Fimat Alternative Investment Solutions (AIS) – the new name under which Socit Gnrale has branded the prime brokerage services of the Fimat Group -has been appointed as prime broker and clearer to the new euro-denominated fund launched by Jim Rogers and Diapason Commodities Management of Lausanne.
The fund – the Diapason Rogers Commodity Index Fund – is designed to replicate as closely as possible (before the deduction of operating and other expenses), the performance of the Rogers International Commodity Index (RICI) developed by Jim Rogers, in 1998. The fund’s investment manager is Diapason Commodities Management, a partnership between Jim Rogers and the hedge fund group Equinoxe Partners in Lausanne, Switzerland, whose principal is Lionel Motiere.
“The place to be is in natural resources,” says Jim Rogers whose RICI index is up 135% since 1998. There will be a multi-year bull market in commodities”
The Diapason Rogers Commodity Index Fund is Cayman Islands registered and is going through the listing process on the Irish Stock Exchange. There are two versions, both denominated in euros – one of which is hedged against currency fluctuations.
The Rogers International Commodity Index was designed to meet the need for consistent investing in a broad-based international vehicle. Thirty-five commodities are represented which makes it the largest commodity index.
Fimat AIS offers transaction, clearing, settlement, custody and financing of equities, bonds, currencies, commodities and their related listed and OTC derivative products, including futures and options, forwards, CFDs and swaps. Fimat AIS can also provide leverage through Socit Gnrale Group, structured products such as equity-linked derivatives, structured notes and other customized institutional derivative products.
“We are honored to be associated with Jim Rogers and Diapason’s project and pleased to see an extended focus is fast developing in the market place for commodities investing and its diversification benefits as an alternative asset class,” says Philippe Teilhard de Chardin, head of prime brokerage at Fimat International Banque S.A. in London.
Diapason Commodities Management is the partnership Jim Rogers started in 2003. Diapason Commodities Management S.A. is a Swiss-based (Lausanne) firm, whose main partners are Jim Rogers, Lionel Motiere and Stephan Wrobel. Nicolas Maduz has been appointed Chief Operating Officer in charge of managing the day-to-day operation of the Fund.