Asset Servicing, Fund Management and Investors Awards 2015

Asset Servicing, Fund Management and Investors Awards 2015 RULE BOOK

The Asset Triple A Asset Servicing, Fund Management and Investor Awards 2015 Introduction The Asset Triple A Asset Servicing, Fund Management and Investor Awards 2015 sets the benchmark in Asia for investment and custody prowess. It is the only one of its kind that assesses both buyside institutions (investors and fund managers) and sellside service providers (custodians, fund administrators, securities lending agents, transition managers, among others) to deliver a complete account of Asia s dynamic asset servicing industry. The coverage period for these awards is January 1 to December 31 2014 with geographical coverage across all Asia- Pacific markets, including Japan and Australia, as well as the Middle East. The board of editors will base their decisions on these, equally weighted, sources of intelligence: (1) Submissions following the response templates attached (additional materials are welcome) (2) Client feedback as provided through: Our proprietary online survey Confidential teleconferences/meetings with clients ASSET SERVICING AWARDS 2015 Triple A Best in Asset Servicing The institution that wins this award has the proven ability to service the custody, accounting and fund administration needs of the most demanding clients, which include institutional investors, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, alternative asset managers, broker-dealers and issuers of securities. The institution consistently offers high-quality service that is well recognized in the industry. It is strongly positioned in new areas of growth through new products, acquisitions and the effective use of technology. This institution would have achieved highly efficient operations with the effective application of technology and human resources. Client feedback attests to its leadership position. Triple A Best Custodian Overall This award recognizes the institution that is strong in both global custody and subcustody. It will have a balanced business model that offers the best in class services for both global custody and subcustody clients while achieving economies of scale in both business segments. It is strongly positioned in new areas of growth through new products, acquisitions and the effective use of technology. Client feedback are encouraged. Triple A Best Global Custodian Both the ability of an institution to offer high-quality service on a consistent basis and strong positioning in new areas of growth through new products, acquisitions and the effective use of technology are the major criteria for this award. This institution has achieved high STP rates. Competitive and transparent pricing and aggressive roll-out of services will be considered when selecting the winner of this category. Client feedback are encouraged. Triple A Best Subcustodian Superior quality service quickly translates into a dominant market share for the winner in this category. This institution must perform strongly in the three categories of settlement, safekeeping and overall presence in the major emerging markets across Asia. The views of global custodians and major broker dealers will be actively sought for this category. The ability to play a dominant role in the most attractive emerging markets (such as China, India, Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East) are important factors when selecting the winner. Client feedback are welcome. These awards are open to subcustodians covering the following markets/clientele: Asia Middle East Global Broker-Dealers 01

Triple A Best DR Bank This award will go to a bank that has excelled in winning and servicing depositary receipt (DR) mandates over the awards period and recognizes just how far a franchise has progressed and developed from where it was the previous year. The board of editors will look at the spread of business and industry experience and the commitment of the franchise as reflected in local presence, market innovation and client testimonials. Separate awards will be given for the best ADR (American depositary receipts) Bank and Best GDR (Global global depositary receipts) Bank when warranted. Triple A Best Fund Administrator Alternative Investments The fund administrator should be based in Asia-Pacific and has a consistent track record in servicing the fiduciary and operational needs of hedge funds and other alternative asset managers in the region. This involves investment in technology to automate procedures and the ability to meet the most demanding requirements of different types of fund structures. The fund administrator should have a well-planned and highly- integrated business model that ensures that it can act independently and yet operate effectively with prime brokers, lawyers and auditors. Triple A Best Fund Administrator Retail Funds The fund administrator should be based in Asia-Pacific and has a consistent track record in servicing the fiduciary and operational needs of retail funds in the region. This involves investment in technology to automate procedures and the ability to meet the most demanding requirements of different types of retail fund structures. Triple A Best in Securities Lending This award is given to a bank that has excelled in agency lending, providing the servicing benchmark for the needs of client institutions. Client feedback are encouraged. Triple A Best in Collateral Management This award recognizes the institution that has built up its collateral management business in a manner that is responsive to the changing requirements of the market and clients as they adjust to new global, regional or domestic regulations. The board of editors are seeking innovative and creative collateral management solutions that have been tested and have been known to work in actual market conditions. Triple A Best in Transition Management This award recognizes the institution that has built a significant franchise in this area owing to its ability to provide optimized trading solutions to clients, even in a highly volatile market environment. The entity has tapped into advances in technology and infrastructure to deliver an efficient process where execution risk and information leakage are minimized. Triple A Best in Corporate Trust This award recognizes the institution that has built the strongest and most solid reputation in servicing corporates on various types of financing instruments whether these are bonds, ABS and MBS financing and structured investment vehicles. Its quality of service is second to none, offering speed and a high degree of expertise in the provision of different types of services such as escrow, insurance trust or project finance. The group has invested in a significant way in terms of enhancing its technology and has also built a cadre of professionals with wide expertise on the area. 02

