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First Sentier Investors (Hong Kong) Limited
First Sentier Investors (Hong Kong) Limited is the Asian arm of the global asset manager, overseeing A$200B+ in client assets.
First Sentier Investors (Hong Kong) Limited
First Sentier Investors (Hong Kong) Limited was founded in 1998 as part of Colonial First State Global Asset Management, a legacy Australian fund manager. The Hong Kong entity became the hub for the firm's Asia-Pacific operations, serving institutional and wholesale clients. In 2020, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group completed its acquisition of the entire First Sentier business, integrating it into the Japanese banking conglomerate's asset management division. The firm invests across public equities, fixed income, infrastructure, and real estate, with a particular emphasis on long-term, high-conviction mandates. In equities, it runs concentrated portfolios in Asian and global markets, often holding positions for 5–10 years. Its infrastructure team targets assets in renewables, transport, and utilities across Asia and Australia. Notable holdings in the listed portfolio have included AIA Group and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (public record). First Sentier employs roughly 800 professionals globally, with the Hong Kong office serving as a key regional center. The firm operates additional offices in Sydney, London, New York, Tokyo, Singapore, and Melbourne. In October 2023, the firm appointed Piers Bolger as CIO for the Asia-Pacific region, signaling continued investment in regional research capabilities (per Citywire Asia, October 2023). The firm also runs a dedicated charity, the First Sentier Foundation, which focuses on environmental and social projects. A structural differentiator is First Sentier's ownership by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, one of the world's largest banking groups, which provides a stable capital base and access to global distribution. The firm operates with a decentralized investment model, giving regional teams significant autonomy in stock selection and asset allocation. This structure allows the Hong Kong office to tailor portfolios to Asia-specific opportunities while leveraging MUFG's global reach.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
1998
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Asia
Country
China
City
Hong Kong
Corporate office
Hong Kong, China
Additional offices
Sydney, Australia · London, United Kingdom · New York, United States · Tokyo, Japan · Singapore · Melbourne, Australia
Principals
Mark Steinberg
Chief Executive Officer
Piers Bolger
Chief Investment Officer
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at First Sentier Investors (Hong Kong) Limited?
Mark Steinberg serves as Global CEO, while Piers Bolger is Asia-Pacific CIO (per Citywire Asia, October 2023). The firm operates with a decentralized model where regional teams have significant autonomy in portfolio construction and stock selection.
What is First Sentier's investment strategy in Asia?
The firm focuses on long-term, concentrated positions in public equities, fixed income, infrastructure, and real estate. In equities, it typically holds 30–60 names with a 5–10 year horizon. Its infrastructure team targets assets in renewables, transport, and utilities across Asia and Australia (public record).
How is First Sentier related to Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group?
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group acquired full ownership of First Sentier Investors in 2020, rebranding it from Colonial First State Global Asset Management. MUFG provides a stable capital base and global distribution network, while First Sentier maintains a decentralized investment structure (per Financial Times, 2021).
Does First Sentier operate only in Hong Kong?
No. The Hong Kong office is the Asia-Pacific hub, but the firm has additional offices in Sydney, London, New York, Tokyo, Singapore, and Melbourne. It serves institutional and wholesale clients globally (public record).
What sectors does First Sentier explicitly avoid?
The firm has not publicly disclosed a list of excluded sectors. Its stated focus is on long-term, high-conviction investments across equities, fixed income, infrastructure, and real estate, with no explicit negative screens (public record).
Does First Sentier maintain a philanthropic structure?
Yes, the firm runs the First Sentier Foundation, which supports environmental and social projects. The foundation is separate from the investment operations and is funded by the firm's profits (per the firm's website).
What is First Sentier's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
The firm's infrastructure team occasionally co-invests with other institutional investors in large assets, but it primarily originates and manages mandates directly. Public records show no systematic co-investment program with external GPs in its listed strategies (public record).
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