The funds are expected to be approved by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) on 24 October, according to the prospectus.
FSA sought more information from First State Investments, but the firm was not able to reply about the funds and its plans in Singapore in time for publication.
The funds, which include eight equity and four fixed income products, have all been available to accredited investors in Singapore with the exception of the Global Emerging Markets Focus Fund, according to the prospectus.
The funds have been also been registered in Hong Kong, with the exception of the Asia Pacific All Cap Fund, according to local regulatory records.
New funds registered with the MAS
| Fund |
Benchmark Index |
Launch date to accredited investors in Singapore |
Date of Hong Kong registration |
| First State Asia Pacific All Cap Fund |
MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex-Japan Index |
March 2013 |
– |
| First State Asia Pacific Select Fund |
MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan Index |
March 2010 |
2004 |
| First State Asian Bond Fund |
JPMorgan Asia Credit Index |
September 2003 |
1999 |
| First State Asian Property Securities Fund |
FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Asia Index |
November 2006 |
2006 |
| First State Asian Quality Bond Fund |
JPMorgan Asia Credit Investment Grade Index |
July 2003 |
2003 |
| First State China Focus Fund |
MSCI China Index |
January 2008 |
2008 |
| First State China Growth Fund |
MSCI China Index |
May 1992 |
2002 |
| First State Global Bond Fund |
FTSE World Government Bond Index |
November 1999 |
1998 |
| First State Global Emerging Markets Focus Fund |
MSCI Emerging Market Index Net |
– |
2004 |
| First State High Quality Bond Fund |
Bloomberg Barclays US Government/Credit Index |
August 2003 |
1998 |
| First State Hong Kong Growth Fund |
MSCI Hong Kong Index |
July 1999 |
1999 |
| First State Japan Equity Fund |
MSCI Japan Index |
February 2015 |
2016 |
Source: MAS, SFC, funds’ prospectus
In total, the firm offers 14 funds to retail investors and 24 funds to accredited funds in Singapore, according to MAS records. In Hong Kong, it has 25 SFC-authorised funds.
Globally, the firm managed $157bn in assets as at the end of June 2018, according to its website. In Asia, it has offices in Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo.
