Standard Chartered, BlackRock Roll Out Asia Multi-Asset Fund

Standard Chartered has expanded its Variable Capital Company (VCC) platform with the launch of a new Asia-focused multi-asset investment strategy, appointing BlackRock as sub-manager as the bank broadens its managed investment offerings for wealth management clients.

The new Signature Select APAC Allocation Plus sub-fund is designed to provide investors with diversified exposure across the Asia-Pacific region through a single investment solution. The strategy allocates capital across equities, fixed income and liquid alternative investments.

The fund will initially be available to accredited and professional investors across Standard Chartered’s Priority, Priority Private and Private Banking businesses in Hong Kong, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Jersey, Malaysia, Kenya and Nigeria. The bank said the offering will be introduced in additional markets over time.

The launch marks the latest expansion of Standard Chartered’s VCC platform, which was established in June 2024 to provide clients with access to differentiated investment strategies through a flexible fund structure.

“This latest addition further strengthens our VCC platform, which is focused on delivering differentiated, hard-to-access strategies that help clients navigate increasingly complex market environments while building resilient portfolios,” said Sumeet Bhambri, global head of advisory and managed investments, wealth solutions at Standard Chartered.

BlackRock said the strategy is well positioned to benefit from favorable regional fundamentals.

“With strong economic growth prospects across Asia Pacific and many Asian assets still underappreciated, we see compelling opportunities for active investing,” said Andrew Landman, deputy head of Asia-Pacific and head of Asia Pacific Wealth at BlackRock.