Mandates of the Year Awards will be given to recognize the best mandates during the awards period in the following categories: Best Collateral Management Mandate Best Corporate Trust Mandate Best Custody Mandate Best DR Mandate Best Fund Administration Mandate Alternative Investments Best Fund Administration Mandate Retail Funds Best Global Custody Mandate Best Middle Office Outsourcing Mandate Best Transfer Agency Mandate Best Subcustodian Mandate Best Securities Lending Mandate Best Tri-party Services Mandate Best Transition Management Mandate REGIONAL SPECIALIST Best Tri-party Services Provider This award recognizes the superior capability of an institution to provide third-party management of collateral for securities lending and repo transactions. The institution chosen for the award would have a rapidly expanding collateral pool of Asian securities and would aggressively invest in technology and people to enhance its servicing of the region. Client feedback are encouraged. Best Crossing Network This award goes to the most successful crossing network operating in the Asia-Pacific region. This award is open to the following crossing networks: Independent Broker-dealer Best Transfer Agent This award goes to the institution that provides the most efficient service in the space, in view of its aggressive investment in technology and professionals. Client feedback are encouraged. Best QFII Custodian This award goes to the institution that provides the most efficient service for Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (QFII) clients. Client feedback are encouraged. Best RQFII Custodian This award goes to the institution that provides the most efficient service for Renminbi Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (RQFII) clients. Client feedback are encouraged. Triple A Best Fund Administrator Retail Funds (by country) The fund administrator should be based in Asia-Pacific and has a consistent track record in servicing the fiduciary and operational needs of retail funds in the region. This involves investment in technology to automate procedures and the ability to meet the most demanding requirements of different types of retail fund structures. This award is open to fund administrators in the following markets: 03

Australia India Indonesia Korea Malaysia Philippines Taiwan Thailand Best Fund Administrator Alternatives (by country) The fund administrator should be based in Asia-Pacific and has a consistent track record in servicing the fiduciary and operational needs of alternative funds in the region. This involves investment in technology to automate procedures and the ability to meet the most demanding requirements of different types of retail fund structures. This award is open to fund administrators in the following markets: Australia Best Custody Specialist The winner of this award does not just offer standard solutions but excels in analyzing and proposing tailormade solutions to help streamline the custody processes for institutional investors in terms of investment servicing, investment management, research and trading. In addition, we would be looking at mandates won during the awards period, successful implementations, year-on-year growth in volume handled and initiatives in technology that set the institution distinctly apart from its competitors. Client feedback are encouraged. Best Subcustodian Global Best Subcustodian Broker Dealer Best Custody Specialist Institutional Best Custody Specialist Fund Managers Best Custody Specialist China Best Custody Specialist Middle East Best Custody Specialist - Africa Best Subcustodian Awards (by country) Subcustody Domestic Custody The award goes to an institution that is able to provide superior services in the country in terms of safekeeping, settlement and clearing. The board of editors is also looking for institutions that are constantly expanding and innovating in the services provided to clients in that country. Client feedback are encouraged. Australia China India Indonesia Korea Malaysia Pakistan Philippines 04

Sri Lanka Taiwan Thailand Vietnam Best Prime Broker This award is given to a bank that has excelled in servicing the needs of the growing community of hedge funds in the region. This bank is able to provide an excellent execution of trades, competitive financing and access to new deals and capital. It is efficient in cross-margining and on the trading side, it provides strong coordination between its client funds and traders. The board of editors will consider feedback from established hedge funds in the region. Client feedback are also welcome. This award is open to prime brokers in following markets: Asia Australia Korea Thailand INVESTOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2015 Pension Fund of the Year This award will recognize the pension fund which has shown the most initiative and progress in building a sound investing model and operational framework, thus enabling the fund to generate consistent returns regardless of difficult market conditions. The board of editors will look at investment models, investment performance, range of products used, quality of research and investment portfolio. Insurance Company of the Year This award will recognize the insurance company fund which has shown the most initiative and progress in building a sound investing model and operational framework, thus enabling them to generate consistent returns despite difficult markets. The board of editors will look at investment models, investment performance, range of products used, quality of research and investment portfolio. Impact Investor of the Year, By region/country This award recognizes the institution that best exemplifies principled investing aimed at enhancing the environment we live in, and has made a conscious decision to support ecologically sound businesses. By considering the corporate approach to social responsibility of companies that it invests in, along with more traditional measures of assessing company performance, these investors have developed the techniques to deliver returns which do not negatively impact the long-term sustainability of the environment. FUND MANAGEMENT OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2015 Asset Management Company of the Year, By region/country These awards recognize the asset management companies that have built a comprehensive platform for investing across different asset classes and servicing the needs of institutional, corporate and retail clients. It consistently achieves above-benchmark performance and sets the tone for innovation and industry practice. Asia Southeast Asia Australia China India Indonesia 05

