UOB Asset Management (B) Sdn Bhd (UOBAM Brunei) has won the Best Institutional House (Brunei) and Best Investor Education (Brunei) award at the Asia Asset Management 2022 Best of the Best Awards, according to a press release.
UOBAM Brunei previously won the Best Investor Education (Brunei) award in 2019 and 2020. The award ceremony was held virtually on June 9, 2022, attended by asset management firms across Asia.
This is the first time UOBAM Brunei has received the Best Institutional House (Brunei) award.
The firm was recognised for its efforts in helping institutional clients meet investment priorities, such as environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing, and offering bespoke trainings, such as visits to offices in UOBAM’s network, to expand their knowledge on various aspects of fund management. The firm also taps on its regional network of experts across nine regions in Asia, such as ESG specialists, multi-asset experts, and fund of hedge fund experts, to offer timely and accurate investment opportunities to clients.
The Best Investor Education (Brunei) award recognises UOBAM Brunei’s efforts in delivering investor education programmes for both investors and the public. The firm has identified sustainable investing as a key topic this year, to help investors avoid the pitfalls of greenwashing. It actively reaches out to investors to invite them to join the firm’s investment outlook sessions and trainings on specific asset classes. UOBAM Brunei also provides opportunities to its institutional clients and partners to upskill their knowledge in the field, including providing sponsorships to encourage partners to get ESG investing certifications.
General Manager of UOBAM Brunei Kamal Haji Muhammad said, “The awards are a testament to our commitment to the development of Brunei’s financial market and education of the investors. We continue to stay ahead of the curve by using artificial intelligence for our ESG analysis, encouraging the investor community to upskill, and improving our digital distribution channels. Additionally, we are building a local ESG team and working with more partners to create innovative products that can make an impact to the community we operate in.”
Since 2021, UOBAM Brunei has collaborated with Universiti Brunei Darussalam School of Business and Economics (UBDSBE) to educate the general public on the urgency and importance of sustainable investing. A microsite was developed and hosted on UBDSBE’s website as a resource on sustainable investing for both students and the general public. There are plans for more seminars to be conducted later this year.
The firm has also worked closely with local distributors to roll out sustainable investing solutions recognised by the Brunei Darussalam Central Bank, in the last six months. These include the UOB Asia Pacific Green Real Estate Investment Trust exchange-traded fund and United Sustainable Credit Income Fund.
