KAsset (Kasikorn Asset Management Co., Ltd.) has teamed up with J.P. Morgan Asset Management (JPMAM) to establish a strategic partnership aimed at developing products and services, including investment innovations, moving forward with the launch of a Multi Asset Fund targeting an asset size of 100 billion baht within 3 years. The focus is on enhancing the capability to select and allocate assets globally to elevate Thai investments.

Ms. Kattiya Indaravijaya, CEO of Kasikorn Bank stated that Kasikorn Bank places great importance on fund management, as the bank plays a direct role in building a strong financial foundation for its customers. Currently, the bank has nearly 1 million clients investing in mutual funds (as of December 25, 2023), with significant growth potential. Therefore, the strategic collaboration between KAsset and JPMAM, from management to offering quality products that meet the needs of Kasikorn Bank's customers, will greatly enhance the investment experience of clients, aligning with the bank's goal of delivering sustainable returns to Thai investors. This also marks a significant step in driving KAsset to reach its full potential.

Mr. Adisorn Sermchaiwong, CEO of KAsset mentioned that over the past 3-4 years, the market has been affected by COVID-19 and the global economic crisis. These factors have led to ongoing market volatility, making it increasingly difficult to assess the situation. Therefore, KAsset is focused on developing strategic plans to enhance its ability to select and allocate assets globally while adapting investment strategies to keep pace with changes. All of this reflects KAsset's commitment to ensuring that Thai investors' portfolios remain stable and grow sustainably.

Currently, approximately 60% of Thai investors are facing portfolio volatility issues (Source: KAsset as of December 25, 2023).

JPMAM is seen as a partner that will complement this effort by offering a Multi Asset Fund that features diverse asset investments, providing good risk diversification and returns averaging 3-4%. KAsset aims to achieve 100 billion baht in assets from the Multi Asset Fund within 3 years, addressing the pain points of investors during volatile market periods. The Multi Asset Fund has gained popularity during recent volatility, and JPMAM has expertise in this area, with 20% of its investment portfolio in Multi Asset Funds, which typically offer higher returns than deposits but may be lower than high-risk portfolios at times, while providing an acceptable level of risk-return diversification through varied investments. Income will be assessed based on market conditions and will primarily focus on long-term perspectives.

Multi Asset Solution or investment strategies in various assets such as stocks, bonds, real estate, credit, or cash, aims to create a more agile and diverse portfolio. This strategy will be adapted for Thailand through this strategic partnership with KAsset.

Mr. Dan Watkins, CEO of J.P. Morgan Asset Management for the Asia-Pacific region expressed excitement about forming a strategic partnership with KAsset, a long-standing business partner, to deliver the best offerings to Thai investors. He views the Thai capital market as vibrant and one of the fastest-growing in the region. However, JPMAM's global investment expertise positions them well to provide world-class investment solutions to Thai investors and opens opportunities for JPMAM to expand its business across the Asia-Pacific region.

This collaboration represents a powerful alliance between two leading investment management firms. JPMAM is a global investment management expert with $2.9 trillion in assets under management, while KAsset is the market leader in Thai mutual funds, managing over 1.49 trillion baht in assets, with a deep understanding of assets and investment conditions in Thailand. This partnership aims to enhance KAsset's capabilities across all dimensions, including improving investment efficiency, developing products, providing timely insights to investors, and offering tailored advice to meet financial goals.