Water funds show growth potential

INVESTMENT opportunities linked to the delivery of clean drinking water offer significant potential returns to funds and private investors into the future.

To exploit that market KBC Asset Management set up a global water fund in 2000 that today is worth €140m and has beaten returns from alternative equity funds since it was initiated.

KBC Asset Management’s chief executive, Sean Hawkshaw said the group planned to offer a retail version of the fund in January 2007 in conjunction with one the country’s top insurance companies.