Phatra offers global investment service to high-value customers

The Phatra team is led by Kulnan Tsanthaiwo, Narit Kosalathip and Pipat Luengnaruemitchai. The new model aims to boost its capabilities in managing offshore investment through diversified assets and heed clients' demands for access to borderless investment opportunities. Statistics reveal that the Thai stock market makes up just 0.6 per cent of the global market capitalisation.
Pipat, assistant managing director, head of Private Wealth Management Research (CIO Office) of Phatra Securities Public Co Ltd, a member of Kiatnakin Phatra Financial Group, says investing amidst historically low interest rates, volatile economic and uncertain financial market conditions make it challenging for investors to manage their assets. Therefore, asset allocation – either in the form of assets class or product types – becomes more important. However, Pipat said, investing only in Thailand limits the choices for investors, both in terms of business diversification and financial products, and may not efficiently accommodate the needs of investors.
Statistically, the Thai stock market has a market capitalisation of just 0.6 per cent of the global value. This implies a huge opportunity for Thai investors to invest, diversify risk and increase return from a diverse range of global financial products. 
The Bank of Thailand and the Securities and Exchange Commission have also relaxed regulations by allowing Thai investors to access global opportunities in a more efficient manner.
Narit, assistant managing director and head of Sales-Private Wealth Management, said Phatra Securities has more than 20 years of experience in private wealth management, serving high net worth clients. “We have been developing our capabilities in order to offer service unhindered by borders. Owing to this drive, the company is now ready to offer investment products that encompass investment opportunities worldwide.”
Phatra sees the GIS as an important milestone to expand its leading position in the private wealth business for Thai investors. In its most recent offering, the GIS, Phatra Securities still adheres stringently to this open architecture philosophy.
To accommodate GIS, the company has restructured its wealth management research team by transforming it into Chief Investment Office (CIO Office) that covers analysis on all major asset classes. The CIO Office is tasked with conducting rigorous analysis to come up with both short and long-term investment outlook for each asset classes. The coverage will now expand to include global investment to tap opportunities abroad with access to data and research from several world-class financial institutions.
Under the Open Architecture policy, Phatra Securities' products selection team works with the CIO Office to screen investment products offered by leading financial institutions around the world before selecting the most appropriate ones, Narit said. The products encompass a diverse range of asset classes in the global market. They include funds managed by top fund houses and structured products issued by leading investment banks. With the variety of products, we can help investors manage their investment more efficiently, Narit added.
To offer seamless global investment service, Phatra Securities has selected leading global financial institutions that have a superior service platform to collaborate in providing the service to clients. Credit Suisse AG, Singapore branch, is the first global bank that Phatra Securities has chosen to work with under such collaboration framework, Narit said. Under this collaboration, Phatra Securities will be able to invest in a wide variety of financial products through the opening of a Credit Suisse account. Normally a global private banking account requires a minimum investment. 
Phatra also has another service model for global investing, which may not be as comprehensive as the one offered through collaboration with global private banks. It, however, allows investors to invest in global stocks, funds and structured products in a flexible and cost effective manner. The minimum investment requirement is more flexible for this alternate service model.
Financial consultants will play very important roles in advising investors seeking to invest abroad, where there are diverse and complex options to consider. Phatra Securities’ financial consultants will advise from the establishment of an investment portfolio, to transferring funds abroad, to meeting reporting requirements of the Bank of Thailand. Investors will get an overview of their domestic and international investment portfolios through a consolidated report.
“There is a great interest among the clientele of Phatra Securities for global diversification. We can see that Phatra Securities is focusing on readying its GIS service to heed the challenging demands for managing clients’ assets in the borderless era with comprehensive product selection that are available globally,” Narit said. 
Currently Phatra Securities has Bt398 billion assets under advice, he added.