| The Opalesque South Africa Roundtable discusses | | | | 9. Kevin Ewer, Portfolio Manager, Blue Ink |
| the range and consequences of this inflexion point, | | | | Investments |
| from a fund manager as well from an investor | | | | South African hedge fund managers and hedge |
| point of view. | | | | fund investors share surprising insights. For |
| The Roundtable was sponsored by IDS Group | | | | example, did you know that:l South African single |
| and took place November 10th 2008 in their Cape | | | | strategy hedge funds offer transparency |
| Town Office. There, the participants also | | | | "far superior to anything anywhere |
| discussed the particularities of investing in Africa | | | | else", according to investors?l South African |
| (ex-South Africa). This new, free Opalesque | | | | hedge funds suffered their first - and only until |
| Roundtable script can be downloaded here: | | | | that point - net redemptions in October 2008, but |
| South Africa's equity and fixed income markets | | | | only 2.5% of total assets?l South Africa is the |
| displayed exemplary robustness during 2008 | | | | first country in the world that actually distinguishes |
| Many global allocators may not be aware that the | | | | between normal fund managers and hedge fund |
| South African financial market infrastructure | | | | managers, with higher criteria required for hedge |
| matches or exceeds its "first world" | | | | fund managers?l Who is buying seats on African |
| counterparts in many respects. The equity and | | | | exchanges to get the benefit of local presence?l |
| fixed income markets demonstrated exemplary | | | | Opportunities in currencies - did you know Nigeria |
| robustness throughout the turbulences of 2008: | | | | has higher reserves than South Africa?l Which |
| no short-selling ban, no trading halt and no failed | | | | new strategies are emerging in South Africa and |
| trades. Offshore investors can benefit from | | | | pan-Africa?l That the majority of the 53 African |
| efficient and proven ways to get pure South | | | | countries are driven by infrastructure spending |
| African alpha without taking currency risk. | | | | and domestic demand, so not by commodities?l |
| The "Africa Story" - the next big | | | | Long-short managers, although constraint by |
| theme? | | | | offering monthly liquidity, still see |
| During the Roundtable, portfolio managers explain | | | | "wonderful" opportunities in the liquid |
| new ways to construct hedges, and inform on | | | | spacel Will there be an "united exchange of |
| new and upcoming products. How can global | | | | Africa"? |
| investors benefit from the "Africa | | | | The Opalesque South Africa Roundtable can be |
| story", which is probably the largest | | | | downloaded here: |
| opportunity set in the new investment paradigm | | | | All other previously published Opalesque |
| called "frontier investing"? How do you | | | | Roundtable Scripts can be accessed here: |
| deal with restricted liquidity, and is Africa really | | | | About Opalesque: |
| uncorrelated? | | | | Matthias Knab, Director of Opalesque Ltd, |
| The following experts participated in the | | | | moderates the Opalesque Roundtables. Matthias |
| Opalesque South Africa Roundtable: | | | | Knab is an internationally recognized expert on |
| | | | hedge funds and alternatives. |
| 1. James Gubb, Founding Partner of Clear Horizon | | | | In 2003, with the publication of its daily Alternative |
| Capital | | | | Market Briefing, Opalesque successfully launched |
| 2. St. John Bungey, Partner, Praesidium Capital | | | | an information revolution in the hedge fund media |
| Management | | | | space: "Opalesque changed the world by |
| 3. James Addo, Portfolio Manager, Finch Asset | | | | bringing transparency where there was opacity |
| Management | | | | and by delivering an accurate professional |
| 4. Simone Lowe, Portfolio Manager, Thames River | | | | reporting service." - Nigel Blanchard, Culross. |
| Capital | | | | This hybrid financial news service, which combines |
| 5. Andy Pfaff, Founding Partner of Trendline Funds | | | | proprietary industry news stories and filtered third |
| 6. Ian Hamilton, Founder, IDS Group | | | | party reports, has been credited by many |
| 7. Ryan Proudfoot, Co-Head RMB Prime Broking | | | | industry insiders with delivering precise, accurate, |
| 8. Warren Chapman, Head of Peregrine Prime | | | | and vital information to a notoriously guarded |
| Broking | | | | audience. |