Leading SA Asset Manager enhances its global portfolio management capabilities as it opens its office offshore (Dublin)

Cape Town based asset management company, Oasis Group Holdings; this week celebrated the opening of its new Dublin offices on 77 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2. Although the company has maintained a low presence in the Republic of Ireland since April 2003, it says that the move to the new offices forms part of a strategy to grow its international client base and enhance its global portfolio management capabilities. In addition to its South African and Irish operations, Oasis also has a presence in Dubai, where it has built a solid reputation as one of the leading providers of Shari’ah compliant funds.

Oasis Global Management Company director, Nadeem Hoosen, who heads the company’s Irish operations, says there were a number of reasons why Dublin was chosen as the company’s European base.

“Ireland has a well established investment funds industry and as it is part of the European Union (EU) we are able to operate under a set of commonly applied regulations. This allows Oasis to passport their products into the EU with ease. In addition, the EU has the largest internal market with regards to trading opportunities and it also has an attractive corporate and fiscal regulatory environment. The country’s highly skilled workforce and political stability also makes it most attractive. Having English as one of the official languages in Ireland also helps, as does the fact that there is a good relationship between the Irish and South African regulators.”

He says that by growing the Oasis office in Ireland, it can better serve its international clients. “With the building blocks in place, we can offer our clients a range of services to suit their needs.”

Hoosen says that the international presence also benefits South African clients. “Unlike many other South African asset managers, Oasis prefers to manage its own global portfolios rather than outsource them to companies abroad.

“By having our own global fund management capabilities, we can offer our clients a one stop shop on diversified investment products and they know they can expect the same level of skill and performance.”

With the move to the new office Oasis has set the building blocks to grow the Irish business with the focus of growth coming from Ireland and the greater European Union.