Devising niche investment strategies: How Stewards meets the unique needs of investors

III. There seems to be a growing interest in alternative investments, particularly in the context of diversification and the search for yield. Are you aware of this trend among your customers, and what types of offers or alternative vehicles do you make available to them?

Absolutely. Alternative investments have been an essential part of the institutional investors’ allocation for some time now. The level of sophistication of individual investors has exponentially progressed in the recent years, and it is only natural that they now seek better diversification, risk management and optimal returns as institutional investors do. Global alternative assets under management were at $16.78tn at the end of 2023 and are expected to reach past $30tn by 2030 growing by more than 75% according to PREQIN.

Stewards Investment Capital has been an observer and an active participant within that shift. The increasing interest for alternative investments among our investor base is a fundamental shift showing how sophisticated investors are building resilient portfolios in today's volatile markets. They seek diversification, lower risks, and strong returns.

The demand in alternative investment solutions materially outweighs the current offerings. Bridging that gap is both a necessity for the wealth management industry and an opportunity for investment professionals competent enough to bring alternative solutions to the market. With our expert teams in Mauritius, USA and South Africa, we have devised exclusive investment solutions which meets the needs of this category of investors. Mauritius plays an key role in delivering our strategy, acting as the gateway that allows us to link African investors to developed markets, and to enable global investors to access investments on the continent in a secured and reliable manner.

Our alternative investment solutions include a wide range of asset classes such as Real Estate Bridge Financing, Structured Products, SME Lending / Receivable Factoring and most recently Shariah Compliant Products. Through our global network, we also source private equity and private credit deals, making them available to our African investors base.

The growing demand for alternative investments is clearly reflected in our recent transactions. For example, we successfully launched an investment solution linked to a prestigious real estate development by Armani in Florida, which has received strong investor interest. Likewise, our private credit fund continues to attract both pension funds and high-net-worth individuals seeking yield and portfolio diversification. Our impact investment opportunities in South Africa - specifically focused on the development of telecom towers - have remained a successful option for investors seeking both financial returns and social impact. These projects are increasingly supported through infrastructure debt, offering a stable, long-term investment route while driving meaningful ESG outcomes in underdeveloped communities.

What makes Stewards different is how we blend deep local knowledge and expertise with international reach. With our teams on the ground, we understand these markets very well and our investment team can match investors with opportunities that fit their goals - whether that's higher yields, better diversification, reduced risk. It's about creating portfolios that can withstand different market cycles and deliver sustainable long-term results.