MAS EQDP: Manulife Investment Management launches Singapore all-cap fund strategy

Manulife Investment Management said it will launch a fund strategy with an emphasis on Singapore small and mid caps, shortly after it was appointed among a second batch of asset managers under the Equity Market Development Programme (EQDP).

It said on Wednesday (Dec 3) that about 40 per cent of its portfolio will be allocated to Singapore small and mid-cap companies, while maintaining “significant exposure” to large caps to ensure liquidity and scalability.

The asset manager will launch what it called a Singapore All-Cap Equity strategy that is research-driven and “benchmark-unconstrained,” with stock selection as the “main source of long-term value.”

“We see tremendous opportunities in Singapore’s small and mid-cap space, which has historically been under-researched and overlooked. These companies represent high-quality businesses with strong fundamentals and growth potential,” said Hock Fai Chan, Head of Equities, Singapore, Manulife Investment Management.

Manulife was appointed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) on Nov 19 in a second batch of six asset managers under the EQDP. The others are Amova Asset Management, AR Capital, BlackRock, Eastspring Investments (Singapore) and Lion Global Investors.

The EQDP is a S$5 billion initiative to deepen investor engagement and enhance liquidity in Singapore’s equities market.

Decoding Asia newsletter: your guide to navigating Asia in a new global order. Sign up here to get Decoding Asia newsletter. Delivered to your inbox. Free.