firm is making its presence felt to serve the growing pool of institutional clients, your technology and the platform that has been established.
Best Domestic Custodian in Asia (new). This award recognises contributions by domestic banks in the region which offer custody and related services in their home market. Please explain how your institution has fared in the market in the past 12 months in terms of assets growth, significant mandates won, new product/services introduced, and market advocacy. How are you responding to client demands in competition with other foreign or domestic custodians in your market? How are you meeting the heightened requirements of risk and compliance? How are you addressing developments shaping digital assets and currencies? Please provide supporting data in your submission for the period to November 30 2023.
Best Infrastructure Platform in Asia (new). This new award recognises the initiatives undertaken by a public stock exchange, depository, clearing house or other related platform over the past 12 months that have significantly enhanced the market infrastructure for the benefits of its participants, whether in terms of improving market liquidity, operational efficiency, cross-border connectivity, service delivery, coverage of instruments, risk mitigation, etc.
Best Insurance Asset Manager. The winning asset manager will have demonstrated the ability to deliver service, performance, and innovative solutions. Please also explain how the firm has embraced new technology to improve the services that it provides and the components the company has put in place to commit to responsible investing for the period to November 30, 2023.
Best Multi-Asset House. This award will go to the applicant that has put forward the best case for building a multi-asset portfolio while proving significant capital market and risk management expertise. The judges will be looking for evidence of how thoughtful portfolio diversification is an investment strategy and proof that by combining multiple asset classes with low or negative correlations, an investor may achieve a higher portfolio return and a significant reduction in risk.
Best Real Assets House. The winner in this category will have enhanced the reputation of their real assets investment strategy during the 12-month period to November 30, 2023. Evidence of success will include growth in AUM, pattern of net inflows, stability of performance, product development and innovation, increased acceptability and uptake in target markets.
Best Securities Financing House. Please explain how your institution has strengthened your franchise in the Asia-Pacific region in the past 12 months and new initiatives undertaken for the period to November 30, 2023.
Best Smart Beta Strategy. This award will go to the asset management house or pension fund that has demonstrated the best “smart beta” approaches; in doing so they will have combined both passive and active elements to deliver the best of both worlds: transparent construction, the promise of diversification, and all at low cost. Please explain how such strategies are put together and how they have performed over the past two years to November 30, 2023.
CEO of the Year in Asia. The global macro environment has been challenging to say the least given the continued rise in rates, inflation and heightened geo-political risks. Not surprisingly, investors have sought the refuge of defensive strategies. Please explain how you have led your firm during this challenging period, including managing expectations of your key stakeholders and clients . Please also explain how your franchise has fared and steps implemented to position your firm for growth going forward. Please provide supporting data for the period to November 30 2023.
CIO of the Year in Asia. Please explain how you have navigated the markets during the difficult conditions in the last 12 months, mitigate risks and position your portfolios for the next market cycle. Please provide supporting data on the portfolios that you are responsible for, size of investment team, investment performance, and new initiatives, if any for the period to November 30, 2023.
ETF Index Provider of the Year in Asia. The winning applicant will have been at the forefront of developing accurate, objective and superior indices in the region. They will demonstrate how they have developed sophisticated index concepts in response to continuous growth of the ETF market and expanded their index offering on a regional level and across all asset classes.
ETF Manager of the Year. This award addresses the key achievements of the ETF provider in the last 12 months, new products launched across the region, scale of existing franchise, number of funds listed in the region, and efforts to promote investor education, and enhance usage of ETFs in the institutional and retail marketplace for the period to November 30, 2023.
Fintech Innovation in Asian Asset Management. This award recognises a firm’s product or service offering that has made a significant difference for your clients. Please explain how your firm is deploying or has deployed cutting edge technology or technologies to offer better outcomes for your clients at the retail, wholesale or institutional level. Please explain your online presence and use of apps.
Index Provider of the Year. This recognition will be awarded to the index provider that has done the most to improve investor outcomes through index introductions, research, and adviser support during the pandemic. Please also provide information on size of assets and number of funds that track your indices in the region.
