Winners rationale

In the past year, difficulties in the long-only market presented providers of alternative strategies with an ideal opportunity to demonstrate their value to clients in search of diversification and returns. And none more so than Legg Mason Global Asset Management, a long-standing powerhouse in the mutual fund space which leverages its extensive hedge fund platform housing the capabilities of its nine independent investment brands to deliver timely, best-in-breed long/short solutions to end-clients whose appetite for uncorrelated returns continues to grow.

Of particular note is one of Legg Mason’s flagship unconstrained bond strategies from its globally integrated fixed income affiliate, Western Asset. Having identified early a lack of high-quality unconstrained bond solutions in the region, the asset manager launched the Unconstrained Bond Fund to meet the growing demand for benchmark-agnostic strategies exhibiting low or negative correlation against traditional asset classes.

Outshining its peers in the category by clinching the Best Service Provider award for a hedge fund platform, Legg Mason demonstrated that its client-centric processes and best-in-class service standards have been well recognised by its private bank partners.

Examples of client-servicing efforts include regular access to investment professionals through bespoke in-house seminars, fund reviews, and training sessions.

Through its active engagement in Asia’s wealth management ecosystem, Legg Mason was voted by the region’s private banks as this year’s Asian Private Banker Best Service Provider – Hedge Fund Platform.