The first asset management company to relocate its headquarters to the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Forsyth Partners, has added an Islamic equity fund category to its Ratings Service.
Forsyth Partners Fund Analysis and Research has added the category in response to the rapid growth in the Islamic financial sector and increasing demand from the Group’s client base for Shariah compliant products.
The first funds within the category to be rated by the offshore ratings service include Crescent Global Equity Fund and Al Dar World Equities Fund. Both funds have a global equity focus and have been awarded an A rating each by Forsyth Partners based on the future expectations of the funds and in recognition of the teams’ abilities.
Jackie Beard, Head of Research Communications at Forsyth Partners said, “We have been reviewing Islamic funds for some time and have seen increasing interest in the sector from our client base. Therefore we took the decision to introduce two new ratings of our preferred funds in this area of differing approaches to give our clients a choice in this highly specialised investment skill set.”
Forsyth Partners Fund Analysis and Research awards offshore funds with an A, AA and AAA based on extensive qualitative and quantitative analysis. At present there are 186 funds accredited. All ratings are reviewed on a quarterly basis, on a monthly rotating cycle.
About Forsyth Partners
Forsyth Partners has over USD 1.8 billion in a range of Forsyth funds and managed accounts and advises on around USD 2 billion in advisory contracts. With clients extending to over 600 companies in more than 55 countries, it has offices in the UK, Zurich, Sofia, Cape Town, Hong Kong, Seoul, Taipei, South America as well as Dubai.
Forsyth Partners’ range of international offshore funds allows access to the complete range of asset classes including equities, fixed interest, hedge, property and commodities. Forsyth Funds plc has two umbrellas; under the Forsyth Managed Selection Series the fund range includes international equity and bond funds. All are managed on a fund of funds basis. The Forsyth Tailored Selection Series includes single manager funds and at present contains Forsyth Lodsworth Global Emerging Market Debt Fund and, in time, will hold other single manager funds.
Forsyth Partners also manages a full range of hedge fund of funds as well as the multi asset class Forsyth Managed Strategies series.
About Forsyth Partners Fund Analysis and Research
The Forsyth Partners Fund Analysis and Research service was launched in 1991 (initially named Continental Portfolios) and the web-based service was made available by subscription in January 2006.
A team of 20 analysts review the entire fund universe and awards A, AA and AAA ratings for offshore funds that pass extensive quantitative and qualitative screening processes. Ratings are awarded based on a fund’s strength in strategy, structure and future performance expectations. At present there are 186 funds accredited. All ratings are reviewed on a quarterly basis, on a monthly rotating cycle.
Newly rated funds
The Crescent Global Equity Fund is an actively managed, unconstrained portfolio that invests across the market-cap spectrum. Oasis Group is a South African based asset management company with an exceptional track record in managing conventional and Shariah compliant portfolios. The team’s investment philosophy of delivering superior returns at a lower level of risk than the market has resulted in strong risk-adjusted returns relative to the peer group and the index over the long term. In light of the team’s ability to generate alpha through an unconstrained mandate and their long-standing experience in Islamic investing, we are happy to introduce the Crescent Global Equity Fund to our Ratings Service with a Forsyth Partners A Rating.
Alternatively, the Al Dar World Equities Fund is a core proposition where the managers are more benchmark aware. Pictet has been present in the Islamic sector since the late nineties since the management of the fund transferred to the group’s Global Equity Team in December 2006 the fund has stood out relative to the peer group, as the team has dedicated resources to the fund that were previously lacking. Given the team’s commitment to the product, the robust investment
process and the improvement in performance, we are pleased to introduce the Al Dar World Equities Fund with a Forsyth Partners A Rating.
