Natixis Global Associates International Expands Asian Presence -- Opens Subsidiary in Taiwan

SICE license approved, Taiwan subsidiary staffed with Mandarin-speaking staff to support the distribution of group funds into Taiwan

TAIPEI, Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Natixis Global Associates International (NGAI) has today officially opened its subsidiary in Taiwan, Natixis Securities Investment Consulting Co., Ltd., following the granting of a SICE license to that subsidiary by the Taiwan Financial Supervisory Commission. NGAI is the international distribution arm of Natixis Global Asset Management (NGAM), the French multi-boutique asset management organization.

NGAM has US $668 billion in assets under management (as of 30 June 2009). The company operates a multi-boutique structure, owning nearly 20 affiliate fund managers across the globe and covering a broad range of styles in equities, fixed-income managers, real estate and alternatives.

NGAI already distributes some of its Luxembourg-domiciled SICAV and Dublin-based funds through the Taiwanese master agent, Fubon, to investors in Taiwan. The SICE license will enable the new Taiwanese subsidiary to better support those distribution efforts. The Taiwanese subsidiary will be headed by Michael Chang, general manager of the SICE.

John Hailer, president and chief executive officer of North America and Asia operations for NGAM, said: “I am delighted to announce the opening of our Taiwanese subsidiary. Asian markets are important engines of growth for global asset management companies, and we are strongly committed to being part of that growth. We have an existing presence in Tokyo and in Singapore, and the new Taiwan subsidiary is our first step in developing a presence in North Asia.”

NGAM’s multi-boutique structure offers investors a broad range of fund managers able to perform in different market conditions. In the first six months of 2009, NGAM saw positive net inflows of US $19.4 billion. NGAM is looking to build on that track record in a variety of markets. The market in Taiwan is particularly attractive as it offers an excellent opportunity for NGAM to market a wide range of asset management products to local investors.

NGAM also sees having a presence in Taiwan as an important step for its development in North Asia, and the Taiwanese subsidiary is expected to serve as a model for future growth in other Mandarin-speaking marketplaces such as Hong Kong and mainland China.

Hervé Guinamant, president and chief executive officer of NGAI, added: “We are committed to providing Taiwanese investors with a broad range of products to meet their investment needs. This new subsidiary will enable us to better support our offshore funds, our master agent Fubon and its sub-distributors, and our affiliates’ business with local institutions. A local presence shows our commitment to Taiwan, and our Mandarin-speaking staff will support the business with a convenient, single point of access.”

About Natixis Global Asset Management

Natixis Global Asset Management is one of the 20 largest asset managers in the world¹ based on assets under management. Its affiliated asset management companies provide investment products that seek to enhance and protect the wealth and retirement assets of both institutional and individual investor clients. Its proprietary distribution network helps package and deliver its affiliates’ products around the world. Natixis Global Asset Management brings together the expertise of multiple specialized investment managers based in Europe, the United States and Asia to offer a wide spectrum of equity, fixed-income and alternative investment strategies.

Headquartered in Paris and Boston, Natixis Global Asset Management’s assets under management totaled $668 billion (€476 billion) as of 30 June 2009. Natixis Global Asset Management is part of Natixis. Its affiliated investment management firms and distribution and service groups include: AEW Capital Management; AlphaSimplex Group; Aurora Investment Management;² Capital Growth Management; Caspian Capital Management; Gateway Investment Advisers; Hansberger Global Investors; Harris Associates; Loomis, Sayles & Co.; Natixis Global Associates; Reich & Tang Asset Management; Snyder Capital Management; Vaughan Nelson Investment Management; and Westpeak Global Advisors. In addition to the U.S. firms, Natixis Global Asset Management includes four principal affiliates based in Paris: Natixis Asset Management, Natixis Multimanager, AEW Europe and Natixis Épargne Financière.

About Natixis

Natixis is the corporate, investment and financial services arm of BPCE, the second-largest banking group in France with 22% of total bank deposits and 37 million clients spread over two networks, Banques Populaires and Caisses d’Epargne.

With around 22,000 employees, Natixis has a number of areas of expertise which are organized in three main business lines: Corporate and Investment Banking, Investment Solutions (asset management, private banking, insurance) and Specialized Financial Services.

A global player, Natixis has its own client base of companies, financial institutions and institutional investors as well as the client base of individuals, professionals and small- and medium-size businesses of BPCE’s two retail banking networks.

Listed on the Paris stock exchange, it has a solid financial base with total Tier 1 capital of €13.4 billion, a Tier 1 ratio of 9.3% and quality long-term ratings (Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings: A+; Moody’s: Aa3).

¹ Cerulli Quantitative Update: Global Markets 2009, based on 31 December 2008 AUM of $630 billion.

² Prior to 9 March 2009, Aurora Investment Management L.L.C. was known as Harris Alternatives L.L.C.

Natixis Securities Investment Consulting Co., Ltd., Unit 3, 5/F, No.136, Chung Hsiao East Road, Section 3, Taipei, Taiwan, 106, R.O.C., license number 2009 FSC SICE No. 004, Tel. [phone]