A new hub for growth: Helping asset managers scale across Asia and beyond

FOR asset managers, growth often brings greater complexity.

Expanding into new markets, launching more complex products, and moving into new asset classes create rich opportunities, but they also add layers of operational, regulatory, and technological friction behind the scenes.

In the Asia-Pacific, these pressures are mounting as the asset management industry expands. Assets under management in the region grew by about 9 per cent annually between 2020 and 2025, the fastest pace globally, and are projected to reach US$34.5 trillion (S$44.1 trillion) by 2030, according to PwC.

At the same time, the surge in alternative assets, tighter compliance requirements, fee compression and the adoption of artificial intelligence are reshaping how managers run their operations. These developments are making outsourcing less about cutting costs and more about strategy, as managers seek partners who can help them scale without building every capability in-house.

Sitting at the intersection of technology, operations, fund administration and asset management, US-headquartered SEI aims to be the “connective tissue” of this evolving ecosystem, linking the infrastructure and expertise that managers need as they grow.

On Sept 30, SEI officially opened its Singapore hub to serve two groups of clients: global asset managers looking to expand into Asia, and regional fund managers seeking to grow internationally. Staffed by a locally hired team with knowledge of the regional market, the office provides asset-servicing capabilities to support both groups’ expansion plans.

Says Sanjay Sharma, chief executive officer of SEI International and global head of SEI’s Private Banking business: “The world’s leading alternatives managers already trust SEI with their operations. We’re bringing that same capability to Asia.”

Supporting Asia’s growing asset management industry

SEI’s expansion into the Asia-Pacific comes at a time when Singapore is strengthening the city-state’s huge fund management industry, which saw assets under management (AUM) grow by 10 per cent on-year to reach S$6.7 trillion in 2025.

The city-state is currently home to 1,320 asset managers with investment teams managing client assets and investments regionally and across the globe. It is also the world’s second largest international wealth management centre with over 40 global and regional private banks as well as ancillary service providers such as trust companies, consultants, tax advisors and legal advisors.

One challenge SEI plans to address in Asia is fragmentation across different systems and processes, as well as scaling these operations as the industry expands.

Unlike niche vendors that focus on a single segment, SEI operates across technology, operations and asset management. This dual perspective as fund manager and infrastructure provider enables the company to build tailored solutions for operational workflows, regulatory reporting, and portfolio management.

Its integrated technology platform and outsourced middle- and back-office services can consolidate data and processes across jurisdictions, giving managers a more connected operating model as they expand into new markets, products and asset classes.

The aim, Sharma says, is to help clients build operating models that can adapt as technology, regulation and industry demands change, rather than having to repeatedly replace or stitch together systems as their businesses evolve.

Scaling alongside Asia’s asset managers

SEI will initially offer fund administration services and the distribution of its Dublin-registered Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) funds through its Singapore office.

As demand grows, SEI plans to develop broader Asia-Pacific capabilities, introducing more locally adapted products for Singapore and the region. These could include professional services spanning business model optimisation, cybersecurity, network orchestration, and AI and automation architecture, as well as wealth management technology and operations, adds Sharma.

For asset managers, the primary advantage SEI offers is the support for them to grow without repeatedly rebuilding their operating model as complexity increases.

Says Bryan Astheimer, head of Global Strategy for SEI’s Investment Management Services business: “Because we are building for such large institutional names, our smaller clients get to take advantage of the investment we’re making into those platforms for their businesses.

“Even if they’re not necessarily using the full breadth of that capability on day one, they’re buying into a platform and an operating model that gives them the ability to scale over time. They do not have to worry about making a switch in the future.” he adds.

SEI’s expansion strategy in Asia is underpinned by the massive scale and proven technology infrastructure it has built over the past decades.

Headquartered in Pennsylvania and listed on the Nasdaq, SEI services 48 of the top 100 global asset managers and stands as one of the world’s five largest administrators of private assets. As of June 30, 2026, the firm managed, advised, or administered approximately US$2.1 trillion in assets.

As Asian asset managers push into new markets and asset classes, their long-term success will depend as much on operational resilience as investment performance.

By establishing a robust, institutional-grade foundation early on, managers can ensure that complexity does not hinder expansion, allowing them to focus on maximising returns while scaling seamlessly across the region.

Says Sanjay: “We look forward to growing our Asia presence in line with client demand, starting with our existing global clients and building APAC-wide capabilities to support Singaporean and Asian institutions as they expand internationally.”