Brief Profile of Executive Director:

Mr. Mohd Nasir Hashim, the Executive Director of OUD Asset Management, also brings nearly 30 years of experience in funds management. Throughout his career, he has held various positions in institutional fund houses and banks, managing institutional  and unit trusts funds. With a degree in Mathematics and a Master’s degree in Economics and his expertise and track record, Mr. Nasir plays a vital role in the strategic planning and investment programs of OUD Asset Management.

In conversation with the Executive Director:

1. As the Executive Director, responsible for investment programs and strategic planning, how do you ensure that OUD Asset Management’s investment solutions are effectively accomplished?

Mohd Nasir Hashim: As the Executive Director of OUD Asset Management, I am responsible for ensuring that our investment solutions are effectively accomplished. One of our key strategies is to offer both market-related and alternative products. The market-related products appeal to risk-takers who seek returns higher than risk-free options. Leveraging our experience in fund management, these products focus on sectors with potential growth, both locally and globally. Specifically, we have identified the technology, healthcare, and energy sectors as areas of opportunity for future growth. By employing our investment strategies in these sectors, we aim to provide our clients with attractive investment options that have the potential to outperform the market.

We recognize the increasing acceptance of alternative investments globally, and we see ample opportunities in the alternative Shariah offering. Collaborating with specialized funds and experts in this area, we have designed sustainable alternative investment products that cater to a range of risk profiles. We believe that these products have the potential to gain wider acceptance in the Shariah sphere, addressing the growing demand for innovative and ethical investment solutions.

To ensure the effective accomplishment of our investment solutions, we prioritize diligent research and exhaustive due diligence. Our team conducts thorough analysis of potential investments, assessing their suitability, risk-reward profiles, and alignment with our clients’ investment objectives. We also stay abreast of market trends, regulatory changes, and global economic developments to make informed investment decisions and adjustments to our strategies as necessary.

2. With your experience in funds management, including being included in the top performing managers, how do you maintain high conviction and fundamental-driven equity strategies at OUD Asset Management?

Mohd Nasir Hashim: With my extensive experience in fund management, spanning over 28 years, the strategy of high conviction in the fundamentally strong companies has placed me to be among the top-performing managers for Malaysian equities.

Throughout my career, I have witnessed and navigated through various market downturns and crises, such as the Asian Financial Crisis, the Dotcom bubble, and the Global Financial Crisis. These experiences have reinforced my belief in the importance of investing in companies with strong fundamentals. Companies that have solid financials, a sustainable business model, and a resilient management team are more likely to weather market retracements and recover faster. This fundamental approach has consistently served me well, reaffirming my conviction in its efficacy.

Furthermore, maintaining high conviction and fundamental-driven equity strategies requires ongoing monitoring and evaluation of our investments. We continuously assess the financial health, industry dynamics, and competitive positioning of the companies in our portfolio. This proactive approach allows us to make informed decisions and take appropriate actions based on any changes or developments that may impact our investment asset allocation.

3. Could you explain the role of ethical values, Shariah principles, and ethical considerations in OUD Asset Management’s investment decision-making process?

Mohd Nasir Hashim: At OUD Asset Management, Shariah principles, and ethical considerations play a crucial role in our investment decision-making process. We are committed to Shariah and ethical investing, and our approach revolves around investing in fundamentally sound companies that adhere to Shariah guidelines while positively impacting society and practicing responsible business conduct.

We avoid investing in activities that are considered forbidden in Islam, such as alcohol, gambling, interest and pork-related industries. We give higher weighting to companies that align with ethical values and have a positive impact on society. We engage directly with company management to promote adherence to Shariah guidelines and encourage improvements in business practices. Through our investment process, we screen meticulously and evaluate companies based on both Shariah and ethical criteria. We ensure that our investments are compliant with Islamic principles while also meeting responsible and sustainable investing standards.

In the case of Malaysian companies, we rely on the list of Shariah-compliant securities published by the Shariah Advisory Council of the Securities Commission Malaysia . For companies outside of Malaysia, we employ a stock screening tool or obtain Shariah endorsement from recognized Shariah scholars. These measures help us maintain the highest level of compliance with Shariah principles.

By prioritizing Shariah compliance and ethical considerations, we attract investors who are seeking to align their investments with their values and make a positive difference with their money. We also actively seek collaboration with organizations that promote ethical investing, as we believe that by working together, we can enhance choices in ethical Shariah investments.

4. OUD Asset Management offers private mandates and investment funds with specific strategies. How do you ensure these offerings meet the diverse needs of your clients while maintaining a strong performance track record?

