TNI's Mena flagship funds awarded 'A' rating by Standard and Poor's

Notes and media contacts

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:

- Focus
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:

- Focus
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.

Media contact:

Noha Gaber
Capital MS&L Middle East
Tel: +971 4 427 6448
PO Box 502697 Dubai, UAE