Economic forecasts for Iraq continue to make for pleasant reading. The most recent IMF World Economic Outlook predicted GDP growth of 10.2% in 2012 and 14.7% in 2013 and Iraq has one of the world’s largest oil reserves.

But the IMF also acknowledges that the task of rebuilding the country remains immense and that reconstruction requires not only the rebuilding of its infrastructure, but also of its economic and social institutions and the creation of a business environment that attracts capital.

The scale of the challenge is reflected in the performance of Iraq-focused funds over the last 12 months. Northern Gulf Partners’ Iraq Investment Partners fund was down 3% last year - after growing by more than 20% in 2011 - although strong final quarters enabled the Iraq Opportunity Fund and the FMG Iraq Fund to venture into positive territory. Unaudited figures for 55 North Company’s Iraq Phoenix Fund indicate growth of 5%.

Invest AD’s Iraq Opportunity Fund also bounced back in November, mainly as a result of positive investor sentiment in some of the larger-cap stocks, particularly Bank of Baghdad and North Bank, explains portfolio manager Sherif Salem. He adds that companies in the telecoms sector present a clear opportunity for growth in terms of both revenues and subsidies.

 

Telecoms boost

 

“In a market dominated by the banking sector, the upcoming IPO of Asiacell could give the market a boost,” adds Salem. “It is expected that it will involve the floating of a 25% stake in a deal that could be worth as much as $1bn, which would immediately add depth and liquidity to the Iraqi stock market.”

Iraq’s three mobile companies - Asiacell, Korek and Zain Iraq - are required to list 25% of their shares under the terms of licences bought in 2007, and forthcoming flotations could mean telecoms become a leading theme in many portfolios.

FMG investment analyst Henrik Kahm describes Iraq as one of the fastest growing telecoms markets in the world, while he is also bullish on the banking sector. He also refers to consumer stocks as “looking interesting, but still very few options currently listed” and expects more funds to enter the market once the custody issue is resolved (see box out).

There is general agreement that Iraqi assets are still undervalued. “Many companies have book value several times their market cap and companies in general are operating at a fraction of their future capacity,” says Kahm.

Iraq is not a ‘dirt cheap’ market - banks are trading at 1.5 times trailing earnings, on average - but future growth opportunities are evident when you look at domestic credit provided to the private sector as a percentage of GDP. The World Bank puts this at 9%, compared to 56% in Kuwait, 47% in Russia and 40% in Saudi Arabia, observes Michael Daoud, vice president MENA sales at broker Auerbach Grayson.

Paul Collison, managing director of investment management firm 55 North Company, agrees that there are investment opportunities both in ISX listed stocks and in foreign-listed firms with activities in Iraq. But he adds that many investors - especially retail/individual investors - will not be able to fully understand and evaluate risks. “Furthermore, we have come across numerous situations that (upon more detailed analysis) we would short if we were able to. Many listed companies have dismal prospects so investors must be careful of company-specific situations. Some can (and will) go to zero over time and others will experience negative news and shocks to their valuations, most likely around corporate governance and other issues.”

Northern Gulf Partners portfolio manager Bartle Bull reckons telecom IPOs and the continuing extraordinary growth in assets, deposits and profits of Iraq’s top banks are the next big investment story for Iraqi funds.

To this list, Collison adds completion of a critical mass of the oil and gas export infrastructure from Kurdistan to Turkey, and enactment of federal oil and gas law. “As hydrocarbon production ramps every quarter, incoming cash flows become extraordinary relative to the size of the country’s GDP, let alone the market valuation of its stock exchange,” he said.

 

Suppressed consumption

 

Daoud says the main investment story in Iraq for the last several years and for the foreseeable future is suppressed consumption because of previous wars and the sanctions imposed on Iraq from 1990 to 2003.

“Now this consumption is driving growth, alongside the rapid increase in oil and gas exploration and production. It is very hard to play specific sectors or themes in Iraq as the market is heavily dominated by banks, which constitute around 60-70% of the market cap and most of the activity on the exchange. The one name that I like outside of the banks is Baghdad Soft Drinks.”

For investment funds, Daoud accepts that the majority of investment is still going through companies listed on the ISX, but adds: “if you are talking about general investments going into Iraq, I would say it is off the exchange.”

Indeed, Bull concludes that the real foreign investment in Iraq to date has been direct investment, in private equity opportunities and oil. “With the Asiacell IPO and the follow-on opening up of the ISX to other capital raising, 2013 will be the year that public markets start to catch up as a way into Iraq’s economic boom.”