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AMEinfo – Gulfmena will introduce its flagship investment strategy through ‘Gulfmena Arab Opportunities Fund’ a macro-directional (market-directional) absolute return public equities fund that will be launched in the last quarter of 2009. The first MENA hedge fund of its kind, the Fund seeks to adopt Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS) from the start.
Marc Hambach, Gulfmena’s Chief Operating Officer, said: ‘We believe we have a proposition for a unique non-traditional investment strategy and an unparalleled risk management platform that better meets the challenges and opportunities of today’s MENA markets.
‘For that purpose, we are delighted to be headquartered in DIFC which has proven to be the hub for specialist regional managers. Given that alternative investment management within regional markets remains a pioneering concept, we look forward to aligning interests with a progressive partner such as DIFC and working together to create the region’s alternative investment space,’ Hambach said.
Zawya – Hedge funds focusing exclusively on the Middle East and North Africa have seen a 10-fold increase in assets under management over the past five years, with futher gains of about 17 per cent through the first half of 2009, according to Hedge Fund Research, a provider of hedge fund industry data.
The Middle East and North Africa region, also known as MENA, is the smallest emerging market in terms of dedicated capital. It currently has more than 20 hedge funds that account for 1.52 per cent, or $1.17 billion, of the $77 billion in total assets invested in emerging markets worldwide, Hedge Fund Research, or HFR, said in a statement on Wednesday.
Business24-7 – Six months after their worst drawdown on record, regional stock markets are outperforming the Middle East and North Africa (Mena)-focused hedge funds, suggesting markets are once again warming up to equity participation.
According to Emirates Business research, Mena markets have posted gains of 9.73 per cent on average, beating the 10 region-focused hedge funds, which have posted returns of 4.4 per cent since the beginning of this year.
Even the GCC markets, battered by their exposure to relatively lower oil prices and global economic environment, have turned in a marginally better performance, at 4.42 per cent, suggesting that risk appetite among investors in the regional markets is on the upswing.
West Palm Beach (HedgeCo.net) – Hedge fund manager, Majid Al Futtaim Asset Management, is launching its first Middle East and North Africa (MENA) equity fund, the Luxembourg domiciled ‘Elite MENA Equity Fund’.
Investors can invest alongside the family office of Majid Al Futtaim and gain access to the services of the portfolio management team responsible for the MENA equity investments. The Majid Al Futtaim family office has seeded the fund with Dh550 million ($150 million), making it one of the largest MENA equity funds available to investors.
"Investors deserve to have the best home for their money in both turbulent and stable investment environments." Iyad Malas, Chief Executive, Majid Al Futtaim Asset Management, said, "By opening the doors to the services of the portfolio management team responsible for Majid Al Futtaim’s family office, we offer investors a tried and tested place to invest. The Elite MENA Equity Fund offers investors an opportunity to invest with a team whose performance speaks for itself."
The new ‘long-only’ open-ended fund aims to achieve long-term asset growth and capital preservation through a ‘Risk-Managed Growth’ approach to MENA investments.
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West Palm Beach (HedgeCo.net) – Hedge fund and alternative investor, Investcorp, along with its consortium partners Eastgate Capital Group and The National Investor, announced the acquisition of a 70% stake in Saudi gold and jewelry makers, L’azurde.
L’azurde had 2008 revenues of more than US$ 500 million and grew EBITDA by 14% over the previous year, making it over four times the size of its nearest competitor, employing over 2000 people, selling throughout the Middle East through 4,200 wholesale accounts, including to secondary markets through its distribution capabilities in the UAE. In addition, it has 18 flagship retail stores across the region.
Investcorp has made the investment through its $1.1 billion Gulf Opportunity Fund I, the first fund from Investcorp’s Gulf Growth Capital business, launched in 2007. This acquisition comes two months after the Fund closed its first deal, the November 2008 acquisition of Redington Gulf, the leading distributor and service provider of IT and telecom products in the Middle East and Africa. The Investcorp-led consortium will be the majority shareholder in L’azurde, and will help to institutionalise the company, to expand its markets and to build its brand across MENA and internationally.
"Despite challenging economic and market conditions, this is evidence of the resilience of Investcorp’s unique business model." Nemir Kirdar, Executive Chairman & CEO of Investcorp, said, "Good business opportunities are available in MENA and deals can be done. Our Gulf franchise and local reputation were key in getting us this deal and in forging this partnership…to add value to L’azurde over the coming years."
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