Standard & Poor's awards Rasmala MENA Equity Opportunity Fund "AA" rating

The Fund is a fund-of-funds that uses a dynamic multi-manager, multi-country and multi-strategy approach to invest in the MENA equity markets.

Since its inception in August 2006 it has generated an annualized return of 30.6% compared with a return of 15.63% for the MSCI Arabian Markets Index.

Standard & Poor's report highlights that the Fund management team "has produced a strong track record in comparison to both peers and the MSCI Arabian benchmark". It further states that "in volatile markets it has been able to add value from asset allocation, while fund selection has been positive, risk-adjusted returns have also been strong".

Khaled Masri, Partner at Rasmala and Manager of the Fund, said: "As pioneers of the fund-of-funds structure for MENA equities, the rating upholds our position as the leading regional manager-of-managers. The Fund offers investors the means to access profitable opportunities in the MENA equity markets through a top down strategic and geographic allocation with equity fund selection".

Rasmala launched its first fund-of-funds in 2005 and currently manages eight global and regional funds focused on equities, real estate and alternative investment.