NBK launches FUNDSELECT, a state-of-the- art multi-manager investment platform

NBK is the first institution in the Middle East and one of a handful of global financial institutions to offer such investment services to clients.

Isam Al Sager, Deputy Chief Executive at NBK, said in a press conference that the newly launched Fundselect platform offers NBK's clients access to top performing investment managers and world-class investment expertise and products, within a framework tailored to the clients' particular financial requirements. The Fundselect platform will offer clients two types of investment services, namely discretionary asset management services and non-discretionary investment services.

Both the discretionary asset management services and non-discretionary investment services will be offered through the branches of NBK in Kuwait and through the Geneva-based private banking subsidiary NBK (Suisse), he added.

Discretionary Asset Management Services
Fundselect Investment Models
George Nasra, GM of Investment Banking, Asset Management and Treasury at NBK, stated that utilizing the asset allocation, portfolio construction, risk management and performance measurement skills of UK-based Schroders Investment Management Co. and the unparalleled fund research capabilities of Standard & Poor's, NBK is offering its clients through the Fundselect platform seven Investment Models, each with different risk / return characteristics, to cater to the specific investment objectives of the bank's clients.

Each Investment Model comprises 8 to 10 best-of-breed investment funds from a range of fund management houses, which are selected by Standard & Poor's through a very rigorous process of quantitative and qualitative analysis. The selected investment funds are combined efficiently in the various Investment Models to minimize volatility and maximize returns, added Nasra.

Non-Discretionary Investment Services
Fundselect Investment Funds
A selection of Investment Funds covering various asset classes and sectors shall be offered also through the Fundselect Platform to the self-directed clients who wish to invest in a particular fund.

All of the Investment Funds that are available in the Fundselect platform have been rated and recommended by Standard & Poor's and have been further screened by NBK's seasoned investment professionals using the latest evaluation techniques and methods applied in the industry to ensure, among other things, that the selected Investment Funds are of the highest quality in terms of consistency of returns, volatility, and performance compared to industry peers and applicable benchmarks.

"The launch of the Fundselect platform clearly demonstrates our continued commitment to offer our clients best of breed products built upon world class investment expertise and tailored to the particular needs of our clients" Nasra concluded.