Growth ambitions underpinned by experienced leadership appointments
TAIPEI / SINGAPORE / HONG KONG, 18 July 2023 - M&G Investments (M&G), the global asset management arm of M&G plc with total client assets of £306.5 billion , has secured a Securities Investment Consulting Enterprise (SICE) business license in Taiwan and established a new office in Taipei, marking a significant milestone in its Asia expansion strategy. To bolster M&G’s growth ambitions and underscore its commitment to the market, Berny Lin has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors for M&G Taiwan and Steven Wang as General Manager.
M&G, which has maintained a presence in Asia Pacific since 2006, has been expanding its presence in key Asian markets to complement its well-established market positions in the UK and Europe. Taiwan is a natural next step for M&G’s strategic expansion where the regulator has strong ESG ambitions and M&G can provide a diverse range of sustainable investment capability. The securing of the SICE licence will enable M&G to reinforce its existing client base and build significant new client relationships in Taiwan - the largest and fastest growing wealth centre in Asia with asset management revenues ranked third after China and Japan.
‘’Putting client needs first is fundamental to our business,” says Neal Brooks, Global Head of Product and Distribution at M&G. “We are delighted to have secured the SICE license for Taiwan, which enables us to bring M&G’s global investments perspectives and specialist expertise closer to our clients and allow us to gain a deeper understanding of their specific requirements. We are very excited about the growth opportunities and the value that M&G can deliver in this dynamic market.”
Loretta Ng, Head of Asia Pacific at M&G, adds: “Attaining this milestone underscores our ongoing commitment to the region and ambition to expand operations in this part of the world. Taiwan is a key market and we are now aligned to provide tailored investment solutions to meet the unique needs of Taiwanese investors. With our expertise and track record, we are well positioned to provide investment excellence.”
Reaffirming its unwavering commitment to the Asia market, and to facilitate the realization of M&G’s growth aspirations in Taiwan, Berny Lin has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors for M&G Taiwan. Currently the Asia ex-Japan Head of Distribution for M&G, Mr. Lin has over two decades of experience in the asset management industry and is responsible for deepening and growing M&G’s wholesale and institutional presence in the region.
Steven Wang has also been appointed as General Manager for M&G in Taiwan. Mr. Wang, based in Taipei, will be responsible for leading and growing M&G’s institutional and wholesale business in Taiwan, while leading the local teams to build, grow, and strengthen relationships with clients and partners. Their collective wealth of experience will play pivotal roles in driving M&G’s growth in Taiwan as the region continues to gain global prominence.
The SICE license approval and establishment of the Taiwan office marks the next significant step in M&G’s Asia roadmap since setting up its first Asia subsidiary in Singapore in 2006. In 2020, M&G sub-delegated its portfolio management services for the first time outside UK to M&G Singapore, and set up its first off-shore central dealing hub in Singapore to better serve clients’ needs regionally. Between 2021 and 2022, M&G created Catalyst, a new global investment team with presence in London, Singapore, New York and Mumbai, targeting enterprises that tackle social and environmental challenges, and established M&G’s Asia fixed income investment capabilities, respectively. Most recently, M&G announced the appointment of Manabu Fujita as Head of M&G Investments Japan, underlining its commitment to the Japanese market and business growth in the region.
M&G’s Asia Pacific offices are in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan.