Vontobel: APAC and Emerging Market Client Assets Surge
Vontobel furthered its ambitions to grow and source alpha from Asia in the first half of 2021 with client assets in the region, alongside emerging markets, surging by nearly 50 percent.
Assets under management in Asia Pacific and emerging markets grew 48 percent year-on-year to 35.4 billion Swiss francs (xxx) as of June 30, according to the bank’s first-half results in 2021.
Overall, the bank saw assets under management worldwide reach 244.2 billion Swiss francs worldwide, a 26 percent increase from 193.4 billion Swiss francs last year.
Investment Capabilities
Asia was particularly underlined as the region where Vontobel is adding resources related to investment specialists.
The Swiss bank highlighted the hire of asset management specialists in Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore alongside the addition of quant capabilities in its China A-shares research team in Hong Kong.
«We have around 300 specialists working in our investment hubs in Zurich, New York, London and other European cities, and increasingly also in Asia,» the report said. «They form the basis of our global investment expertise. Vontobel is convinced that the multi-boutique model is a promising approach and the right way forward.»
Asia Focus
Continued expansion in Asia is part of Vontobel’s broader plan through 2030 to achieve its long-term vision which the bank calls its «Lighthouse».
Asia is prominently featured in shorter-term priorities from 2020 to 2022 with goals such as building a strong anchor in the region for distribution and harvesting the region as «a key source of alpha».
Global Results
Globally, Vontobel registered a pre-tax profit of 233.4 million Swiss francs – a 50 perfect increase – driven in part by strong demand for investing in structured products via digital channels.
Operating expenses climbed 17 percent year-on-year to 546.2 million Swiss francs.
Cost/income ratio improved to 69.6 percent from 74.7 percent at the same point last year.
