Sport

Super 14: the teams in focus

Stadium: Eden Park, (25,000) Coach: Pat Lam (First Year) Captain: Keven Mealamu Key Player: Ali Williams Ins: Josh Blackie (Kobe Japan), Charlie Faumuina (Auckland), Jimmy Gopperth (Hurricanes), Michael Hobbs (Hurricanes), Chris Lowrey (Auckland), Tevita Mailau (Auckland), Rene Ranger (Northland, Chris Smylie (Harbour), Ali Williams (Crusaders), Jay Williams (Chiefs), Paul Williams (Crusaders). Outs: Ben Atiga (unavailable), Daniel Braid (Reds), Bryn Evans (Hurricanes), Nick Evans (Harlequins), Troy Flavell (Mitsubishi Japan), Danny Lee, Bronson Murray (Crusaders), Isa Nacewa (Leinster), George Pisi, Nick White (retired), Nick Williams (Munster). Best Finish: Winners 1996, 1997, 2003.

Stadium: AMI Stadium, (26,400) Coach: Todd Blackadder (First Year) Captain: Richie McCaw Key Player: Brad Thorn. Ins: Ryan Crotty, Owen Franks, Jason MacDonald (Highlanders), Bronson Murray (Blues), Jared Payne, Jonathan Poff, Isaac Ross (Highlanders), Colin Slade, Thomas Waldrom (Hurricanes), Adam Whitelock. Outs: Dan Carter (Perpignan), Hamish Gard, Scott Hamilton (Leicester), Campbell Johnstone (Biarritz), Ti'i Paulo, Caleb Ralph (Sanix), Greg Somerville (Gloucester), Reuben Thorne (Yamaha), Mose Tuiali'i (Yamaha), Ali Williams (Blues). Best Finish: Winners 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008.

Stadium: Carisbrook, (40,000) Coach: Glenn Moore (Second Year) Captain Jimmy Cowan Key Player: Jamie Mackintosh. Ins: Josh bekhuis, Matt berquist, Israel Dagg, Jayden Hayward, Kendrick Lynn, George Naoupu, Anthony Perenise, Sean Romans, Jason Rutledge, Jason Shoemark, Ben Smith. Outs: Aaron bancroft, Keith Cameron (retired), Mike Delaney (Chiefs), Hason MacDonald (Crusaders), Hoani MacDonald (Newport), Toby Morland (Chiefs), Craig Newby (Leicester), Isaac Ross (Crusaders), Niva Ta'auso (Connacht), Ezra Taylor (Reds), Paul Williams (Blues), James Wilson (Chiefs). Best Finish: semifinalist 1998, 2000, 2002

Stadium: Waikato Stadium (27,000) Coach: Ian Foster Captain: Mils Muliaina Key Player: Sione Lauaki (right) In: Colin Bourke, Mark Burman, Craig Clarke (Hurricanes), Mike Delaney (Highlanders), Hika Elliot (Hurricanes), Serge Lilo, James McGougan, Toby Morland (Highlanders), Joe Savage, Arizona Taumalolo, Jackson Willison, James Wilson (Highlanders)

Stadium: Westpac Stadium, (34,500) Coach Colin Cooper (Seventh Year) Captain: Rodney So'oialo Key Player: Piri Weepu Ins: Josh Bradnock, Dane Coles, Bryn Evans (Blues), Jason Kawau, Dan Kirkpatrick, Fafilli Levave (Chiefs), Karl Lowe, Api Naikatini, David Smith (Blues), Victor Vito. Out: Craig Clarke (Chiefs), Jerry Collins (Toulon), Jimmy Gopperth (Blues), Michael Johnson, Chris Masoe (Castres), Shannon Paku (Montauban), Tane Tu'ipulotu (Newcastle), Bernie Upton, Thomas Waldrom (Crusaders). Best Finish: Finalists 2006

Stadium: Loftus Versfeld (51,762) Coach: Frans Ludeke Captain: Victor Matfield Key player: Fourie du Preez (right) In: Jaco Pretorius (Lions), Dries van Schalkwyk (Boland), Out: Wikus van Heerden (Saracens), Juandre Kruger (Northampton Saints), Trompie Nontshinga (Griquas/Cheetahs), Divan Kotze (Lions), Hilton Lobberts (Stormers), Derick Hougaard (Leicester)

