The Capital Markets Authority, CMA, has granted African Diaspora Asset Managers Limited a fund manager’s license.
The fund manager will target Kenyan and African clients in the diaspora. In addition, it will adopt an ambitious pan-African investment strategy for diversification and return enhancement.
The fund manager will offer financial products and services in asset management, unit trusts, financial investment management, financial planning, wealth management, discretionary portfolio management, property development and private equity.
“The asset management sector is an important component of capital markets. This sector includes the management of funds owned by institutions such as pension funds and insurance companies, and the independent management of funds on behalf of retail investors, which can be distributed as collective investment schemes (or unit trusts).’ CMA Acting Chief Executive Mr. Wyckliffe Shamiah said.
Some products offered by fund managers, for instance collective investment schemes, are important because they provide an opportunity for small investors to have access to professionally managed, diversified portfolios of assets.
African Diaspora Asset Managers Limited Chief Executive Officer Mr. Runyah Lewa noted that his firm is interested in collective investment schemes that will initially comprise of five funds, subject to the Capital Markets Authority’s consent and subsequent registration.
The proposed schemes are: – ADAM Money Market Fund, ADAM Fixed Income Fund, ADAM Equities Fund, ADAM Property Fund and ADAM Business Growth Fund. The latter will be a Private Equity Fund specifically seeking to provide debt and equity capital for SMEs in Kenya and Africa.
On his part the Kenya Investment Authority (KIA) Managing Director Dr. Moses Ikiara observed that domestic and diaspora investors were as important as foreign investors as Kenya seeks to grow Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). ‘We look forward to working closely with the Capital Markets Authority to achieve this goal’.
The approval brings the total number of licensed fund managers to 25.
