RaboDirect Launches UK and German Investment Funds

For Investors Interested in Investing Closer to Home

Tuesday 28 August 2007:  RaboDirect, Europe's largest online bank, has launched two new investment funds, the Blackrock Merrill Lynch IIF United Kingdom Fund and the JPMorgan Germany Equity Fund. As with all RaboDirect Investment Funds, the minimum investment is only €100 with the fund provider's management fee of 1.5% per annum for each fund included in the daily fund price. Entry fees and exit fees are 0.75%, and investors can exit the fund partially or in full any time they like as there are no additional early encashment penalties or switching costs.

The Merrill Lynch UK fund, denominated in sterling, is a medium risk fund with a 3 star rating from Morningstar. The fund has achieved a discrete year performance figure of 15.9%(1) to the end of December 2006 and a year-to-date performance of 4.2%. The JPMorgan Germany Equity fund is a medium risk fund with a 4 star rating from Morningstar. The fund has achieved a discrete year performance figure of 24.11%(2) to the end of December 2006 and a year-to-date performance figure of 21.58%.

Launched in December 1985, the Merrill Lynch UK fund invests in companies conducting the majority of their business in the UK and is not limited to one investment style. The fund is designed as an 'all weather' fund which can capture opportunities in both growth and value markets. While the majority of the Fund will be held in large capitalisation names, flexibility is allowed in holding mid and small cap shares. The fund has holdings in HBOS (5.7%), Xstrata (5.2%), Royal Bank of Scotland (4.4%) and BP (3.5%).

Launched in June 2000, the JPMorgan Germany Equity fund invests primarily in Germany, aiming to capitalise on the investment opportunities that exist in companies from Europe's largest economy. The fund is diversified across a wide range of sectors including Financials, Consumer Discretionary and Materials.