Corporate | 19 March 2008 09:03
ARAGON AG / Miscellaneous Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ++ Aragon subsidiary Fundmatrix AG is on course for expansion – increase in volume of over 40% in 2007 ++ Alternative investments of Fundmatrix receive hedge fund award ++ Focus on Africa and climate change as investment opportunities Fundmatrix AG has impressively exceeded the forecasts made at the start of financial year 2007 for the performance of the Aragon Group’s Institutional Sales division. The company, which specialises in the sales and structuring of boutique and specialist products for quality-oriented institutional investors and resellers, achieved a brokerage volume of well over EUR 1 billion. With a growth rate of more than 40%, Fundmatrix has established itself as the leading independent distributor of funds in the German-speaking market. The philosophy of Fundmatrix AG acknowledges the fact that today, the best products in almost all asset classes are provided by independent specialists. As pure producers, these specialists often lack their own distribution systems and service departments. The Fundmatrix sales organisation combines some of the best of these specialists under one roof, while structuring and backing their products with the kind of customer service that institutional clients are accustomed to receiving from the best ‘universal’ managers. For example, Fundmatrix AG launched and markets certificates with Altrus for the Thames River Warrior Fund (ISIN DE000A0FDGY8 and ISIN DE000A0LU690), which has just been voted best hedge fund of funds over USD 500 million at the InvestHedge Awards 2007 in New York, the Oscars of the hedge fund industry. The product matrix of Fundmatrix AG comprises traditional as well as innovative, alternative asset classes. In this segment, in particular, access to restricted investment quotas receives as much attention as the quality of the investment process. In addition to hedge funds of funds and single hedge funds, innovative concepts such as environmental investments and private equity are covered. Fundmatrix provides mainly international asset managers with access to investors in the German-speaking part of Europe and also gives structuring advice to facilitate an offering of tax-efficient and liquid solutions for investors. Philipp Prömm, founder of Fundmatrix, comments optimistically: 'We will continue to bank on diversification in the future. This applies as much to our range of products as to developing new investment opportunities in the interest of our investors, such as Africa and climate change, where correlations have largely been neglected to date.' He adds: 'With the further expansion of the company’s staff complement and targeted additions to our product range, I am very confident that we will continue to maintain our reputation as a provider of high-quality products and excellent customer service in the coming years.' Ralph Konrad, CFO of Aragon AG adds: 'If our think tank in the fund segment continues to work this well, the success of the most profitable of our companies - based on margin - will also promote the success of the other Group companies. Ultimately, one of the success factors of the Aragon business model is multiplication of successful commercial ideas within the Group.' ++ About Aragon AG Aragon is a broad diversified financial distribution company, with the divisions: Retail Sales, Institutional Sales and Banking & Banking Services. Aragon is active on the marketplace with multiple independent subsidiaries. The company’s aim is to integrate various distribution models under one roof, without disturbing the individual identity of each sales company. The result is a wide diversification across various asset classes and distribution types, which generates a high stability in corporate earnings. Further information about the company and its subsidiaries can be viewed on the website: www.aragon-ag.com. Contact: Aragon Aktiengesellschaft Achim Pfeffer Head of Investor Relations Tel.: +49(0)611 890 575-574 Fax: +49(0)611 890 575-99 E-Mail: achim.pfeffer@aragon-ag.de 19.03.2008 Financial News transmitted by DGAP ----------------------------------------------------------------------