AEGON Global Opportunities Fund Seeks Foundation Investors

LONDON, March 11, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- AEGON Asset Management is offering 'Foundation' investors in its AEGON Global Opportunities Fund a discount on its annual management charge for two years.*

The incentive which reduces the annual management charge to 0.3%, applies to initial or 'Foundation' investors in the newly launched fund, while its assets under management are less than EUR150 million.

The AEGON Global Opportunities Fund aims to provide institutional and professional retail investors with competitive absolute returns from a diversified global portfolio. Managed by Olaf van den Heuvel, the fund has a discretionary global macro strategy investing in derivative and non derivative assets.

Prior to launching the AEGON Global Opportunities Fund, Van den Heuvel has successfully deployed a global macro strategy on behalf of AEGON's insured funds achieving annual returns of 67.8% in 2009, 57.4% in 2008 and 19.4% in 2007 (please note the risk mandate and asset mix in the insured fund differs from the UCITS fund).**

The aim of the 'Foundation' incentive is to build momentum in the fund which was launched at the beginning of the year. To qualify for 'Foundation' status investors must invest in the fund before its assets under management reach EUR150m. Multiple investments by the same investor prior to the fund reaching EUR150m will qualify for the scheme, but investments made after it reaches EUR150m will not. (See full details below*).

The AEGON Global Opportunities Fund is a Dublin registered UCITS III fund, which is available to investors in Ireland, the Netherlands, the UK and going forward across Europe.

Its launch marked the integration of AEGON's asset management businesses across the world, and this fund brings together the investment management expertise of the teams in the Netherlands and the UK.

AEGON Asset Management head of European distribution Martin Harris says: 'Olaf and his team have a proven ability in implementing discretionary global macro strategies. The AEGON Global Opportunities Fund now offers this expertise to the wider market with the added incentive of an additional 70% discount on the annual management charge for initial investors.

About AEGON Asset Management

AEGON Asset Management takes an active approach to managing investments, helping retail and institutional clients to maximize available investment opportunities and realize their financial objectives. As part of AEGON, AEGON Asset Management has businesses in over twenty countries in Europe, the Americas and Asia. AEGON Asset Management manages approximately EUR 200 billion on behalf of individual investors, financial institutions, pension funds and insurance companies around the world. The AEGON Asset Management businesses employ over 1,300 staff worldwide.

    Fund Facts

    AEGON Global Opportunities Fund
    Dublin registered VCIC classified as UCITS III
    Managed by Olaf van den Heuvel
    Benchmarked against three month Euribor
    Denominated in Euro and UK Sterling share classes
    Minimum investment is EUR100,000
    Standard fee will be 1% annual management charge
    Performance fee will be 20% of performance above the three month Euribor

Notes to Editors:

* Only those investors who invest in the fund prior to the Fund's AUM reaching 150m Euros shall qualify for the incentive. All investments made after the Fund reaches 150m Euro shall not qualify for the incentive. In addition, the following scenarios will be handled as set out below:

Qualifying Investments that are partially redeemed - the remaining investment in the fund shall continue to qualify for the full discount for the remainder of the 2 year period;

Investors that elect to take the discount in the form of additional shares in the fund - the additional shares in the fund shall qualify for the full discount provided they are credited to the investor's account before the fund reaches 150m Euros;

Investors who make multiple investments that qualify for the discount - each investment will qualify and have a unique two year life.

The incentive is paid to the investor either in cash or additional units or shares.

**Source: AEGON Asset Management as at 31 January 2010.

This document is not intended for retail distribution and is directed only at investment professionals. It should not be distributed to, or relied upon by, private investors.

The information in this presentation is based on our understanding of the current and historical position of the markets. The views expressed should not be interpreted as a recommendation or advice. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise and is not guaranteed.

AEGON Investment Company (Ireland) plc is an umbrella type open-ended investment company with variable capital registered in the Republic of Ireland (no: 442106) registered office at 25-28 North Wall Quay, International Financial Services Centre, Dublin 1. AEGON Investment Company (Ireland) plc is regulated by the Financial Regulator.

AEGON Asset Management includes AEGON Asset Management UK plc (no: 113505) and AEGON Investment Management UK ltd (no: 212159). AEGON Asset Management UK plc is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, (FSA reference no: 144267). AEGON Asset Management is the Investment Manager and Marketing Agent for AEGON Investment Company (Ireland) plc. AEGON Investment Management UK ltd is an appointed representative of Scottish Equitable plc, an AEGON company, whose registered office is 1 Lochside Crescent, Edinburgh Park, Edinburgh, EH12 9SE (FSA Reference no: 165548).

AEGON Investment Management UK ltd provides investment management services to AEGON, which provides pooled funds life and pension contracts.

    Contact information
    Media relations: Adrian Cammidge
    +44(0)207-200-2510
    [email protected]

    This press release is also available on http://www.aegonam.co.uk.

SOURCE AEGON Asset Management