Stadium: Free State Stadium (48 000) Coach and how long: Naka Drotske (2008) Captain: Juan Smith Key player: Juan Smith In: Gerrie Odendaal (Valke), Hanno Coetzee (Valke), Corne Uys (WP), Sarel Louw (Griffons), Piet van Zyl (Boland), Tertius Carse (Griquas), Nico Breedt (Toulon), Ryno Barnes (Valke), Jean Botha (Boland), WP Nel (Boland), Piet Myburgh (Boland). On loan from Griquas: Dewald Pretorius, Trompie Nontshinga, Egon Seconds, Riaan Viljoen, Bjorn Basson, Naas Olivier, Davon Raubenheimer, Wayne van Heerden, Albertus Buckle and Ruaan du Preez Out: Duane Vermeulen (Stormers), Barend Pieterse (retired), Jaco du Toit (France), Darron Nel (Castres), Rory Duncan (Jubilo Yamaha, Japan) Previous best in Super 14: Tenth (2006)

Stadium: Ellis Park (59 600) Coach and how long: Eugene Eloff (2007) Captain: Cobus "Baywatch" Grobbelaar Key player: Jaque Fourie In: Divan Kotze (Bulls), Alistair Siegelaar (WP), Todd Clever (USA), Divan Kotze (Bulls), Robert Kruger (Leopards), Hans van Dyk (Griquas), Jannes Labuschagne (out of retirement), Ruan Cloete (Valke), Shandre Frolick (Stormers), Henno Mentz (Sharks), Barry Goodes (Cheetahs), Ashwin Willemse (Biarritz) Out: Jaco Pretorius (Bulls), Rayno Benjamin (Sevens) Previous best in Super 14: Third (2001)

Stadium: King's Park (52,000) Coach: John Plumtree Captain: Johann Muller Key player: Ruan Pienaar (right) In: John Smit (Clermont), Len Olivier (Valke) Out: Henno Mentz (Lions), BJ Botha (Ulster), AJ Venter (Stormers), Frederic Michalak (Toulouse), Bradley Barrett (Saracens), Johan Ackermann (retired)

Stadium: Newlands (51,000) Coach: Johan Erasmus Captain: Jean de Villiers Key player: Schalk Burger (right) In: Hilton Lobberts (Bulls), Duane Vermeulen (Stormers), Paul Bosch (Leopards), AJ Venter (Sharks)

Stadium: Canberra Stadium (27,000) Coach: Andy Friend Captain: Stephen Hoiles Key player: Stirling Mortlock (right) In: Alfi Mafi (NSW), Stephen Moore (Queensland) Out: Julian Huxley (retired), Peter Playford (NSW), Adam Wallace-Harrison (NSW) Previous best performance: winners in 2001, 2004

Stadium: Sydney Football Stadium (46,000) Coach: Chris Hickey Captain: Phil Waugh Key player: Lote Tuqiri (right) In: Scott Fava (Western Force). Out: Daniel Vickerman (England), Rocky Elsom (Ireland), David Lyons (Wales). Previous best performance: second in 2005, 2008

Stadium: Suncorp Stadium (52,000) Coach: Phil Mooney Captains: James Horwill/Berrick Barnes Key player: Quade Cooper (right) In: Daniel Braid (NZ), Anthony and Saia Faingaa (ACT) Out: Rodney Blake (Europe), Chris Latham (UK), Stephen Moore (ACT), Sam Cordingley (France), John Roe (retirement)

Stadium: Subiaco Oval (43,000) Coach: John Mitchell Captain: Nathan Sharpe Key player: Matt Giteau (right) In: Josh Valentine (NSW) Out: Matt Henjak (France), Scott Fava (NSW) Previous best performance: seventh in 2007

While you're here
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Asia Cup Qualifier

Venue: Kuala Lumpur

Result: Winners play at Asia Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in September

Fixtures:

Wed Aug 29: Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore

Thu Aug 30: UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman

Sat Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal

Sun Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore

Tue Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong

Thu Sep 6: Final

 

Asia Cup

Venue: Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Schedule: Sep 15-28

Teams: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, plus the winner of the Qualifier

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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”