Coalition of Collective Trust Funds Announces Leadership Team

Coalition Provides Vehicle for Industry Participants to Address Regulatory and Business Issues of Common Interest and Develop Industry Best Practices

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The Coalition of Collective Trust Funds

Apr 10, 2012, 10:00 ET

NEW YORK, April 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Coalition of Collective Trust Funds is pleased to announce its 2012-2013 Executive Leadership team. Kevin Lyman, of Invesco, will serve as the Chairman of the Coalition through the end of 2013. The Coalition's Executive Steering Committee will be comprised of Scott Milne of Vanguard; John Munch of SEI and Joyce Smith of Prudential.

The Coalition, which includes a diverse group of collective trust fund sponsors and money managers, was formed earlier this year to monitor and help shape relevant regulatory developments. It also serves as a forum for members to discuss issues of common interest and develop industry best practices. The Coalition is the first and only industry group devoted exclusively to issues relating to collective trust funds.

With approximately $1.6 trillion in assets under management (half of it in defined benefit plans and the rest in 401(k) and other defined contribution accounts), collective trust funds (sometimes known as collective investment funds) represent an important and rapidly growing sector of the retirement plan investment marketplace. At one time overshadowed by mutual funds, collective trust funds are attracting increasing attention by plan sponsors and consultants as a cost-effective and flexible investment vehicle. Like mutual funds, collective trust funds offer a full spectrum of investment strategies, daily fund pricing and electronic trading.

"We are excited to be working with the Coalition, its executive leadership team and its member companies," said Clifford Kirsch, Partner with Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan LLP, which serves as counsel to the Coalition. "We are particularly looking forward to assisting the Coalition advance its goal of assisting legal and compliance personnel and their business colleagues in analyzing and navigating the increasing number of regulatory and business issues that impact collective trust fund activities."

Kevin Lyman added: "I am delighted to serve as Chairman for the Coalition. This is an exciting time in the collective trust fund world as more and more investors are becoming aware of the many advantages offered by this investment vehicle. At the same time, the regulatory landscape is changing rapidly and so it is essential for fund sponsors and service providers to keep abreast of developments and develop sensible, consensus-based approaches to issues of common interest."

Further information about the Coalition, including how to become a member, may be obtained through its Web site: www.CTFCoalition.com. The website contains information about the Coalition's upcoming teleconferences and also information about the Coalition's membership.

For further information please contact Cliff Kirsch at 212-389-5052 or [email protected]; Mark Smith at 202-383-0221 or [email protected] or Kevin Lyman at 404-439-4575.

About The Coalition of Collective Trust Funds:

The Coalition of Collective Trust Funds is a group of collective trust fund sponsors and money managers. The Coalition was formed in 2012 to monitor and help shape relevant regulatory developments, as well as to provide a forum for members to discuss issues of common interest and develop industry best practices. The Coalition is the first and only industry group devoted exclusively to issues relating to collective trust funds. Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan LLP serves as counsel to the Coalition and actively reports to Coalition members regarding relevant regulatory (including Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of Labor and Securities and Exchange Commission) developments of interest to Coalition members. The Coalition also provides an opportunity for members to identify and comment on regulatory proposals impacting collective trust funds.

SOURCE The Coalition of Collective Trust Funds