Features - Interviews

Stand and deliver
19 Jan 2012
Expert Comment, Features, Interviews, Investment, investors
Much has been made of local investors’ reluctance to invest in local fund managers. Mena FM asks investors why they look past the region and what local managers can do to change their minds
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Building blocks
21 Nov 2011
EBRD, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Features, Interviews
The EBRD is setting its sights on Mena’s Mediterranean markets with a €2.5bn plan to stimulate growth in the region’s fund industry. With investment due to start before the year’s end, all it needs now is to find the right managers
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Breaking new ground
14 Nov 2011
Alan Durrant, Features, Interviews, National Bank of Abu Dhabi, NBAD
Already one of the largest asset managers in the UAE, NBAD is now diversifying, with a new emphasis on fixed income, and an investment group business that seeks to maximise the potential of external fund managers
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Thinking big
17 Oct 2011
Deon Vernooy, Emirates NBD, Features, Interviews
Over the past four years, Emirates NBD’s asset management business has grown into one of the UAE’s leading players. But senior executive officer Deon Vernooy has bigger fish to fry, with expansion planned in Europe and Asia and a high-profile investment partnership on the cards
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Crisis management
10 Oct 2011
Features, Feri Institutional Advisors, FOHF, hedge funds, Interviews, Marcus Storr
Mena fund funds have evolved markedly in the past three years, but many investors are still waiting for the right time to allocate. Feri Institutional Advisors’ head of hedge fund manager selection Marcus Storr reveals why he is almost ready to invest in a Mena manager and what was holding him back in 2008
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Calling the shots
26 Sep 2011
Ali Al Shihabi, Features, Interviews, Rasmala
Job cuts, fund closures and three CEOs in four months; industry giant Rasmala is having a bad year. But what’s really going on in the company? Mena FM talks to chairman Ali Al Shihabi and industry insiders to set the record straight
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Full steam ahead
16 Sep 2011
Features, Interviews, Jim Leggate, Russell Investments
Russell Investments is moving forward with its Mena expansion plans through the appointment of former MSCI executive Jim Leggate as head of its Middle East business. Leggate talks exclusively to Mena FM about searching for managers, upgrading the UAE and what investors want.
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Coming up short
12 Sep 2011
Bawm Investments, Features, George Wachsmann, Interviews
The lack of a robust hedge fund industry is just one reason why Brazilian multi-family office Bawm Investments is holding back on Mena. But there are still reasons to be excited about the region’s long-term potential, according to CIO George Wachsmann
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Single minded
30 Aug 2011
Ajeej Capital, Features, Fouad Dajani, Interviews, Tarek Sakka
Launching an alternative, single-market strategy in a conservative environment was always going to be a challenge for Saudi Arabia’s Ajeej Capital; and that was before the global financial crisis hit. But the company’s co-founders Fouad Dajani and Tarek Sakka have held their nerve and remain focused on a different kind of Mena investment strategy
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Small is beautiful
8 Aug 2011
Advance Emerging Capital, Features, Interviews, investor, Slim Feriani
Advance Emerging Capital invests exclusively in fund managers based in emerging and frontier markets. CIO and CEO Dr Slim Feriani explains why boutique is better, and calls on fund managers to put the ‘NA’ back into ‘Mena’
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Same fund, new brand
1 Aug 2011
Features, Habib Oueijan, Interviews, Majid Al Futtaim, UBP, Union Bancaire Privee
Having moved his Mena equity fund and entire investment team from Majid Al Futtaim to Union Bancaire Privée, Habib Oueijan is used to a challenge. He talks to Mena FM about rebranding during the Mena crisis, and growth plans for the future
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The bigger picture
27 Jun 2011
Capital Generation Partners, Expert Comment, Features, Interviews, investors, Searches
At a time when the majority of investors are reconsidering their Mena exposure, Capital Generation Partners’ Ian Barnard offers an insight into why his firm has pulled back from emerging markets and how Mena can win back the confidence of investors
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