Old Mutual Namibia bets big on global markets
Justicia Shipena
Old Mutual Namibia, through the Old Mutual Investment Group (OMIGNAM), currently manages over N$60 billion in assets across a broad range of strategies.
On 19 June 2025, the group launched the World Wide Equity Fund, offering Namibian investors a new entry point into global markets.
The fund gives investors access to leading companies across developed and emerging markets. It focuses on sectors such as innovation, digital transformation, renewable energy, healthcare, and technology.
Rex Mutelo, head of business development at OMIGNAM, said the fund is designed to provide broad global exposure.
“In today’s rapidly evolving economy, companies that lead in innovation, digital transformation, renewable energy, healthcare, and technology are no longer limited to Wall Street or Silicon Valley. They are scattered across continents and now accessible through a single, well-managed fund,” he said.
Mutelo explained that the fund aims to enable long-term capital growth for investors looking to future-proof their portfolios.
“The fund is available to retail investors through our local distribution platforms, while institutional clients can still access our tailored segregated mandates for bespoke offshore exposure, suited to their specific mandates and risk appetite.”
He characterised the fund as an invitation for Namibians to adopt a new perspective on investing.
“The World Wide Equity Fund is more than a product; it is a call to action. A call to think differently about investing.”
He urged investors to transcend the traditional limitations of local-only portfolios and explore the potential for global wealth creation.
“It allows a teacher in Rundu to invest alongside a banker in Frankfurt. It allows a nurse in Windhoek to co-own a share in a healthcare company listed in Switzerland. And it allows all of us, as Namibians, to move from watching global markets to participating in them,” Mutelo added.
He said that in a time of geopolitical uncertainty, market volatility, and rapid disruption, diversification across geography, sector, and currency is essential. The fund provides access from within Namibia.
“With the launch of the World Wide Equity Fund, Old Mutual Namibia is reaffirming our commitment to innovation, inclusion, and long-term wealth creation. Because Namibians deserve more than just access, we deserve representation. We deserve to grow our futures not only locally, but globally, with conviction, with confidence, and with a team that understands exactly where we’re coming from. The journey has just begun. The world is now within reach,” he said.
Business development manager at OMIGNAM, Jo-Ann van Wyk, said the fund offers a clear strategy to capture international growth.
“The World Equity Fund is more than just a product. It’s a strategic pathway to harness international growth potential, built on deep expertise and a vision for sustainable wealth creation,” she said.
Lionel Kannemeyer, managing director of the Old Mutual Investment Group, said the fund is managed in Namibia by a team of local professionals.
“The World Wide Equity Fund is managed right here at home by a team of Namibian portfolio managers who hold CFA charters and have over 40 years of combined investment experience. They bring global insight with local nuance, and most importantly, they sit in our offices, understand our clients, and remain directly accountable to the people whose futures they help shape,” he said.
“We believe this is what true localisation looks like: not limiting opportunity to borders, but delivering global access through local talent,” Kannemeyer added.
OMIGNAM also manages a USD money market fund based in Mauritius, which holds over US$400 million in assets.
The fund is supported by multinational organisations that have placed their trust in OMIGNAM as a Namibian asset manager.
The portfolio manager at OMIGNAM, Martin Schurz, said global diversification is a key part of managing risk and accessing growth.
“Variety is not just the spice of life; it is the safety net of smart strategy, and diversification through global markets offers reduced risk and broader growth opportunities,” he said.
