JDC Group AG

Earnings Release • Mar 19, 2008

News Details

Corporate | 19 March 2008 09:03

Aragon subsidiary Fundmatrix AG is on course for expansion – increase in volume of over 40% in 2007

ARAGON AG / Miscellaneous

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++ 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