PNB Securities, Manulife expand UITF offerings

MANILA, Philippines — PNB Securities Inc. has partnered with Manulife Investment Management and Trust Corp. to expand its unit investment trust fund (UITF) offerings, as demand for professionally managed investment products continues to grow among Filipino investors.

PNB Securities said the tie-up would strengthen its investment product suite and provide clients access to diversified funds backed by Manulife’s local expertise and global investment resources.

UITFs are pooled funds managed by trust entities and are typically used by investors seeking exposure to different asset classes without having to directly manage individual securities.

Through the partnership, PNB Wealth Management clients will gain access to Manulife Investments Philippines’ range of UITFs, including income-paying solutions designed to generate recurring income while pursuing long-term capital growth opportunities across various asset classes.

“This partnership reinforces our strategic focus on enhancing our investment solutions and creating long-term value for our clients,” PNB Securities president Manuel Lisbona said.

“By collaborating with Manulife Investments Philippines, we are broadening our product suite and strengthening our role as a key player in the wealth management market,” he said.

Manulife Investments Philippines is a wholly owned subsidiary of Manulife Philippines. It secured its trust and other fiduciary business license from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in 2017 and began operations in September of the same year.

The company said it is the first trust corporation in the Philippines backed by a leading multinational financial services group.

“Our strategic partnership with PNB Securities reflects a shared commitment to broaden investment choices that deliver enduring value for investors,” Manulife Investments Philippines president and CEO Aira Gaspar said.

“We’re excited to provide PNB Wealth Management clients access to our differentiated suite of UITFs, enabling them to tap into our global investment capabilities and benefit from the disciplined investment management approach that Manulife Investment Management is known for,” she said.

PNB and PNB Securities said the partnership forms part of the broader effort to strengthen the group’s wealth management business while responding to increasing investor appetite for professionally managed funds.

The collaboration also underscores the companies’ shared goal of supporting long-term wealth creation by giving clients access to investment products backed by governance standards, expertise and institutional resources.

PNB is one of the country’s largest private universal banks in terms of assets and deposits. It offers banking and financial services to individual depositors, small and medium enterprises, local and international corporations, government institutions and overseas Filipinos.

Manulife Wealth and Asset Management, meanwhile, is the global wealth and asset management arm of Manulife Financial Corp. Its investment teams cover equities, fixed income, alternative credit, private markets and multi-asset solutions.