January 2006: New Star International is pleased to announce that it has been appointed by Hansard Europe Limited and Hansard International Limited to manage their €30 million European Growth Portfolio.

The New Star European Growth Fund is managed by Richard Pease, one of New Star’s most experienced equity fund managers who has a proven record of alpha generation across a wide variety of market conditions and has delivered top decile returns for investors over the past two decades*.

The Hansard European Growth Fund forms part of Hansard’s range of managed funds available exclusively through the products offered by the Hansard Group. The principal operations of the Hansard Group comprise a number of separately incorporated companies in the Isle of Man and Dublin. The Hansard Group creates and administers a comprehensive range of tax-efficient life assurance and investment products and services to meet the needs of their clients worldwide.

The Group’s international success is demonstrated by the geographical spread of its intermediaries. These intermediaries have entrusted the Group with the support and servicing role in the management of the financial expectations of some 35,000 of their clients in 170 countries.

Philip Goldsmith, International Managing Director for European Sales at New Star, said: “The Hansard Group has an international reputation for the quality and range of their investment fund links. We are delighted to be chosen to manage the Hansard European Growth Fund. Their €30m investment into the Fund is a reflection of their commitment to New Star’s exceptional track record in fund performance. We look forward to working with them and offering investors access to New Star’s outstanding investment talent with star performance potential”.

Owen Donnelly, Manager of Investments and Operations said: “We have witnessed a growing demand from our intermediaries and their clients around the world for high alpha funds. The appointment of New Star to our European Growth Fund meets this need and underlines Hansard’s commitment to providing clients with access to the very best external managers. We are delighted to be able to further extend our relationship with New Star.”

*Richard Pease previously managed the top performing Jupiter European Fund and Jupiter Special Situations which were both top decile under his management. Source: Lipper, sterling, offer to offer, net income reinvested, 01.02.1990 to 01.01.2001

For further information please contact David Findlay, Product Support Manager (+44 1624 688227 or david.findlay@hansard.com) or Paul Harwood, Managing Director, Hansard Administration Services Limited (+44 1624 688047 or paul.harwood@hansard.com