Emirates NBD Asset Management extends reach across the GCC and Far East

Focus on boosting assets under management and exporting investment capabilities
Approximately US$1.6 billion worth of assets currently under management by Emirates NBD Asset Management

Emirates NBD Asset Management announced today that it had extended its reach internationally with the appointment of a dedicated team of senior officials - Amr Albialy, Steve Corrin and Guy Medcraft - to service the Far East and MENA markets. The new appointments are in line with Emirates NBD Asset Management?s growth strategy that was launched in December 2009, to boost assets under management and export its investment capabilities through new channels. The appointments also follow from the opening of fund links on a number of international platforms.

Emirates NBD Asset Management is among the top ten asset management companies in the GCC region and currently manages about US$ $1.6bn worth of assets, in addition to indigenously developing and manufacturing asset management products. With the new appointments, Emirates NBD Asset Management aims to focus on providing investors in the GCC and Far Eastern markets with access to the company?s MENA fixed income, real estate and equities expertise, as well as the global managed funds.

"The MENA markets provide an excellent strategic opportunity for investment but international investors are often hesitant about the best means to gain exposure to Middle Eastern markets," said Deon Vernooy, Head of Emirates NBD Asset Management. "Emirates NBD Asset Management's Jersey-based funds provide a regulated vehicle and a simple route to regional bond, equity and money markets, in addition to our proven local investment knowledge. At the other end of the spectrum Emirates NBD Managed Funds have gained more interest as during the recent market downturn our defensive positions produced returns significantly superior to our global peers."

Vernooy, added: "We offer our global multi-asset funds through life companies. The fund links on international platforms and increasing interest from financial advisers in the Middle East has encouraged us to expand our team both locally and internationally."

The most popular funds are registered across life and non-life platforms to focus on the international adviser market. These funds cover both conventional and non-conventional sectors in the fixed income, equity and global asset allocation space.

Investors currently invested through a number of insurance wrappers are already able to invest in Emirates NBD Funds. Further international insurance platform links are expected in the coming weeks for global and far eastern platforms, he said

Emirates NBD 27-07-2010

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