Standard Chartered is strengthening its wealth management platform with the launch of a new Asia-Pacific focused multi-asset fund in partnership with BlackRock, reflecting growing demand among affluent investors for professionally managed, diversified investment solutions. By combining the bank’s distribution network with BlackRock’s institutional investment expertise, the new strategy aims to help clients navigate increasingly volatile global markets through active asset allocation across equities, fixed income and alternative investments. The launch also highlights the continued expansion of Standard Chartered’s Variable Capital Company (VCC) platform as wealth managers increasingly develop bespoke investment products tailored to regional opportunities.
International banking group Standard Chartered has expanded its wealth management offerings with the launch of the Signature Select APAC Allocation Plus fund. Developed as an Asia-focused multi-asset investment strategy, the vehicle is structured under the bank’s existing Variable Capital Company (VCC) corporate framework. Global asset management giant BlackRock Inc. (NYSE: BLK) has been appointed as the fund’s sub-manager, bringing its specialised multi-asset strategy capabilities to execute active portfolio positioning across the Asia-Pacific region.
The new fund operates as a diversified, one-stop investment strategy designed to navigate volatile macro environments by blending varied investment styles. The portfolio is built to invest dynamically across equities, fixed-income securities, and liquid alternative assets, with the dual objective of securing long-term capital appreciation alongside steady income generation. BlackRock intends to manage the cross-asset allocations by combining its proprietary systematic equity insights with fundamental fixed-income research selection, allowing the portfolio to capture underappreciated asset valuations and active yields across evolving market cycles. The structural rollout marks the eighth sub-fund established under Standard Chartered’s VCC infrastructure since its inception in June 2024, and represents its third distinct fund launch of the year.
Sumeet Bhambri, Global Head of Advisory and Managed Investments at Standard Chartered, noted that the product combines the bank’s open-architecture distribution network with BlackRock’s institutional portfolio management, delivering unique regional investment pipelines to affluent clients. Andrew Landman, Deputy Head of Asia-Pacific and Head of Asia Pacific Wealth at BlackRock, added that favourable structural growth drivers across the region make active investing highly compelling. The cross-border fund is live immediately for accredited and professional investors transacting within the bank’s Priority, Priority Private, and Private Banking segments across an initial footprint of seven markets: Hong Kong, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Jersey, Malaysia, Kenya, and Nigeria.
What it means for the industry
- Wealth managers are increasingly partnering with global asset managers to deliver differentiated, actively managed investment solutions for high-net-worth clients.
- Multi-asset strategies are gaining prominence as investors seek greater diversification amid persistent market volatility and economic uncertainty.
- Variable Capital Company (VCC) structures continue to strengthen Singapore’s position as a leading hub for cross-border investment fund domiciliation.
- Open-architecture wealth platforms are becoming a key competitive differentiator, allowing banks to offer clients access to specialist third-party investment expertise.
- Asia-Pacific remains a priority growth market for global wealth managers, supported by expanding private wealth and long-term structural economic growth.
- Strategic partnerships between banks and asset managers are reshaping wealth management by combining client distribution capabilities with institutional portfolio management expertise.
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