BNP Paribas the lead sponsor for the 2nd Annual Fund Forum Middle East

Notes and media contacts

About BNP Paribas:
BNP Paribas is a European leader in global banking and financial services and is one of the 3 strongest banks in the world according to Standard & Poor's. The group is present in 85 countries, with more than 171,000 employees, including 131.000 in Europe. The group holds key positions in three major segments: Corporate and Investment Banking, Asset Management & Services and Retail Banking. Present throughout Europe in all of its business lines, the bank's two domestic markets in retail banking are France and Italy. BNP Paribas also has a significant presence in the United States and strong positions in Asia and the emerging markets.

BNP Paribas Investment Partners brings together the full palette of asset management expertise of the BNP Paribas group. Through a unique platform that offers immediate and simplified access to a broad range of specialist Partner companies, BNP Paribas Investment Partners has become a leader among the multi-specialist asset managers. At 30 September 2008, assets under management amounted to €326bn, nearly half of which was managed for institutional clients. With 2,400 professionals serving clients in 70 countries, BNP Paribas Investment Partners draws on over half a century of asset management experience and has seen ten years of steady growth through acquisitions and joint-ventures. BNP Paribas Investment Partners has developed a strong franchise in New Markets with a network that includes operations and joint-ventures in Brazil, Argentina, China, India, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Turkey, holding together €25bn of assets under management as of end of september 2008.

About BNP Paribas Securities Services:
As a wholly owned subsidiary of BNP Paribas, BNP Paribas Securities Services is the world's highest rated custody bank (Standard & Poor's AA+). With €3.6 trillion assets under custody, €634bn assets under administration and close to 6,000 funds administered, BNP Paribas Securities Services is the eurozone's leading securities services provider and rated number 5 in the world. BNP Paribas Securities Services has a unique multi-local model, servicing both the buy-side and sell-side with 5,600 employees worldwide, a local presence across 25 countries and global coverage of 100 markets.

For further information, kindly contact:
BIZ COM
P.O. Box 48889, Dubai - UAE
Tel: +971 4 332-0888
Fax: +971 4 332-0999