ESG Index Provider of the Year. Allocations to ESG strategies are growing across the region including from a host of asset owners and pension funds. Please explain how your institution is meeting client demands by structuring innovative indexes based on your proprietary research methodology; please provide supporting data on take-up and size of client assets that track these indices.
Most Innovative Index. Your organisation has developed and launched an index (or a series of indices) that are leading edge and captures the new opportunities that are presenting themselves; these are indices that track new sectors or industries in the New Economy such as in the clean energy universe, technology, transportation, healthcare and infrastructure.
Plan Sponsor of the Year. The award recognises the progress and achievements of a pension fund in Asia. Please explain how your pension fund has coped in the past one year especially on managing investments and operations; please also explain how the use of technology was deployed for member communications, reporting and engaging key stakeholders.
Most Resilient Fund. This award recognises how your fund has outperformed in the last one year during a period marked by rising inflation, rates and heightened geo-political risks. Please explain what strategies were in place to capture the emerging opportunities while retaining the risks parameters that your fund has in place. Please provide performance data and size of fund for the period to November 30, 2023.
Best Quant Manager (new). This new award will recognise a manager whose investment process has proven to be robust in the current market regime and more importantly, has demonstrated resilience and delivered risk adjusted performance for its clients, either at the country level or in the region. Please provide supporting data for the two year period to November 30 2023, including size of the relevant portfolio.
Most Innovative Application of Artificial Intelligence. AI strategies are gaining traction as firms incorporate these technologies into their investment process in managing portfolios. Please explain how your institution is positioned for example in using CHATGPT and Large Language Models or other processes and their outcomes and impact for your clients in the region.
Best Digital Assets Manager. As an asset class, digital assets are evolving with market penetration and take-up across the region still in its infancy. Please explain your firm’s strategy in managing these assets in Asia including tokenized assets, your specific focus and achievements and new initiatives in the past 12 months to November 30, 2023.
Best Institution for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. In the second year of this newly created award, please explain how institution is structured in Asia-Pacific, progress and achievements to date and plans for the future.
Best Technology Providerfor Asset Management & Servicing. Technology is playing an increasingly critical role in the investment process, from optimising workflows, managing trade execution, collecting and analysing data, managing risk and compliance, to service delivery and digital transformation. The winner of this award enables investment firms and asset servicing organisations in Asia Pacific to harness its outstanding platform to meet fast-evolving client and market needs, handle multiple asset classes, and achieve competitive advantages. Please provide data on take-up, aggregate AUM of your client base in the region, growth over the past 12 months, and also client endorsements.

Criteria for Section D, ASEAN AWARDS

For ASEAN awards, the performance and data is for the period to November 30, 2023.

ASEAN Asset Consultant of the Year. This award will recognise the role and contribution of an asset consultant to the funds and pensions industry in ASEAN; the incumbent has to demonstrate a solid track record in pensions advisory and a high level of strategic input for its clients as well as a commitment to the region. Client references will be an added advantage.
Best Application of ESG. ESG strategies have three major components: environment, social and governance. Specific to your firm’s ESG approach, please explain how the three components are applied across your research and investment processes in ASEAN. Please explain how your firm’s ESG policies and strategies have been adopted and integrated into your portfolios (whether firm wide or by specific asset classes) and the research methodology and scoring system used. Please provide supporting data on assets and third party endorsements, if any.
Best ESG Manager in ASEAN. In a post pandemic world, ESG strategies remain more relevant than ever. Even so, the ESG universe has come under much sharper focus with regulators addressing a host of issues not the least of which is greenwashing. Please explain your firm’s ESG approach, its set up in ASEAN and more importantly, provide specific examples of your ESG investment strategies in ASEAN. Please indicate the size of your ESG team, resources, products and assets under management in Asia for the period to November 30, 2023.
Best Impacting Investing Manager. Impact Investing is still a relatively new theme in ASEAN and assets under management are still relatively low. At its core, impact investing combines financial returns and societal returns for a specific mandate or cause. Please explain how your firm is making a difference in deploying this strategy in either public markets or private markets, the research and investment process, and assets under management.
