$19 billion industry rewards Islamic fund performance

(ArabianBusiness, 25 March 08)

World's top fund managers celebrate, innovation, achievement and excellence at annual Failaka Islamic Funds Awards in Dubai.

Investment companies and banks in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Malaysia, Ireland, South Africa, France and the United States have been awarded the highest global accolades in Islamic fund management. Organised by Failaka Advisors, the 3rd Annual Islamic Fund Awards were held last night (24 March 2008) at Emirates Towers Hotel, Dubai, recognising the world's best performing Shari'ah compliant funds.The Failaka Awards have consistently set benchmarks for the performance of Shari'ah-compliant funds industry, which now has over $19 billion in assets. The awards highlight the achievements and innovations of fund families, fund managers, and individual funds.

The Best Islamic Fund Manager award for the Gulf Co-operation Council countries went to NCB Capital. The Best Islamic Fund Manager in the United States was Saturna Capital and the Best Islamic Fund Manager for Asia was Public Mutual of Malaysia. South Africa, Ireland and Dubai company Oasis made it a hat-trick with awards going to its Ireland office for the three and five year performance of its Oasis Crescent Global Equity Funds. The South Africa office picked up the award for the Best South African Fund.Saudi Arabian firms picked up several awards: Saudi British Bank scored a double by receiving the Best GCC Equity Fund award (one year) for its Amanah GCC Equity and Amanah Saudi Equity (three year). The Best Balanced Fund (one year) went to Riyad Bank's Islamic Balanced Income; the Best Balanced Fund (three year) went to Saudi Hollandi's Al-Yusor Tamoh Portfolio; and the Best Emerging Market Equity Fund (one year) was Al Fursan BRIC Equity Trading from CAAM Saudi Fransi.United Arab Emirates institutions also had a good night. Winners were: Best European Equity Fund one year and three year awards, Permal Investment Management Services' Alfanar Europe; Best Asian Equity Fund (one year) went to DWS Investments for DWS Noor China Equity; and SHUAA Asset Management the Best Middle East North Africa Equity Fund (one year) award for its Arab Islamic Gateway.Kuwait's Al Madar Finance and Investment won two awards - the Best US Equity Fund for its Al Madar US Index for both one year and three year performance. Similarly two awards went to CMS Trust Management of Malaysia for its CMS Islamic for the one and three year categories.The Best Asia Equity Fund (three year) award went to Bahrain's Al-Tawfeek Company for Investment Funds for its Al-Nukhba Asian Equity. The Best Global Equity Fund (one year) award went to BNP Paribas Asset Management of France for its BNP Islamic Equity Optimizer."This year's awards were held in front of a high profile gathering of global fund managers drawing more attention to the growth and broadening interest in Shari'ah-compliant investment funds," said Mark Smyth, Managing Director, Failaka Advisors. "The awards have consistently set benchmarks for the performance of the Shari'ah-compliant funds industry and that has been further consolidated with the 2008 event."Sponsors of the 3rd Annual Islamic Fund Awards were: SHUAA Asset Management, a division of Dubai-based Shuaa Capital; Kuwait Stock Exchanged listed Al-Madar Finance & Investment Company; MSCI Barra, a leading provider of indices and portfolio risk and performance analytics; Oasis Crescent Capital (DIFC) Limited, part of Oasis Global Fund Managers; and California headquartered IdealRatings.

Notes and contacts

About Failaka Advisors

In 1997, Failaka Advisors became the first organization to track and publish performance results for Islamic equity funds; that year, their first Islamic Fund Report included 13 funds. Now, their Islamic Fund Database reports on the investment objectives, fund geography, top-ten holdings, and assets and performance of the more than 250 Islamic equity funds worldwide that report regularly to www.failaka.com. Link

Corporate Profile - Public Mutual Berhad

Public Mutual Berhad (Public Mutual) is the largest private unit trust company in Malaysia and currently manages 58 funds with total NAV of more than RM28.4 billion for more than 1,650,000 accountholders. Incorporated in July 1975, Public Mutual began its operations in 1980 with the launch of the Public Savings Fund, and soon went on to become an industry leader and setting forth new trends in innovative fund development.

Market Share And Distribution
Public Mutual anchors 36.38 percent market share in private unit trust funds when measured by net asset value (as at 30 August 2007. source:The Edge-Lipper, 17 September 2007).Public Mutual markets its funds through its dedicated and trained unit trust consultants force which is currently the largest and collectively the most productive in the entire private unit trust industry. Public Mutual is linked extensively through its national network of branches, as well as agency offices to provide better service to the investors.In addition, investors of Public Mutual can also take advantage of Public Bank branches that act as effective collections centres for Public Mutual.

Financial Strength And Track Record

Public Mutual as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Public Bank subscribes readily to the Group's excellence-oriented corporate culture and high standards of financial integrity in the management of its unit trust funds.Public Mutual is also the most awarded unit trust fund manager in Malaysia. Public Mutual is the biggest winner at The Edge-Lipper Malaysia Fund Awards 2007 and The Star/Standard & Poor's Investment Fund Awards Malaysia 2007, having won a total of 21 awards from both occasions. Public Mutual was named Best Fund Manager in Asia 2006 by the Failaka Advisors, Dubai – a recognised world leader in the field of Islamic Funds research. They stand as the benchmark for excellence in the field of Islamic fund management and represents a high-water mark for award winners. These victories also bring Public Mutual's medal tally to 100 awards since 1999.

Financial Planning

Public Mutual has a series of Financial Planning software. The revolutionary Financial Freedom FP Advisor software is a tool exclusive to Public Mutual’s unit trust consultants. It provides a wide array of financial planning services and fund investment analysis ‘on the spot’ and to date, more than 2,660 of Public Mutual’s unit trust consultants have been professionally trained to use the FP Advisor software. On top of these, Public Mutual’s Financial Freedom Retirement Planning and Education Planning software are two user friendly, ‘Do-It-Yourself’ tools that enable you to determine your retirement and your children’s education needs in the comfort of your home.To help more Malaysians plan their personal finances, Public Mutual opened its first Financial Planning Centre right in the heart of affluent Bangsar at Lot 36-2 & 38-2, Jalan Maarof, Bangsar Baru. The FP Centre offers free financial health check to its unitholders and the general public. The centre is manned by a group of qualified financial planners who will also conduct FP talks and workshops, particularly in retirement and education planning.

Customer Service

Public Mutual is committed to excellent customer service. Our strong commitment to achieve this objective is through constant surveillance of customer satisfaction through our Customer Service Department and Mutual Gold (Priority Service). Public Mutual has invested heavily in Information Technology (IT) in order to provide a convenient and effective business environment for its investors.Public Mutual is also dedicated to building capable and professional personnel to ensure we achieve service excellence. With this is mind, Public Mutual constantly provides sound guidance and professional education to our unit trust consultants and staff to ensure that they become experts in providing excellent service and qualified financial consultation.