In the global ranking of the world’s 500 biggest managers, Japan had the largest AUM in Asia-Pacific, with $3.75trn of assets, followed by Australia and mainland China.
Assets under management in the biggest markets in Asia-Pacific
Source: Towers Willis Watson. US dollars
Managers globally are now seeking opportunities in Australia, particularly its superannuation funds, which have been increasing investment exposure outside of the country, according to a Cerulli report. The sector has around A$2.32trn ($1.78trn) in assets.
In China, 21 asset managers were included in the survey, managing around $1.07trn in assets last year, according to the Willis Towers Watson report.
The research noted that there was an increase in the number of asset managers from mainland China in 2016. On the flipside, the number of managers from Japan declined.
China highlighted
“Given the scale of the retail and private wealth sectors in mainland China, we believe the expanding population of middle- and higher-income individuals still offers the potential for stronger asset growth for managers in China,” Richard Tan, head of manager research at Willis Towers Watson, said in a statement.
Assets in China’s private wealth industry surpassed RMB10trn ($1.51trn) in August, according to a report from the Asset Management Association in China. Retail mutual fund assets are roughly the same.
Globally, firms coming from North America managed the bulk of most assets, accounting for $47.4trn of the $81.2trn held by 500 of the biggest asset managers, followed by Europe including the UK, with $25.8trn, according to the survey. Eight of the top 10 largest firms are from US, with around $20trn in assets.
Global assets under management by country
Source: Towers Willis Watson
The top three managers are Blackrock ($5.15 trn), Vanguard ($3.96trn) and State Street Global Advisors ($2.47trn)
Top 10 Asia (ex-Japan ex-Australia) managers by AUM
| Global rank | Manager | Market | AUM ($bn) |
| 92 | Samsung Group | Korea | 180.21 |
| 109 | Harvest Fund Management | China | 136.22 |
| 123 | China Asset Management | China | 115.38 |
| 146 | Mirae Asset Financial Group | Korea | 87.4 |
| 152 | Pacific Century Group | Hong Kong | 82.7 |
| 153 | CCB Principal Asset Management | China | 82.67 |
| 160 | Hanhwai Group | Korea | 77.83 |
| 163 | Bank of China Investment | China | 75.26 |
| 170 | China Universal Asset Management | China | 68.5 |
| 173 | GF Fund Management | China | 66.17 |
| 178 | CCB Credit Suisse Asset Management | China | 63.44 |
Source: Willis Towers Watson
Top 20 Asia-Pacific asset managers by AUM
| Global rank | Manager | Market | AUM ($bn) |
| 31 | Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings | Japan | 699.48 |
| 36 | Nippon Life Insurance | Japan | 647.48 |
| 39 | Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group | Japan | 584.77 |
| 52 | Macquarie Group | Australia | 362.51 |
| 57 | Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance | Japan | 306.72 |
| 61 | Shinkin Central Bank | Japan | 296.98 |
| 62 | Nomura Asset Manager | Japan | 295.94 |
| 78 | Sumitomo Life Insurance | Japan | 221.96 |
| 92 | Samsung Group | Korea | 180.21 |
| 102 | Colonial First State | Australia | 147.15 |
| 106 | Resona Holdings | Japan | 139.69 |
| 109 | Harvest Fund Management | China | 136.22 |
| 112 | Nikko Asset Management | Japan | 133.35 |
| 120 | AMP Capital | Australia | 119.48 |
| 123 | China Asset Management | China | 115.37 |
| 126 | Mizuho Financial Group | Japan | 109.69 |
| 146 | Mirae Asset Financial Group | South Korea | 87.4 |
| 152 | Pacific Century Group | Hong Kong | 82.7 |
| 153 | CCB Principal Asset Management | China | 82.67 |
| 160 | Hanhwa Group | Korea | 77.83 |
