Financial Opportunities Fund
Launch date03.05.2011
AUM
5Team size
See all teams
The Polar Capital Global Financials Team
The senior members of the team joined Polar Capital when it acquired HIM Capital, formerly Hiscox Investment Management, in 2010, to establish the firm’s financials franchise. Lead managers John Yakas, Nick Brind and George Barrow now run the Financial Opportunities and Income Opportunities funds alongside the specialist closed-end product, Polar Capital Global Financials Trust.Total AUM (as at 31.08.2021)
2010
Established
97
Combined years of experience
5
Team members
John Yakas
Fund Manager
Nick Brind
Fund Manager
George Barrow
Fund Manager
Nabeel Siddiqui
Analyst
Jack Deegan
Analyst
John Yakas
John joined Polar Capital in September 2010 and is fund manager of the Polar Capital Financial Opportunities Fund and co-manager of the Polar Capital Global Financials Trust Plc.
Previously, John worked for HSBC as a banker based in Hong Kong and was the head of Asian research at Fox-Pitt, Kelton. In 2003 he joined Hiscox Investment Management which later became HIM Capital. John has won Lipper awards in the equity sector banks and other financials sector in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
- BSc in Economics, London School of Economics and Political ScienceMBA, London Business School
- 33 years
Nick Brind
Nick joined Polar Capital in September 2010 following the acquisition of HIM Capital, and is manager of the Polar Capital Income Opportunities Fund and co-manager of the Polar Capital Global Financials Trust Plc.
Prior to joining HIM Capital, Nick worked at New Star Asset Management. While there he managed the New Star Financial Opportunities Fund, a high-income financials fund investing in the equity and fixed-income securities of European financials companies, which outperformed its benchmark index in all six years that Nick managed it. Previously, Nick worked at Exeter Asset Management and Capel-Cure Myers. At Exeter Asset Management, Nick managed the Exeter Capital Growth Fund from 1997 to 2003 which over this period was in the top decile of the IMA UK All Companies Sector.
- MSc in Finance, London Business SchoolDiploma, CISI (Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment), London
- 27 years
George Barrow
George joined Polar Capital in September 2010 as an analyst on the Financials Team. He is a co-manager on the Polar Capital Financial Opportunities Fund, with John Yakas, and the Polar Capital Global Financials Trust, with John and Nick Brind.
He has over 10 years’ experience analysing Europe, Asia and emerging markets. Prior to joining Polar Capital, he was an analyst at HIM Capital from 2008 where he completed his IMC.
- MA (Merit) in International Studies, SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies), London
- IMC. Advanced Certificate in Equity & Fixed Income Investment
- 13 years
Nabeel Siddiqui
Nabeel joined the Polar Capital Financials team as an analyst in August 2013 working closely with John Yakas and Nick Brind, focusing on the US, Latin America & Australia.
Prior to this, Nabeel worked as an operations executive at Polar Capital. Nabeel began his career in August 2008 with Habib Bank, where he worked within a variety of functions.
- BSc (Hons) in Computer Science, Lahore University of Management SciencesMSc in Money and Banking, University of Exeter
- Passed CFA Level III
- 10 years
Jack Deegan
Jack joined the Polar Capital Financials team as an analyst in October 2017 working closely with Nick Brind on the Income Opportunities Fund.
Prior to this, he worked at DBRS Ratings, covering the Swiss market as a lead analyst, as well as UK, Dutch, Japanese and Australian banks. Before DBRS, Jack worked in the Markets Division of the Bank of England for four years, assessing financial institutions with a view to determining access to the Bank's Sterling Monetary Framework (SMF) facilities, and internal counterparty trading limits.
- BA, Classical Archaeology & Ancient History, Oxford UniversityMA, Islamic Politics, SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies), London
- 12 years
Funds managed by the Global Financials Team
Financial Opportunities Fund
The Fund aims to provide long-term capital growth by investing primarily in the securities of financial sector companies globally.
Income Opportunities Fund
Launch date15.10.2009
AUM
5Team size
Income Opportunities Fund
The Fund aims to provide an attractive level of income for investors, together with capital growth, by investing primarily in the equity, debt and other securities of financial companies worldwide.
Polar Capital Global Financials Trust plc
Launch date01.07.2013
AUM
7Team size
Polar Capital Global Financials Trust plc
The Company’s investment objective is to generate for investors a growing dividend income together with capital appreciation.
