Connor, Clark & Lunn Financial Group Announces Formation of Frontier Equity Asset Management Business

TORONTO, July 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Connor, Clark & Lunn Financial Group Ltd. (CC&L Financial Group), a global multi-boutique asset manager whose investment teams collectively manage over (USD) $58 billion in assets, is pleased to announce the formation of Vergent Asset Management LLP (Vergent), an investment manager that will focus on frontier and new emerging markets.

Founded by Ali Al Nasser and Nemer Bechara, the two managing partners worked together for the last decade and have accumulated a wealth of knowledge and investment experience in frontier and new emerging markets. The investment team is led by Ali Al Nasser, who has 15 years of investment and research experience across frontier markets and has a strong track record managing institutional capital in Vergent's target markets.

"We are pleased to be partnering with Ali and Nemer to provide investors with a differentiated, active investment strategy that focuses on a unique asset class that we believe offers growth and diversification benefits to institutional investors," said CC&L Financial Group co-CEO Warren Stoddart.  

"We partnered with CC&L Financial Group because its institutional business model, expertise, people and culture put us in the best position to deliver results to our investors," said Ali Al Nasser. "Our markets are expected to contribute strongly to global growth and comprise an increasing portion of the world's equity market capitalization as a result of favourable demographics; improved access to technology; reforms in the areas of education, healthcare, and finance; and increased political stability. We believe our team and process put our portfolio in a strong position to benefit from these themes as they evolve."

Frontier markets include early stage growth countries not classified as major emerging markets due to the nascent state of their economies and capital markets. Vergent seeks investments in listed companies that possess a unique set of competitive advantages that allow them to capitalize on the tremendous growth opportunity available in frontier and new emerging markets, and compound strong returns to their shareholders.

About Vergent Asset Management LLP 

Vergent Asset Management is a UK-based investment manager focused on frontier and new emerging markets and manages global frontier and region-focused equity strategies. Vergent is a part of Connor, Clark & Lunn Financial Group Ltd. For more information, please visit http://www.vergent-am.com

Vergent Asset Management LLP is authorized and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. FRN: 791909

About Connor, Clark & Lunn Financial Group 

Connor, Clark & Lunn Financial Group is a multi-boutique asset management company that provides a broad range of investment management products and services to institutional, high net worth and retail clients. With office across Canada and in Chicago, New York and London, CC&L Financial Group's affiliates collectively manage over (USD) $58 billion in assets. For more information, please visit http://www.cclgroup.com

Nemer Bechara, Managing Partner, Vergent Asset Management, (416) 864-3136, [email protected]; Greig McKenzie, Chief Marketing Officer, Connor, Clark & Lunn Financial Group Ltd., (416) 304-6634, [email protected]