Hong Kong, 29 March 2023 – UBS Optimus Foundation in Hong Kong celebrates its tenth anniversary working closely with clients in the region to deploy philanthropic capital aimed at supporting education, health, and child protection. In 2022, it managed 30 active programs in Greater China that benefitted over 292,000 people.
To mark the anniversary, UBS Optimus Foundation is launching a new entity in Hong Kong, a Hong Kong registered charitable foundation with tax-exempted status under s88 of IRO. Through this new entity, clients can access a larger selection of philanthropic options and opportunities to support a wider scope of charitable causes, including education, health, child protection, climate and social finance.
In addition, UBS is also launching a new offering, the UBS Donor Advised Fund (DAF) in Hong Kong. Donor-advised funds offer clients an easy, flexible and efficient alternative to setting up their own foundation and can be managed in line with their usual investment approach. Their charitable donations can be invested within the parameters they select, such as capital, growth or income, so they can grow their fund to give grants at a later date. When clients set up a DAF with UBS, all administrative fees are borne by the bank.
“Our purpose at UBS is clear: we are reimagining the power of investing and connecting people for a better world. As one of the largest wealth managers globally, we have been providing best-in-class philanthropy services to our clients for decades,” said Amy Lo, Co-Head Wealth Management APAC, UBS Global Wealth Management, and Head and Chief Executive, UBS Hong Kong. “Clients are looking for more opportunities to have an impact, through their investments, their businesses and their philanthropy. With the new Optimus Foundation in Hong Kong and the Donor Advised Fund offering, UBS can help them make impact where it matters most to them, and create a better world for our future generations.”
According to the 2022 Charities Aid Foundation World Giving Index, China has one of the fastest-growing philanthropy markets in the world. To meet this growing demand, UBS is evolving its offering to help clients address the issues that matter most to them across environmental and social finance.
“The UBS Optimus Foundation Hong Kong has achieved a lot over the last ten years, deploying philanthropic capital to tackle some of the most pressing social issues,” said Maya Ziswiler, CEO UBS Optimus Foundation. “And now we are entering a new chapter in our growth as our Hong Kong-based clients can look forward to accessing an even broader, global offering of climate and social finance solutions.”
In 2022, the UBS Optimus Foundation network raised USD 274 million in donations, including UBS matching contributions, and committed USD 150 million in grants from the network. Donations and grants committed increased by 69.95% and 39% respectively from 2021.
Notes to Editors
Notes to Editors
About UBS
UBS convenes the global ecosystem for investing, where people and ideas are connected and opportunities brought to life, and provides financial advice and solutions to wealthy, institutional and corporate clients worldwide, as well as to private clients in Switzerland. UBS offers investment solutions, products and impactful thought leadership, is the leading global wealth manager, provides large-scale and diversified asset management, focused investment banking capabilities, and personal and corporate banking services in Switzerland. The firm focuses on businesses that have a strong competitive position in their target markets, are capital efficient and have an attractive long-term structural growth or profitability outlook.
UBS is present in all major financial centers worldwide. It has offices in more than 50 regions and locations, with about 30% of its employees working in the Americas, 30% in Switzerland, 19% in the rest of Europe, the Middle East and Africa and 21% in Asia Pacific. UBS Group AG employs more than 72,000 people around the world. Its shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
Media Contacts:
Fiona Chan, +852 2971 8837 / 9676 7515 / fiona-y.chan@ubs.com
Joyce Lam, +852 2971 8409 / 9336 2519 / joyce-zc.lam@ubs.com
Approval Date: 3/27/2023
Expiration: 3/31/2024
Review Code: IS2302000
