Bank Sarasin-Alpen has won the best structured product award for its Rabobank Enhanced Agri Note, as well as the best new product award for the Sarasin GCC Equity Opportunities Fund (USD) at the Banker Middle East Product Awards 2009.

With Sarasin-Alpen Rabobank Enhanced Agri Note, clients get advantage of participating in Rabobank’s worldwide food and agriculture research strength, along with a 100 per cent unconditional ‘AAA’ guarantee of Rabobank at maturity.

The GCC Equity Opportunities Fund (EOF) (USD) is the first fund launched by Sarasin-Alpen & Partners Limited. By investing equally across the equity markets of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain, the fund provides excellent diversification. Unlike most funds, which are required to be fully invested at all times, the Sarasin GCC EOF (USD) is able to increase exposure when the market is trending upwards and reduce exposure when the market is trending downwards. It is therefore ideally suited to clients who recognise the opportunities of investing in the region yet remain alert to the risks, said a statement.

“We are delighted to have done it again. This award is testimony to our perfectly balanced service offering in the Middle East,” Rohit Walia, executive vice chairman and CEO of Bank Sarasin-Alpen. “We are also excited about being recognized for the Sarasin GCC EOF, which is the first offering from Sarasin-Alpen & Partners Limited, our asset management company.”  

“We are delighted that the Sarasin GCC EOF (USD) has received such a prestigious award,” says Paul Cooper, senior executive officer, Sarasin-Alpen & Partners Limited. “While some investors may question the timing of its launch, we believe that the current environment represents a unique opportunity to buy into the future prosperity of the region at distressed levels. Its unique investment process has been designed specifically for the region and we are extremely proud that it has been recognized in this way.”

“At Sarasin-Alpen, we strive to build products which offer our clients exclusive investment opportunities, not available elsewhere,” said Sudarshan Malpani, executive director, Sarasin-Alpen (ME) Limited. “The Sarasin-Alpen Rabobank Enhanced Agri Note’s successfully tested investment strategy, efficient pricing and consistent back tested returns makes it a winning opportunity.”

Bank Sarasin-Alpen provides a complete set of high quality private banking and asset/wealth management services to private and institutional clients in the region. It is a subsidiary of the Swiss private bank Sarasin & Co. Ltd, which is majority owned by the ‘AAA’ rated Dutch Rabobank.

Bank Sarasin-Alpen has also recently launched its asset management firm – Sarasin-Alpen & Partners Limited. The company is co-owned by Sarasin & Partners LLP, London, which aims to establish itself as a leading asset manager in the region. – TradeArabia News Service