London, 8 August 2011 – Baring Asset Management (Barings), the international investment management firm, has appointed Faisal Alias Investment Manager in its Emerging Markets Debt Team. He reports to Thanasis Petronikolos, Head of Emerging Market Debt.
Faisal joins Barings from Observatory Capital, where he was a portfolio manager in the emerging markets team, running the firm’s emerging market credit portfolio. Prior to this, he was with Credit Suisse in the emerging markets trading team in London and fixed income research team in Singapore.
Faisal will further strengthen Barings’ emerging market debt team, following the appointment of Thomas Kwan as Head of Asia Debt in April. Barings believes that theongoing structural change in global asset allocation following the financial crisis will favour emerging market local bonds. In particular, it predicts both emerging market pension funds and OECD-based pension funds will significantly increase their exposure to emerging market local debt.
Thanasis Petronikolos commented: “There is a very positive story around emerging market debt: capital inflows to emerging markets are strong and rising, and improving fiscal and debt profiles continue to underline the credit quality of most emerging market economies. Added to this, many emerging currencies are undervalued and we suspect that the market’s full potential has not been realised.
“We are very pleased to welcome Faisal to Barings at this opportune time. He brings with him significant experience in managing local currency debt and I am sure he will complement the team here very well and help us develop our skills further in this important asset class.”
Barings has a strong history and presence in emerging markets. It was one of the first investors in Greater China and Eastern Europe and was also early in both US dollar and local currency emerging market debt. With US$163 million* assets under management, the Baring Emerging Market Debt Local Currency Fund targets strategic core positions with a medium/long term investment horizon.
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