Source: Institutional Investor

Institutional Investor Ranks Asia's Top 100 Money Managers

Fund Managers Seek Alternatives Amid Slump; Barclays Global Investors No. 1 in Total Assets

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - September 18, 2008) - The global equity slump has cooled Asia's asset management boom and forced managers to search for new alternatives to whet investor appetites, according to Institutional Investor's 14th annual survey of the region's largest fund managers.

The complete ranking is available today at www.iimagazine.com and includes a list of leading firms in relation to total assets/international as well as by countries and regions.

Total assets of the Asia 100, the biggest fund managers, surged 18.3 percent in 2007, to $11 trillion, the survey finds, but that growth reflected the big surge in markets across the region last year. With markets down sharply this year, managers have struggled to capture new assets and hang onto existing ones.

Managers are increasingly turning to regional funds, such as those focusing on investment in Latin America, to attract investors. Brazilian funds have been popular because of awareness among Asian investors of the region's seemingly insatiable demand for Brazilian resources such as iron ore and soybeans. "If you understand the client needs, you can do very good business in these market conditions," says Christof Kutscher, Hong Kong-based head of UBS Global Asset Management for the Asia-Pacific region.

The ranking was compiled from a variety of sources, including questionnaires filled out by the institutions themselves, company Web sites and annual reports, and regulatory agencies.

About Institutional Investor

Now entering its fifth decade, Institutional Investor has consistently distinguished itself among the world's foremost financial publications with ground-breaking journalism and incisive writing that provides "must read" intelligence for a global audience. Throughout the year, Institutional Investor offers a host of proprietary research and rankings that serve as respected industry benchmarks, informing and influencing its carefully targeted circulation base throughout the year. For more information please visit www.iimagazine.com

Contact Information: Contact: Chris Cavanagh 212-224-3369 chriscavanagh@iimagazine.com www.iimagazine.com