Monday 26th of June 2006

S&P Further Expands Fund Ratings Team Melbourne, June 26, 2006-Standard & Poor's Fund Services announced today the appointment of Tara Bell as an associate within the Fund Ratings team, based in Melbourne. Tara will be responsible for ratings across various asset classes and for providing analytical support to senior analysts. Tara joins Standard & Poor's from UBS Global Asset Management, where she was responsible for managing their research house and dealer-group relationships, and general business-development activities. Tara was also responsible for managing research-house relationships during a previous tenure at ING, where she supported the business-development team and liaised between marketing and distribution channels. Tara was also employed previously by IWL Ltd, where she was responsible for conducting ratings on managed funds. Tara holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Economics (Honours) from the University of Queensland, and is currently completing a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) course. "Tara's experience in managing the research-house relationship at UBS and ING will provide her with an excellent insight into our clients' businesses and their expectations of research providers," said Standard & Poor's Head of Fund Ratings, Mark Hoven. "We are pleased to secure a candidate with Tara's level of industry experience, and believe she will add depth to our expanding Fund Ratings team." Analyst biographies are available on request. About S&P Fund Ratings A fund rating is a forward-looking qualitative assessment of a manager's ability to consistently generate superior risk-adjusted fund returns, net of fees relative to relevant investment objectives and peers. For further information, visit www.standardandpoors.com.au/funds. About Standard & Poor's Standard & Poor's is the world's foremost provider of independent credit ratings, indices, risk evaluation, investment research and data. With 6,300 employees located in 21 countries and markets, Standard & Poor's is an essential part of the world's financial infrastructure and provides investors with the independent benchmarks they need to feel more confident about their investment and financial decisions. For more information contact: Mark Hoven, Fund Ratings (61) 3 9631 2146 Tel Sharon Beach, Media (61) 3 9631 2152 Tel This message has been sent to you by Standard & Poor's (Australia) Pty Ltd (A.C.N: 096 167 556) 120 Collins Street Melbourne VIC 3003 (03) 9631 2000, because you subscribe to one or more of our media lists. Update Profile: If you would like to update your information or change the sectors you receive press releases on, please click here. http://www.ecm7.com/cm/public/208/process.clsp?t=65ehyYCg5qKhZ Unsubscribe: If you do not wish to receive further email from Standard & Poor's on any topic, please click here. http://www.ecm7.com/cm/public/208/process.clsp?EmailId=17140&Token=1B25EEFAE918C066A9A Privacy Notice http://www2.standardandpoors.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=sp/Page/PrivacyPolicyPg&r=1&l=EN Terms of Use http://www2.standardandpoors.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=sp/Page/FooterLinkPg&r=1&l=EN&c=Page&cid=1023383690012 __________ NOD32 1.1622 (20060625) Information __________ This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. http://www.eset.com