Al-Masah Capital has created a new watermark in performance by offering a $2 dividend payout for all of its investors through its MENA Dividend Fund.

Launched only 3 months ago, the fund is targeting a payout of a 6-8% annual dividend in 4 quarterly payments.

“We have achieved our first objective by paying out a $2 dividend after only three months of operation and are on track for keeping to our schedule,” said Shailesh Dash, CEO of Al Masah Capital.

MENA Dividend Fund is the only UCITS IV fund in the region.

Al-Masah Capital was one of the first regional investment companies to receive the UCITS IV license from the CSSF (Luxembourg’s monetary authority).

The fund follows strict risk and compliance parameters that are based on international standards and has the distinction of being one of the first regional Funds to implement the UCITS regime on local markets.

Dash said: “In addition to having an infrastructure with global relevance and appeal, this fund also targets a specific investment strategy giving it a rather unique status. MENA markets enjoy one of the highest dividend yields in the world with an average of 4-5%. Against this, the AMCL Fund’s target dividend rises to 6 percent to 8 percent.”

Dash added: “Despite recent market volatility, we are pleased to make this dividend announcement.”

Dash said: “This is tangible evidence of our commitment to both investors and shareholders that what we aim to achieve we do so regardless of fluctuations in the market environment. By paying out a $2 dividend after only 3 months, we are offering commitment, reliability and trust, all of which form the basis of our credibility.”

As a result of the political unrest and the Syrian situation, regional markets have recently witnessed sharp selloffs with the Dubai market being the most volatile based on current Bloomberg calculations.

“It has been a challenging environment in which to launch and then manage a Fund,” says Akber Naqvi, executive director, Al Masah Capital. “But the AMCL investment team, by sticking to its initial strategy and being dynamic in its portfolio construction and cash management, while rightly predicting projections, has not only managed to outperform the market (and avoid the losses) but also meet its initial goal and establish a strong foundation for the future.”

Al-Masah Capital’s investment management team has over 15 years of global and regional portfolio and fund management experience, managing AUM’s in excess of $600million.

By utilizing a unique combination of fundamental valuation and technical market trigger techniques, AMCL’s team manages Funds and Portfolios that have consistently outperformed the market and its peers.

It recently closed and returned a portfolio that had a 2-year PWC audited performance of +18 percent compared to a market performance of +3 percent.