TNI’S MENA Flagship Funds Awarded ‘A’ Rating By Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”)

TNI UAE BLUE CHIP FUND AND MENA REAL ESTATE ACTIVE FUND COMMENDED FOR CONSISTENT OUTPERFORMANCE

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 15 February 2009: The National Investor’s (“TNI”) MENA equity focused funds have been rated ‘A’ by Standard & Poor’s Fund Management Rating services. Both TNI UAE Blue Chip Fund and MENA Real Estate Active Fund were commended by S&P for “achieving solid track records and consistency of performance as compared to funds with similar objectives”.

To achieve this rating from the world-leading rating agency, the funds were subjected to a rigorous 6- month assessment. The first step of the evaluation is a quantitative analysis of a 12-month track record for each fund, which 80% of candidate funds fail to qualify. For funds that meet the quantitative criteria, S&P examines the investment philosophy, objectives, universe, and investment style. It also scrutinizes style consistency and risk management standards. Furthermore, interviews with portfolio managers are conducted to ensure their level of understanding and engagement in the process and continuity of the business. The funds are finally judged on the clarity of their processes and the manager’s ability to achieve consistent outperformance.

Walid Hayeck, Director Asset Management, The National Investor commented: About The National Investor:
“This rating was achieved by a dynamic and professional investment management team that has demonstrated style consistency and outperformance in very challenging market conditions. The ‘A’ rating confirms our credibility a leading investment management house based in Abu Dhabi.” “The report commended our efforts to formalize the investment process and the steps taken towards establishing international standards in risk management and attribution which are critical in current market conditions.”

TNI Asset Management offers a suite of four funds, including TNI UAE Blue Chip Fund, TNI MENA Real Estate Active Fund, TNI Dana Women and TNI MENA Special Situations Fund, all consistently outperforming their benchmark indices. TNI was awarded “Best Asset Management House” by Banker Middle East magazine three years in a row in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Contact:

Rania Senada
Phone: +9712 6192336
Email: rsenada@tni.ae

Daniela Fleischmann
Phone : +97150 6940375
Email : daniela.fleischmann@capitalmsl.com

The National Investor
PO Box: 47435, Abu Dhabi, UAE
www.tni.ae

About The National Investor: The National Investor (“TNI”) is an Abu Dhabi-based investment company with over 14 years of proven track record in investment banking and investment management services. It is one of the leading capital markets players in the Middle East and North Africa (“MENA”) region and an active investor in the local stock markets. The firm was incorporated in 1994 as an investment company, and is licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE.

About The National Investor Asset Management: The Asset Management business was launched in 2005 and currently has nearly AED 1 billion (USD 272 million) in funds and discretionary portfolios under management. Since inception, the division has been awarded “Best Asset Management House” by Banker Middle East three years in a row from 2006 to 2008. Both of TNI’s flagship funds, TNI UAE Blue Chip Fund and TNI MENA Real Estate Active, have consistently outperformed their respective benchmarks and peer groups, and recently have been assigned “A” rating by Standard & Poor’s.

About the TNI Blue Chip Fund: Although the fund may participate in markets throughout the Gulf Cooperative Countries (‘GCC’), its investments will be primarily focused on publicly traded equities of UAE firms with large capitalization, which present a steady and recurrent track record of earnings growth and have a potential for capital appreciation. Management Style The key investment criteria are the company’s financial strengths, competitiveness, profitability, growth prospects and quality of management. The allocation will be based on fundamental research and will incorporate a blend of top-down and a bottom-up analytical approach. Objective The fund aims to provide long-term capital appreciation through investing in equity securities publicly traded, primarily in the UAE, and, to a lesser extent, in other GCC markets. Suitability Units of the Fund are speculative and involve a high degree of risk. The Fund is therefore designed for sophisticated investors who are able to understand the risks involved in emerging markets’ equity investments, particularly in the GCC equities.

About the TNI MENA Real Estate Active Fund: The Fund is a sector focused fund mainly targeting investments in equities of real estate firms publicly traded in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) official exchanges. The Fund provides investors with a liquid investment approach to a traditionally illiquid and capital intensive sector. Management Style The key investment criteria are the company’s financial strengths, competitiveness, profitability, growth prospects and quality of management. The allocation will be based on fundamental research and will incorporate a blend of top-down and a bottom-up analytical approach. Objective The fund aims to provide long-term capital appreciation through investing in equity securities of real estate firms publicly traded in the MENA equity markets. Fund investments can also include private equities of firms expected to list their shares within a 12-month period, as well as debt instruments issued by MENA real estate firms. Suitability Shares of the Fund are speculative and involve a high degree of risk. The Fund is therefore designed for sophisticated investors who are able to understand the risks involved in emerging markets’ equity investments, particularly in the MENA equities.

About Standard & Poor’s: Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP), is the world’s foremost provider of financial market intelligence, including independent credit ratings, indices, risk evaluation, investment research and data. With approximately 8,500 employees, including wholly owned affiliates, located in 23 countries and markets, Standard & Poor’s is an essential part of the world’s financial infrastructure and has played a leading role for more than 140 years in providing investors with the independent benchmarks they need to feel more confident about their investment and financial decisions.
For more information, visit www.standardandpoors.com