Mohd Nasir Hashim: We recognize the importance of meeting the diverse needs of our clients while maintaining a strong performance track record. We achieve this by offering both private mandates and investment funds, each tailored to cater to specific investment strategies and risk parameters.

Private mandates provide the opportunity to design customized investment solutions that align with the specific requirements of our clients. We held extensive client engagement and discussions to fully understand their investment objectives, risk appetite, and return expectations. We emphasize the importance of educating our clients about the risk and return trade-off involved in their investment choices, ensuring that they have a clear understanding of the strategies implemented.

We acknowledge that we cannot offer unlimited options to our clients. Instead, we focus on onboarding clients who align with our expertise and offerings. By carefully selecting clients whose investment parameters match our capabilities, we can provide them with the best management services. We prioritize quality over quantity, aiming to establish long-term relationships with our clients that is built on trust and performance. Each client has unique risk and return profiles, while we may not have an extensive array of choices, our nimble structure allows us to cater to a diverse set of risk and return preferences. By leveraging our expertise and experience, we aim to be considered as one of the trusted investment managers within our clients’ overall investment allocation.

5. How does OUD Asset Management attract and cater to its target clients, which range from high- net-worth individuals to institutions? What strategies or customized offerings have been successful in raising assets under management?

Mohd Nasir Hashim: We employ various strategies to attract and cater to our target clients, which range from high-net-worth individuals to institutions. One of our key strategies is focusing on our competitive edge and specializing in the management and product offerings that we excel in. By dedicating our resources to these areas, we can ensure that we deliver high-quality and winning products to our clients.

We place great emphasis on thorough research and due diligence when developing our product offerings. This meticulous approach ensures that we offer products that have undergone rigorous analysis and are aligned with our clients’ investment objectives. By offering strong and well-researched products, we make the task of selling these products easier for our advisors and distributors. This strategy has been successful in building the assets under our management.

To further enhance our reach, we actively seek to collaborate with strategic partners and engage experienced advisors to distribute our products. These partnerships allow us to tap into their expertise, networks, and distribution channels, enabling us to access a wider client base and effectively cater to their needs.

We also recognize the importance of nurturing close relationships with our existing investors and prospects. We prioritize excellent client service and communication, ensuring that our clients feel valued, heard, and supported throughout their investment journey. By building strong relationships based on trust and delivering consistent results, we foster client loyalty and attract new investors through positive referrals.

Looking ahead, we also recognize the potential of digital marketing and branding in increasing our visibility and reaching a broader audience. Leveraging technology and digital platforms, we aim to showcase our expertise, highlight our product offerings, and engage with potential clients in an efficient and effective manner.

6. What are some of the challenges that you face in attracting investors and collaborating with other firms? How you plan to overcome these challenges?

Mohd Nasir Hashim: As a boutique investment firm, we do face certain challenges in the industry. One of the challenges we encounter is establishing brand recognition and visibility, as we are still relatively new compared to larger, more established firms. Additionally, being a smaller firm means we may not have the same level of resources and scale as some of our competitors. However, we are confident in our ability to overcome these challenges and achieve our goals.

To address the challenge of brand recognition, we plan to leverage our strengths and differentiate ourselves in the market. We have a team of experienced professionals with a proven track record in fund management, which gives us credibility and expertise. We will continue to focus on delivering exceptional investment performance and providing our clients with a superior investment experience. By consistently delivering on our promises and exceeding client expectations, we believe that our reputation will grow, and word-of-mouth referrals will contribute to our brand recognition.

In terms of resources, we understand the importance of operating efficiently and leveraging strategic collaborations. While we may not have the same scale as larger firms, we are nimble and agile in our decision-making and execution. We will continue to seek strategic partnerships and collaborations with market experts, which allow us to tap into their specialized knowledge and broaden our capabilities. By leveraging the expertise of our partners and focusing on our core competencies, we can provide our clients with innovative and winning investment opportunities.

Being licensed as a boutique Fund Manager, we are limited to 50 clients that we can service and AUM that we can raise. While it can be seen as a limitation to growth, we felt that this allows us opportunities to provide focus services to our clients.

Looking ahead, our vision is to become a leading boutique investment manager with a strong brand identity and a reputation for delivering innovative products and superior investment performance. We aim to expand our client base, attract new investors, and establish ourselves as a trusted and sought-after investment partner. Through our commitment to excellence, continuous improvement, and a client-centric approach, we are confident in our ability to achieve our goals and solidify our position in the industry.