Sabbatical Orgy
Hi folks. So after five tumultuous years of excessive hardworking and boozing(thank God, I at least quit booze mid last year). I am finally off to a year of holidaying and to rediscover myself. The upside being I at least have my job security come 2014.
Let's see, so far being to India to attend a hackathon and talk to few app developers about a project I am keen on pursuing from this summer. Traveled through South America(Ecuador, Chile, Colombia and Argentina) with a friend and potential partner on another project involving mobile money transfer project I will be investing in.
Now in Nairobi kenya to meet a friend who left Morgan Stanley MENA two years ago to start his own brokerage firm here. I cannot fathom the amount of opportunities in developing world and how jaded I was about visiting any of the countries above before.
For Instance while passing through Tanzania(another east African country), I was introduced to a local banker who works for a south African banking giant who are keen on fixed income product. The albeit being, they are offering me 8% p.a on fixed deposit and upon hedging for usd I will be coming up with a good 6.5% guaranteed return p.a. Being the skeptic I am I questioned the whole deal but been thinking about it for past two days. Shouldn't this be a good value? Coming from sales department, I do not know how these products structured but would assume if the deal is good, a decent number of value investors should jump in. How should I ideally do about possibly seeing it through and even pitching it to potential investors and taking my cut while at it. How do fixed income sales earn in other words?
Finally on to my favorite starting a microbrewery in Rwanda with a Belgium friend who works for Kiva.
The essence of this jargon being taking this sabbatical year leave has been the best thing that ever happened to me and in all likely hood will return to my job more satisfied and experienced in other fields. Should also prop my mba resume.
Your feedbacks are appreciated. Cheers folks and do have a prosperous 2013.
I work in EM; one particular country I work with offers you 8-9% returns. You need to take into account inflation, default risks, sudden devaluation of the currencies etc... Needless to say all my money is in GBP, I will not convert or try to "hedge" as you cannot have a full proof hedge on that type of investments... I am happy with 3% gross guaranteed at ING, and have the bank of England guaranteeing up to 100K of my deposit (might be slightly less).
Also Kenya - unless you are Kenyan, you will not be dealing on the deals with the big boys. A lot of Kenyans have gone out to Europe and the US to do their studies, and are now much better versed in business than most of us; they won't be leaving money on the table for you to come and collect. Look up Steve Jenkins, and his investment in Africa. Ex-head of renaissance and one of the first bankers in Russia. One of the cleverest sharks, and best bankers in Russia, even he got burned in Africa...
Sounds like you are having a jolly old time out there, enjoy. And if you do end up investing in the local currency for "great" returns, you might get lucky, as the risk is higher, and so is the reward. Personally, I like to invest in what I understand best.
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