Korea Malaysia Philippines Taiwan Thailand Fund Managers of the Year, By asset class These awards recognize fund managers who have consistently generated exceptional outperformance for his/her/their clients over the past five years, demonstrating superior asset/manager selection and allocation skills. Alternatives/Hedge Fund Manager of the Year Long-Only Equity Fund Manager of the Year Long-Only Fixed Income Fund Manager of the Year Long-Only Mixed Asset Fund Manager of the Year Fund of Hedge Funds Manager of the Year Private Equity Fund of Funds Manager of the Year Real Estate Fund Manager of the Year RESPONSE TEMPLATE A. Submissions in all award categories should address the following: Name of company: Date of establishment in Asia-Pacific and number of markets covered: Apart from longevity of the franchise, what other measures demonstrate your company s commitment to the region? How has your company demonstrated leadership in terms of product, service and organizational innovation? Size of assets under administration/custody/management and split between asset classes Has your product range been expanded or rationalized over the awards period and what are the reasons for this? What was the growth rate of AUA/AUC/AUM in 2014 compared to prior years How does the composition of growth such as the split between domestic/cross-border flows compare to previous years? Has growth come from new AUA/AUC/AUM or from taking market share from competitors? How has the competitive landscape changed over the award period? Relative size of AUA/AUC/AUM compared to peers What is the key differentiator between your company and its peers? What was the number and value of mandates won/lost in 2014 and how did this compare to previous years and your competitors? What are the main reasons for the difference? B. In addition to A, submissions for Best in Asset Servicing awards categories should address the following: Were there any changes in organizational structure in 2014 and, if so, what were the consequences of these changes? What other measures have been implemented to ensure that you capitalize on key market trends? How do you measure quality of service and operational efficiency? How did these measures change in 2014 compared to 2013? How do these measures for Asia-Pacific compare to those for other regions? How does growth in the Asia-Pacific business compare to other regions? What is the target mix of clients and how has this changed over the previous year? How does the target for Asia-Pacific differ from those for other regions? What new products and services were introduced in 2014 and how does the success of these launches compare to previous years? 06

C. In addition to A, submissions for Best in Custody and Fund Administration award categories should address the following: Does your company have a target split between asset classes and client types? If so, how does the present split compare to target? What were the key areas of growth in 2014 and how did these compare to previous years? What new products/services have been launched to capitalize on new opportunities for growth? Was AUC/AUA/transaction volume growth driven by new or existing clients in 2014? What was the number and value of mandates won/lost in 2014 and how did this compare to previous years and your competitors? What is the trend in client feedback in 2014 and how did this differ from previous years - for example, have clients become more/less price conscious? Has the gap between local and international operators narrowed/widened over the award period and what are the factors underlying this trend? How do you measure service quality and operational efficiency and how did the 2014 performance of these measures compare to previous years? Does performance differ across different areas of your business such as settlement vs safekeeping? How many subcustodians do you use and how has this figure changed in recent years? What percentage of custody/fund administration clients also utilized other asset servicing products/ services offered by the company in 2014 and how does this compare to the figure for previous years? D. In addition to A, submissions for Best Asset Management Company award categories should address the following: Split of inflows between asset classes and distribution channels: How has this changed over the past one, three and five years? How does this compare to your company s target? What investor education initiatives has your company undertaken over the award period? How do these initiatives differ from those conducted by your competitors? For the regional awards, how do initiatives undertaken differ by country? How many countries have investor education programmes been conducted in and how does this compare to previous years? How has the impact of these initiatives been measured? What other initiatives have been undertaken to elicit client feedback? Has your product range been adapted in response to client feedback and if so, how? How many countries within the region does your company manage funds onshore in? How does this differ by asset class? Our best wishes to all participants and The Asset is looking forward to receiving your submissions. For further information, please contact the editors: email: editors@theasset.com or bayani.cruz@theasset.com The Asset Suite 1203-1205, 12th Floor, Chinachem Exchange Square 1 Hoi Wan Street, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong Telephone (852) 2573 6078 Fax (852) 2573 7436 07