"We will win": Israel's largest hedge fund owner comes out of the political closet and picks a side

Roi Vermus, co-founder of the hedge fund Noked Capital, published an unusual political post on Facebook in which he called on opponents of the government to move from criticism to active action ahead of the elections. Vermus spoke out against pessimism and defeatism in his political camp, proposed practical steps such as donations and volunteering, and concluded: "We will win."

Roi Vermus, co-founder of the hedge fund Noked Capital and one of the most prominent capital market figures in Israel, published an unusual political post on Facebook today (Saturday) in which he called on opponents of the government to move from criticism to active action ahead of the elections. Vermus, who previously served as CEO of Psagot, primarily spoke out against what he describes as pessimism and defeatism in the political camp to which he belongs. He proposed a series of practical steps: donate money or time, volunteer, talk even with those who think differently, be active on social media and at protests, attend political meetings, and vote. He even called on acquaintances who do not support the opposition camp to refrain from voting for his rivals. "Less criticism. Less defeatism. Less explanations of why it's impossible. More responsibility. More optimism. More actions," he wrote, concluding: "We will win." Noked Capital is controlled by Vermus and Shlomi Bracha, and manages more than 10 billion shekels. Before Noked, Vermus managed Psagot from 2006 to 2010 as chairman. In March 2023, Psagot, one of the largest companies in the industry, published an unusual letter to investors warning that the judicial overhaul had become "an event with a high probability of significant consequences for the local economy."