Benchmark reveals Grand Winners of the MPF of the Year Awards 2021

Written by Benchmark

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 8 March 2022 - Benchmark is proud to announce Grand Winners of its 18th MPF Providers of the Year! The Awards represented a meticulous, methodical process. The rigorous process characterized the diligence of 10 jurors who are veteran experts in Technology, Governance, Brand, Investments, and Client Servicing, who would consider additional sustainability data powered by its sister company, BlueOnion.

Benchmark defines the competition by three distinct groups of stakeholders: Investment Management, Trustee, and Sponsors, all performing specific functions to serve the members of their schemes.

BCT Group ("BCT") is named Trustee of the Year at the Benchmark MPF Awards 2021. Benchmark recognizes BCT as the best performing Trustee of the year with their excellence in discharging their fiduciary duties, creativity, and leadership in Risk Management, Employer Support, and Member Servicing. BCT has demonstrated excellent board oversight and risk management integration from the front to mid and the back office while focusing on the prevention against fraudulent withdrawals and mis-selling activities. BCT has also achieved the highest scores in Employer and Member Servicing with highly adaptive technology and servicing improvement protocols led by the senior management team. Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited ("HSBC") was the first runner-up for the title.

Manulife (International) Ltd ("Manulife") won the highest score for Investment Manager and is named Investment Manager of the Year at the Benchmark MPF Awards 2021, with the highest winning ratios in qualitative and quantitative categories. Manulife was recognized for its strategies in delivering sustained, consistent outperformance on a risk-adjusted basis while maintaining excellence in Benchmark's pillars of Investment Approach, Performance & Risk, Portfolio Management, Stewardship, and Corporate Quality. Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited ("HSBC") was the first runner-up for the title. A special commendation for their excellent stewardship and very high-quality standard for ESG integration to their investment strategies.

Sun Life Hong Kong ("Sun Life") is named Sponsor of the Year at the Benchmark MPF Awards 2021. Sun Life has surprised the panel with its exciting and high-quality Investor Education programs targeting the younger ones. The company also received overwhelming jurors' support for their intermediary support, ensuring intermediaries are kept abreast of the relevant market news and developments, while great use of technology to enhance the employee-client experience, including those who are less tech-savvy.

"We want to be clear to the public that what makes an excellent MPF provider is their ability to withstand a stressful environment like now and their ability to protect their members from taking unnecessary risks while generating respectful returns. Our sister company, BlueOnion, played a crucial role in identifying the providers' underlying investments' sustainability, ensuring no green or blue washing activities. I truly admire companies that are willing to be transparent, diligent, and aspiring to do better, despite business disruptions under a pandemic of a lifetime. On the contrary, firms who see a lesser need for transparency or who are not walking the talk of sustainable performances have taken a few steps back," says investor activist organizer Elsa Pau.

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