BNP Paribas Expands Its Hedge Fund Administration Services

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Jan 26, 2012) - BNP today announced the roll-out of a major investment program to expand its hedge fund and fund of hedge fund administration services, for both UCITs and offshore funds.

Placing transparency, market exposure, liquidity and control at the heart of its hedge fund administration platform, the bank's program tailors its service to more closely match the key requirements of both start-up and established funds.

Building on existing fund accounting, performance and risk monitoring capabilities, BNP Paribas' investment program enables it to support hedge fund managers using all current strategies, including those employing high volume trading.

The program also supports the delivery of BNP Paribas' client focused market intelligence, which utilizes the bank's position at the forefront of regulatory change to keep its clients up-to-date on, and ready to take advantage of market evolution.

BNP Paribas' program introduces:

• Improved transparency through enhanced tri-party reconciliations between fund, administrator, counterparties and prime brokers
• Better control and a flexible platform, capable of automatically processing a broad range of over the counter instruments, combined with collateral management, independent valuation and asset protection structures
• Comprehensive fund reporting including daily profit and loss, counterparty and asset exposure risk, portfolio liquidity and FAS 157 compliant daily asset valuations
• High quality online reporting tools making it easier for investors to access fund data

Chris Adams, recently appointed Head of Hedge Fund Solutions at BNP Paribas Securities Services, said: "As the hedge fund industry becomes more institutional-investor focused, hedge fund managers' administration requirements will continue to evolve.

"This investment program, now live, was conceived specifically to meet these requirements by taking a more menu-driven approach -- helping managers launch funds quickly, measure counterparty exposure and exert greater control," continued Adams, who first joined the bank in 2006.

"It is part of our ongoing commitment towards positioning ourselves as the bank of choice for asset managers," Adams concluded.

About BNP Paribas

BNP Paribas (www.bnpparibas.com) is one of the best rated banks in the world*. The Group has a presence in more than 80 countries and more than 200,000 employees, including more than 160,000 in Europe. It ranks highly in its three core activities: Retail Banking, Investment Solutions and Corporate & Investment Banking. In Europe, the Group has four domestic markets (Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg) and BNP Paribas Personal Finance is the leader in consumer lending. BNP Paribas is rolling out its integrated retail banking model across the Europe-Mediterranean zone and boasts a large network in the western part of the United States. In its Corporate & Investment Banking and Investment Solutions activities, BNP Paribas also enjoys top positions in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas and solid and fast-growing businesses in Asia.

*Rated AA- by Standard & Poor's.

About BNP Paribas Securities Services

BNP Paribas Securities Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the BNP Paribas Group, is a leading global custodian and securities services provider backed by a strong universal bank (rated AA- by Standard and Poor's). It provides integrated solutions to all participants in the investment cycle including the buy-side, sell-side, corporates and issuers.

The bank has a local presence in 32 countries across five continents, effecting global coverage of more than 100 markets. It partners with clients to help overcome complexity, while offering a one-stop shop for all asset classes, both onshore and offshore, around the world.

Key figures as at 30 September 2011: USD 6,362 billion of assets under custody, USD 1,128 billion of assets under administration, more than 6,500 administered funds and 7200 employees.

BNP Paribas Securities Services is a société en commandite par actions (partnership limited by shares) incorporated in France, with limited partners with limited liability and one general partner with unlimited liability, with its registered office at 3, rue d'Antin - 75002 PARIS - Paris Trade Register B552 108 011 RCS.

BNP Paribas Securities Services is authorised and supervised by the Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel (ACP) and by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF). BNP Paribas Securities Services London branch is authorised by and subject to limited regulation by the Financial Services Authority for the conduct of its investment business in the United Kingdom; details on the extent of our regulation by the Financial Services Authority are available from us on request. BNP Paribas Securities Services London Branch is also a member of the London Stock Exchange. BNP Paribas Trust Corporation UK Limited and Investment Fund Services Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.BNP Paribas Securities Services, London Branch is registered in England and Wales under No. FC023666.

The services described in this document, if offered in the U.S., are offered through BNP Paribas and its subsidiaries and its affiliates. Securities products are offered through BNP Paribas Securities Corp., a subsidiary of BNP Paribas, a broker-dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and a member of SIPC, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, New York Stock Exchange and other principal exchanges.