New SICAV Fund to Offer Equity Investment Opportunities Across the GCC Region

Doha Qatar- November 10, 2015

Amwal LLC, Qatar's leading independent asset management firm, in collaboration with Germany's leading private bank Donner & Reuschel is launching a new GCC fund, the D&R Amwal GCC SICAV Equity Fund will invest in the emerging equity markets of the Gulf region.

The fund is open to private and institutional investors and will offer European investors the prospect of strong growth and long term investment returns through investing in equities in the GCC.

Amwal founder and Chairperson Sheikha Hanadi Nasser Bin Khaled Al Thani, said, "The GCC region has seen rapid economic growth in recent years. However, as with most emerging markets, the region's stock markets are relatively young and present some challenges. We are confident that our well researched and disciplined approach will help us achieve financial excellence offering the best-in-class services to our expanding client base. We are excited to collaborate with D&R on this new product and look forward to further enhancing the regional investment ecosystem."

Marcus Vitt, Chairman of the Management Board at Donner & Reuschel, said the partnership heralds an auspicious future for its clients: "Amwal has reinforced its position as a leading asset manager in the Gulf region with a proven, successful track record since its inception in 1998. We are proud to collaborate in the region with this team of highly talented and capable investment specialists, and as a result to provide our discerning clientele with access to the highly prosperous Arabian markets."

Commenting on the new product, Fahmi Alghussein, CEO of Amwal, said, "We have always aimed to set new and higher standards of excellence in Qatar. Since its inception, Amwal has established new benchmarks through pioneering initiatives in investment and asset management launching Qatar's first Equity Fund, the Qatar Gate Fund in 2005, and now a GCC UCITS fund. The UCITS Platform in Luxembourg is now the global standard for all fund managers with over EUR 260 billion of assets under management across asset classes. We are proud to be the first QFC asset management company to a launch a UCITS fund in Qatar with our partners Donner & Reuschel."

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About Amwal:
Amwal is Qatar's first regulated Investment Company and is wholly-owned by its Founder and Chairperson, Sheikha Hanadi Nasser bin Khaled Al Thani. Amwal is authorised by the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFCRA) and is a leading independent asset management firm serving institutional clients, family offices and high net worth individuals.

For over a decade Amwal has been a leading innovator in Qatar's financial services industry and has a proven track record in managing equities. It was the first to offer financial planning and wealth management, first mutual funds, first Islamic mezzanine private equity funds and created Qatar's first money market fund. Amwal manages the Qatar Gate Fund (sponsored by Ahli Bank) and Al Hayer GCC Fund (sponsored by Doha Bank).

Amwal has received a number of high profile accolades, including Best Asset Manager in Qatar from EMEA Finance for four consecutive years (2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014); Best Investment Bank in Qatar from World Finance (2012); and Qatar Deal of the Year from Islamic Finance News (2008).

Qatar Gate Fund, managed by Amwal, was also ranked the number one equity fund in the MENA region in 2013 by MENA FM.

About Donner & Reuschel:
The bank was founded in 1798 by Conrad Hinrich Donner, a 24-year-old merchant and ship-owner from Hamburg, who forged international business contacts and was among the 19th century's 'global players'. Conrad Hinrich Donner's grandson was one of the cofounders of the Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and Commerzbank AG.

The SIGNAL IDUNA Group, one of the top ten German insurance providers, joined the banking institute as a strong partner and shareholder in 1990. The SIGNAL IDUNA Group had over €60 billion of assets under management as per the end of 2014.

In July 2009, the CONRAD HINRICH DONNER bank from Hamburg acquired Munich's richly traditional financial institution Reuschel & Co., which since its opening in 1947 had grown to become one of Germany's ten largest private banks. The banking house has operated under the name DONNER & REUSCHEL since the merger in October 2010, and its business figures indicate a balance sheet total of roughly €4 billion.

DONNER & REUSCHEL places a significant focus on advising institutional investors in addition to its support of private and corporate banking clients. Over the years the bank has established core competencies in the fields of capital markets, custodian banking, corporate finance and asset management.

You will find additional information on the investment facilities provided by Donner & Reuschel at www.donner-reuschel.de

For media inquiries, please contact:
Abbas Moussa
Asda'a Burson-Marsteller
T: +974 44239222/ Email:abbas.moussa@bm.com

© Press Release 2015