Connor, Clark & Lunn forms investment manager for frontier, emerging markets

Connor, Clark & Lunn Financial Group Ltd. is forming Vergent Asset Management, an investment manager that will focus on frontier and emerging markets.

Founded by managing partners Ali Al Nasser and Nemer Bechara, the investment team will be led by Nasser, who has 15 years of experience managing institutional capital across frontier 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 Warren Stoddard, co-chief executive officer at Connor, Clarke & Lunn, in a news release. 

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“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,” added Nasser, in the release. “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, health care 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.”