KUALA LUMPUR, 27 June 2022: The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) today announced the 22 awards presented to the top external fund managers in recognition of their performance in managing EPF’s portfolios in 2021.  The EPF External Fund Managers Awards, which is now in its 20th year, celebrate and recognise the achievement of the EPF’s line of external fund managers on their respective mandates that are assessed based on a set of quantitative metrics.

As at 31 December 2021, a total of RM167.63 billion had been outsourced to external fund managers, representing an increase of eight (8) per cent, compared to RM155.18 billion at end 2020. This allocation, invested across both equity and fixed income instruments, represented 16.66 per cent of the EPF’s total investment assets.

EPF Chairman Tan Sri Ahmad Badri Mohd Zahir said, “The EPF’s line of external fund managers fared well in 2021 and delivered commendable results that were within the EPF’s objectives and expectations for the year. The fund managers have been instrumental in enhancing the performance of EPF’s assets and as our funds grow, we will continue with this diversification strategy and leverage on their insights and skillsets that complement EPF’s own internal fund management capabilities.”

For the financial year ended 2021, the EPF delivered a dividend rate of 6.10 per cent with a payout of RM50.45 billion for Simpanan Konvensional, and a rate of 5.65 per cent with a payout of RM6.27 billion for Simpanan Shariah. Cumulatively, the total payout for 2021 was RM56.72 billion.

The EPF had in March 2022, launched the EPF Sustainable Investment Policy, Priority Issues Policies, and Priority Sector Policies to guide the EPF in making better informed and holistic investment decisions by integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations in its investment management processes.

The event also witnessed 16 EPF’s external fund managers signing the Sustainable Investment Pledge to solidify their commitment to include ESG considerations into their investment decision making processes.

“Given the EPF’s position as a retirement fund with long-term objectives and aspirations, it is crucial that it incorporates ESG factors in the evaluation of the performance and business practices of its investee companies and fund managers. The EPF’s Sustainable Investment framework will provide the basis for ongoing and future engagements to discuss, assess, and manage ESG risks as well as capitalise on value creation opportunities.

“The EPF sets high standards on performance and we would like to express our appreciation to all fund managers for their good performance over the past year which contributed to the success of the EPF and by extension, to the retirement well-being of our members,” added Tan Sri Ahmad Badri.

The list of winners for the EPF External Fund Managers Awards 2021 is provided in 
Appendix 1.

Issued by the EPF Media Desk 
Corporate Affairs Department
27 June 2022