Investec launches Africa Middle East Fund

Investec Asset Management is pleased to announce the launch of its Africa Middle East Fund.

The Fund will build on Investec Asset Management’s established frontier market capability in Africa. The Fund is open-ended, daily traded, and will be managed by its Frontier investment team, comprising Amr Seif (formerly Portfolio Manager for EMEA Funds at JP Morgan) and Roelof Horne, Portfolio Manager of the successful Africa and Pan-Africa Funds. The Fund will target an international client base.

The Africa Middle East Fund will invest across the entire African continent including South Africa and the Middle East including Gulf countries. The universe will span roughly 25 countries, a population of over a billion people and a market capitalisation of $1.5 trillion.

“Frontier markets, mostly Africa and the Middle East, are an emerging region within emerging markets. They are less developed, less mature economies with accumulating wealth, yet the markets are still very inefficient. We believe that these characteristics will offer superior growth opportunities relative to developed markets and even other emerging market regions.”

“Investing in Africa is pure frontierterritory. Doing business in Africa is tough, but the rewards are fast-growing revenues and high margins.Political, economic, social and infrastructure developmentin Africa lags the rest of the world. Media headlines will focus on the isolated setbacks, but the best kept secret about Africa is the widespread, rapid and sustained improvement on all fronts - leading to excellent investment opportunities.”