The Investment Store is a provider of distribution and marketing services to boutique and specialist investment companies.

We are specialists in distributing quality product to retail investors via financial advisers and the growing investment platform market.

The following information highlights the opportunities and benefits the Investment Store believes it can offer to funds managers. In addition we explain some of the criteria that we look for in a partner manager.

What is the New Zealand Opportunity?

We believe that the New Zealand market offers specialist investment managers with significant opportunity to grow their business. In particular, New Zealand has:

• A generally prosperous and stable economy
• An established mutual funds industry - for example, as at 28 November 2008, there was a total of just over $53.6B¹ invested in managed funds.
• A growing investment platform market. It is estimated that this market now accounts for funds of approximately $12B. This sector has grown from virtually nothing 10 years ago
• A number of important changes have taken place to provide growth opportunities to quality managers including:
• The introduction of a new tax regime for Managed Funds and offshore equities
• The introduction of Kiwi Saver in July 2007. Funds Under Management already total 1.792B¹
• The structured introduction of greater adviser regulation
• Trans-Tasman mutual recognition of securities agreement
• An English law jurisdiction

¹Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand, 28 November 2008 .

What are the benefits of forming a relationship with the Investment Store?

There are a number of ways that boutique or specialist overseas managers can access the New Zealand Market. This includes establishing a sales team or forging a strategic alliance with a large distribution business such as bank or an insurance company. Whilst offering some benefits, they can also prove expensive and limit a manager's ability to grow and gain access the wider market.

We believe that we offer our partnering managers a great opportunity to grow and diversify their funds under management. In particular, we offer:

• An in-depth understanding of the planning and investment industry in NZ
• A clear view as to the likely trends and growth opportunities
• Good relationships with key gatekeepers and advisers in the target market(s)
• A high degree of experience in distributing funds to the NZ market
• Facilitation of advice regarding the best way to "offer" the product in New Zealand
• A number of integral services including the development of a tailored sales plan for each partner, a focus on quality execution of business development activities and a commitment to service standards and ongoing communication
• A cost efficient and growth aligned way for fund manager partners to access and grow their business in NZ
• A focus on integrity (ensuring that there exists little if any conflict between managers that we work with).

What do we look for in a fund manager relationship?

The Investment Store is interested in working with high quality investment managers. Our criteria are as follows:

• Managers will have a demonstrable track record of generating strong returns in their area of expertise. For new funds, the fund manager(s) must have a successful track record in managing previous and relevant funds
• Managers will be highly regarded in their field of expertise. This may take the form of strong independent research ratings and awards or a more general recognition within the industry of being a quality manager
• They will have a clear, demonstrable and transparent process or approach to investing
• Managers will be committed to growing their business in the New Zealand market
• They will be committed to providing additional marketing and educational support to professional advisers.
• Managers will have a pricing structure that offers "value for money" to investors
• They will have strong business ethics and integrity
• They are able to deliver an offer that complies with all aspects of New Zealand securities and general law
• They are able to provide quality and regular reports and articles on their funds and areas of expertise
• Their interests are closely aligned to those of their investors - they are most likely co-investors or are incentivised to generate strong performance
• There is likely to be significant demand for the Manager's product(s).