Thank you for your interest in the Nikko AM group.

I am honored to have been appointed Chairman and CEO of Nikko AM, Asia's leading asset management company.

Our goal remains the same: To deliver performance and value to investors who are looking for a specialist investment manager in the Asia region.

Some years ago, we recognised that Asia would play an increasingly important role on the global economic and political stage. Today, rising incomes and wealth creation in the region have led to an affluent middle-class population looking for ways to safeguard their future.

Nikko AM is in an excellent position to help these investors. We have over 50 years of local experience in Asia, providing specialist expertise in Asian equity and Asian fixed income, as well as a globally diversified product range through the World Series Fund Platform®. Additionally, we have gained industry-wide recognition and awards for “best-in-class” products, top-quartile investment performance and outstanding client service capabilities.

At Nikko AM, excellence is the driving force behind everything we do.

Global investors also benefit from Nikko AM’s “multi local” approach – local management teams are given a high degree of autonomy to decide what is right for their market and relevant for local investors. This, coupled with internationally recognised standards of investment practice, transparency and corporate governance, means that our clients have the edge when investing with us into Asia’s markets.

We have reached an exciting juncture in the company’s history – Nikko AM has emerged as one of the largest asset managers headquartered in the world's fastest growth region. Our on-the-ground presence now spans seven key Asia Pacific markets and assets under management have almost tripled since 2004.*

Nikko AM's achievements would not be possible without the support of our clients. We thank you for contributing to our success and seek your continued support in 2012.

^*Figure is approximate as at 31 March 2011.