HwangDBS Launches Malaysia's First Global Infrastructure Fund
HwangDBS Investment Management Introduces A Contemporary, Unique And Competitive Investment Alternative
Kuala Lumpur, 25 April 2007 - HwangDBS Investment Management Berhad (HwangDBS IM) today launched another contemporary investment alternative, the HwangDBS Global Infrastructure Fund ("GIF" or the "Fund"). The Fund, which is externally managed by leading global infrastructure specialist and Macquarie Group member, Macquarie Alternative Investments Limited (MAIL), is HwangDBS IM's fourth global fund and represents the first local infrastructure unit trust fund in Malaysia. HwangDBS IM and MAIL expressed confidence in the success of the GIF due to its unique proposition and the superior characteristics of its underlying assets.
The Fund's objective is to invest in defensive, income-generating, infrastructure securities which have the potential to generate a regular income stream and achieve capital growth over the long term. This makes the Fund a potentially ideal investment vehicle for investors across different ages and risk profiles.
Teng Chee Wai, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of HwangDBS IM said, "The GIF represents our continued effort in providing Malaysian investors with access to the best investment opportunities in the international financial market. HwangDBS IM is pleased to work with world-class partners such as MAIL to provide fresh and innovative investment solutions to Malaysians. The GIF offers a unique and innovative way to access an exciting asset class that has delivered stable and consistent long-term returns."
Infrastructure assets in a nutshell, provide the foundation of basic services, facilities and institutions that supports the growth and development of societies. Infrastructure facilitates the provision of basic amenities such as electricity, clean water, piped gas and toll road services. Due to the inelastic demand of these amenities, these assets are, by nature, stable and defensive. They are also profitable, cash-generative and predictable in providing long-term returns and as such makes the asset class a potentially viable but low-risk investment.
Jon Fitch, MAIL's portfolio manager, said, "We are very pleased to be advising HwangDBS IM as the approved external investment manager for the GIF. In relation to the management of the Fund, the GIF will benefit from the track record of the MAIL investment team in managing infrastructure investments and HwangDBS IM's strong local presence."
MAIL will adopt a systematic, fundamentals-based approach to identifying long-term potential value in global infrastructure securities and diversifying investments between specific countries and sectors to ensure investors attain exposure to the best possible basket of securities available in the market.
MAIL is a member of the Macquarie Group (which includes Macquarie Bank Limited together with all of its affiliates and subsidiaries) and was established in February 1999 and started to manage funds in December 2006. The Macquarie Group is a diversified international provider of specialist financial and investment banking services around the world. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, it employs almost 9,800 people in 24 countries. The Macquarie Group has been managing funds since 1980. As at 31 December 2006, the Macquarie Group had US$140 billion of assets under management, of which US$70 billion were infrastructure assets including toll roads, water utilities, electricity and gas transmission and distribution networks, broadcast towers and social infrastructure.
The GIF will be made available from today through a total of 13 distributor branches nationwide, namely Alliance Bank Berhad, Apex Investment Services Berhad, AmPrivate Banking Berhad, CIMB Bank Berhad, CIMB Wealth Advisors Berhad, CIMB Private Banking Berhad, EON Bank Berhad, ECM Libra Avenue Berhad, Hong Leong Bank Berhad, HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad, Maybank, Standard Chartered Bank Berhad and RHB Bank Berhad. The Fund has an approved size of 600 million units priced at RM0.50 per unit and a minimum initial investment of RM1,000 and minimum additional investment of RM500. Through this offering, Malaysians may potentially have access to a wide range of infrastructure securities globally.
About Macquarie Group
The Macquarie Group provides specialist investment banking and financial services in selectmarkets around the world. With a network of over 9,800 people in 24 countries, Macquarie focuses resources where it can add the most value and deliver real advantages to clients. As a result Macquarie has reported growth for over a decade and established leading positions in a range of markets.
Macquarie Group has been active in Asia for over a decade, establishing its first office in HongKong in 1994. Today, Macquarie has more than 1,500 professionals in 11 territories in Asia. Macquarie Alternative Investments Limited is a member of the Macquarie Group.