Sarasin named “Best Private Bank for Portfolio Management” and “Best Private Bank for Innovation” at the Global Private Banking Awards 2009
28.10.2009Bank Sarasin has been named “Best Private Bank for Portfolio Management” and “Best Private Bank for Innovation” by The Banker and Professional Wealth Management – two premier industry magazines published by the Financial Times Group. The prestigious awards recognize Sarasin’s leading approach to asset management and are a testament to the success of the bank’s integrated sustainability model.
Commenting on the two Global Private Banking Awards presented to Bank Sarasin, Yuri Bender, Editor-in-Chief of Professional Wealth Management, said: Burkhard P. Varnholt, Head of the Asset Management, Products & Sales Division and Chief Investment Officer of Bank Sarasin, said: |
The Global Private Banking Awards are based on the evaluation of comprehensive qualitative and quantitative data solicited from around 350 private banking and wealth management companies. The winners were chosen by a jury of independent industry experts from a wide range of disciplines to ensure a broad-based and impartial selection process.
Sarasin’s asset allocation decisions in 2008 and 2009
Sarasin emerged with considerable merit during the recent financial market crisis. It entered the year 2009 with a relatively low allocation to equities and a high allocation to corporate bonds – a decision that proved astute and significantly benefited client portfolios in the most challenging period of the crisis. Sarasin subsequently increased its allocation to equities – with a particular focus on the emerging markets. Furthermore, the bank consistently continued to raise its equity weightings in the ensuing months and thus increased its impressive outperformance. Sarasin’s move to closely align its research and portfolio management capabilities has been an important driver in achieving these outstanding results.
Sarasin recognised the importance of sustainable investments as long as 20 years ago. What started off with the inclusion of environmental criteria in certain asset management mandates back in 1989 has now developed into one of the bank’s most important pillars of business. Sarasin further strengthened its resolve in 2009 by applying its proprietary standard sustainability filter to all its private client portfolio management processes. This decision has added additional alpha to Sarasin’s stock and bond selection.
