KAMCO and Investec to host Energy Investment Conference for Kuwait investors

'Kuwait's investment market has become much more sophisticated and competitive,' said Qais Al-Shatti, Assistant General Manager, Sales, Strategic Marketing & PR for KAMCO. 'This event will enable us to showcase KAMCO's wide-ranging investment expertise and allow us to discuss the local market with a sophisticated clientele.'

The KAMCO Energy Services Fund has been designed specifically to cater to regional market investors and offers investors the opportunity to obtain exposure to international and regional markets including both listed and private equities, offers monthly liquidity with partial lockup and is managed by expert fund managers with the added benefit of being Sharia'a compliant.

'The growing worldwide demand for energy, products and services has been instrumental in driving the growth in related investment opportunities and KAMCO is well placed to contribute to this sector's growth in the Gulf,' said Khalil El Khoury, Head of Direct Investments for KAMCO. '

At the conference, KAMCO, together with Investec Asset Management, an international specialist investment manager with core offerings in global equities, fixed income and multi-asset management, will present an expert overview of the rapidly developing energy investment sector and targeted GCC investment opportunities.

'The increased demand for diversified energy investments in the Middle East has been phenomenal and we are delighted to be partnering with KAMCO to help raise the bar for targeted international investment solutions in this sector in the GCC market,' said Adrian Jackson, Energy Equity Analyst and Fund Manager at Investec Asset Management.

The rapid development of the energy sector development has been heavily influenced by a prolonged period of high conventional fuel prices led by surging global oil prices that are now hovering at just under the $US 90 a barrel mark and have been over $70 for a considerable time.

Persistently higher gas and coal prices have also been instrumental in promoting increased exploration and development in these industries by a range of industry incumbents. Buoyed by more favourable returns, this has led to the significant growth in the energy ancillary services sector and related investment opportunities.

Increased international awareness of environmental issues such as climate change has led to the exponential growth of the alternative energy sector. Consequently, a rapid increase in sustainable energy investment has seen growth rates of at least 43% from 2005 to 2006, boasting over US$70 billion of new investments in 2006; and expectations of a similar growth trajectory in 2007.

KAMCO is well placed to offer tailored investment consultancy in this market. It already manages assets totalling over US$ 6 billion of what is one of the largest assets under management in the region. In addition to a strong capital base and close affiliation to Kuwait's leading private business group KIPCO, KAMCO has developed an extensive global reach and strong institutional relationships and strategic partnerships.

KAMCO has appointed Investec Asset Management as the strategic advisory for its Energy Fund because of its strong and persistent track record and highly experienced client team. The conference, to be held at the Al Corniche Club on the 30th of October, is by invitation only and targets institution as well as high net worth investors who are looking to expand their portfolio with diversified energy sector investments.