Best ESG Strategy – Pension Fund. Now more than ever, the momentum is growing in Asia for asset owners and pension funds to apply ESG strategies across their spectrum of investments. Please explain how your pension fund has incorporated ESG best practices into your portfolios and to ensure the long-term sustainability of these investments.
Best Pension Fund for Member Communications. It is incumbent upon members of pension funds to equip themselves with sufficient knowledge to make informed choices about their savings and investments in both the accumulation phase before retirement and in the decumulation phase post retirement. Please explain steps that your pension fund has undertaken to improve the engagement process, new initiatives, raising investor education programmes, and the tools and technologies that have been used to convey the key messages.
Most Improved Pension Fund (new). This new award will recognise a pension fund (government, state or corporate) that has implemented new features and benefits for its members; these are features and benefits that are sustainable to meet the long-term obligations of the fund. Please provide supporting data and measures implemented.
ETF Index Provider of the Year in ASEAN. The winning applicant will have been at the forefront of developing accurate, objective and superior indices in the region. They will demonstrate how they have developed sophisticated index concepts in response to continuous growth of the ETF market and expanded their index offering on a regional level and across all asset classes.
ESG Index Provider of the Year in ASEAN. Allocations to ESG strategies are growing across the region including from a host of asset owners and pension funds. Please explain how your institution is meeting client demands by structuring innovative indexes based on your proprietary research methodology; please provide supporting data on take-up and size of client assets that track these indices.
Fintech Innovation in Asset Management. This new award recognises a firm’s product or service offering that has made a significant difference for your clients. Please explain how your firm is deploying or has deployed cutting edge technology or technologies to offer better outcomes for your clients at the retail, wholesale or institutional level. Please explain your online presence and use of apps, if any.
Index Provider of the Year in ASEAN. This recognition will be awarded to the index provider that has done the most to improve investor outcomes through index introductions, research, adviser support and more. Also provide information on innovatory practices and investments in new technology or support infrastructure used to support the provision of indexes the firm provides and give details of the company’s online presence; provide evidence of having benefitted from smoother operations and/or new value added services; and list significant contributions to the investment management industry.
Most Innovative Application of Artificial Intelligence (new). AI strategies are gaining traction as firms incorporate these technologies into their investment processes in managing portfolios. Please explain how your institution is positioned for example in using CHATGPT and Large Language Models or other processes and their outcomes and impact for your clients in the region.
Best Climate Change Strategy. Climate risk is now recognised as an existential threat globally and the recent evidence bears this out; this award will recognise an institution (stock exchange, bank, asset manager, insurer, sovereign wealth fund, corporate) for its efforts in de-carbonisation in the ongoing energy transition as part of the journey to achieve a Net Zero emission world. Please explain how your institution is responding in ASEAN to this challenge and steps implemented to date and plans for the future.
Best Digital Assets Manager. As an asset class, digital assets are evolving with market penetration and take-up across the region still in its infancy. Please explain your firm’s strategy in managing these assets in ASEAN including tokenized assets, your specific focus and achievements and new initiatives in the past 12 months to November 30, 2023.
Best Institution for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. In the second year of this newly created award, please explain how your institution is structured in ASEAN, progress and achievements to date and plans for the future.
Best Local Custodian in ASEAN. This award recognises contributions by local banks in ASEAN which offer custody and related services in their home market. Please explain how your institution has fared in the market in the past 12 months in terms of assets growth, significant mandates won, new product/services introduced, market advocacy, etc. in light of the global issues affecting the market. How are you responding to client demands in competition with other foreign or local custodians in your market? How are you meeting the heightened requirements of risk and compliance? How are you addressing developments shaping digital assets and currencies? Please provide supporting data in your submission.

Note: The decision of the judging panel is final. If in the opinion of the judging panel no applicant(s) merit consideration, no award will be issued for that particular category or section. Please also note that the use of the data provided in the submissions will only be used by the judging panel for the specific purpose of adjudicating the awards and will not be used, published, or transmitted in any form whatsoever to third parties or their representatives. Late submissions will not be accepted.