Q4-2019 Swiss-Asia Communication

3rd February 2020

Q4-2019 Swiss-Asia Communication

Swiss-Asia Holding Pte Ltd, Written by Steve Knabl, COO & Managing Partner

Gong Xi Fat Cai ! Happy New Year ! Looking back on 2019, it was a year of records for some of our platform funds, a year of records for the growth of Swiss-Asia hitting an all-time high AuM, a year of change and evolution in the digital transformation with MAS looking to grant Digital Banking licenses in Singapore and ratifying the new and updated Payments Services Act that caters to digital currencies..

We have moved past the period where many countries had their head in the sand when it comes to digital assets. There is a growing realization that the digital asset economy is a permanent part of the economic landscape, and no longer wrestling with how this will work. While every hedge fund manager may have preferences about the direction they would like regulation to take, we see that many central banks and regulators are taking a very pragmatic and pro-Crypto approach. Swiss-Asia is proud to announce that it has launched its third Crypto Fund, Acuity Capital Fund and is in the process of launching it's forth sometime in Q1-2020.

What does it actually mean to launch and manage Crypto Fund ? To be perfectly honest, these are largely unchartered waters and the rules of the game keep evolving. I have come across a fantastic article that is well worth reading as it gives an idea of what it really means to launch and manage a Crypto Fund; https://www.coindesk.com/what-its-like-being-cio-of-a-crypto-fund

SWISS-ASIA PLATFORM FUNDS PERFORMANCE SNAPSHOT

Now let's talk about performance numbers. The HFRI Fund Weighted Composite index returned 10.4% in the 12 months ended Dec. 31, the highest since 2009 when the index returned 20%. By contrast, the index was down 4.8% in the year ended Dec. 31, 2018. On a quarterly basis, the HFRI FWC index was up 3.5% in the three months ended Dec. 31.

Swiss-Asia funds showed some considerable over performance to the HFRI and of course two of which are the top-performing funds Globally ! The LTCP long-only fund demonstrated considerable skill to substantially outperform the MSCI World. The Kernel Fund SP Crypto fund launched in June this year returned 9.7% in just 6 months of trading. A newcomer to the list is the Kairos Macro fund, a fully Manager discretionary strategy that has clocked 2 years of track record. Do get in touch with us if you would like to learn more about the funds and look out for the Capital Introduction events during Q1 and Q2.

Also worth noting that according to HFR, we are once again seeing record assets entering the Industry and the $3.24 trillion hedge fund industry produced its best one-year performance in a decade. See article here: https://www.pionline.com/hedge-funds/hedge-funds-see-best-return-decade-2019?utm_campaign=smartbrief

FUND PLATFORM DEVELOPMENTS

In 2019, we launched 7 new Funds of which 2 Crypto, 1 Private Equity. We, of course, also have to manage a couple of closures.

Acuity Capital Fund. The Fund will trade large market-cap cryptocurrencies and their derivatives, with the aim of delivering absolute returns with minimized directional risk. The Fund capitalizes on volume, volatility and the corresponding market inefficiencies with arbitrage strategies incorporating market-making, high-frequency trading, and mid to long-term calendar spreading.

The Fund’s CIO, JaeHyeon Cho, was in strategic management for 6 years and used his experience in data analysis and modeling to move into the areas of trading and strategic planning where he has cultivated extensive experience in training numerous individuals to become successful traders. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, JaeHyeon creates and tests successful trading algorithms for the Acuity Capital Fund. JaeHyeon Cho joined the Swiss-Asia platform to launch the Acuity Capital Fund and will be spearheading the Fund’s investment team comprising of himself and Keisuke Oikawa (Analyst).

Bryan Diwei Huang leads the fundraising efforts as well as leading the various key personnel and partners of Acuity Capital Fund. Bryan is a seasoned entrepreneur known for his leadership, tenacity and deep thinking. Over the course of his multifaceted career, he has scaled the heights of the professional poker world as the number 1 ranked individual in Singapore and Asia. He has since pivoted into the world of business where his wide network and analytical skills have served him well in building executive teams aligned with the visions and values of various startups and businesses. As a skilled businessman, he has established an array of lucrative companies across various industries including, but not limited to, big data, artificial intelligence, and information technology development.

WEALTH MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENTS

Melvin Heng has developed and maintained an extensive network of clients over the 15 years he has been in the financial industry. He started his wealth advisory career with Standard Chartered Bank as a personal financial consultant, moving quickly to become the Associate Director of the Priority Banking division before joining UOB as a Vice President. He was most recently with Bank of Singapore as Associate Director prior to joining Swiss-Asia Financial Services. As a wealth management adviser to high net worth clients, he focuses on enhancing their wealth through his deep understanding of the financial markets and his ability to seize the best opportunities. He believes that more than just mere money management, he seeks to offer bespoke wealth management strategies based on discretion and knowledge and understanding of his clients’ objectives.

Byron Murphy has been assisting private clients in Singapore and S.E Asia with their financial arrangements for over 20 years. He has a proven track record of being able to deliver in-depth advice and implement practical solutions for virtually every scenario. He is a practicing CFP and has the support of a close-knit team of dedicated colleagues that have benefitted from working together for well over a decade. This, coupled with the collaboration of a significant network of industry professionals spanning the areas of banking, investment, law, accountancy and estate-planning facilitates access to an unparalleled level of collective experience. Byron’s extensive understanding of the International Financial Advisory and Capital Markets universe comprise one of the most effective and wide-ranging global Wealth Management propositions available today. A Permanent Resident (PR) of Singapore, where he has resided for the past 18 years, Byron has a keen interest in the field of investor psychology, holding a BSc (Hons) in Psychological Studies and a Specialist Diploma in Applied Psychology.

FUNDIES NETWORKING EVENT 10th MARCH 2020 - SAVE THE DATE

The Swiss-Asia Fundies Networking event is back on the 10th or March 2020. The theme for the first event of 2020 will be CRYPTO. The reception will be held at Atout Restaurant on Harding road with a unique setting. This is an invitation-only event for hedge funds, asset managers and investors. The evening’s sponsors include MGStover Fund Services, Bitgo, HUOBI, Campbells and Cohen& Co. Fund Managers and investors will be able to RSVP via a dedicated invitation link very soon.

Swiss-Asia Capital Introduction Events.

Stay tuned for the Swiss-Asia Capital Introduction events in Q1 and Q2 of 2019. We will be organizing by-invitation-only events for some of our top managers. More information via diverse channels will be made available very soon.

On behalf of the Swiss-Asia team, we wish you all a great year of the Golden Rat and look forward to an exciting start to 2020.

Steve Knabl