GA GROUP (ASIA) Limited Acquires 100% Of New Zealand-Based GA Group Limited

Douglas, Isle of Man, Mar 14, 2011 AEST (ABN Newswire) - GA GROUP - the global financial services organisation held by GA GROUP (ASIA) Limited in the Isle of Man - today announced it would acquire 100 percent of the business and assets of New Zealand domiciled GA Group Limited as part of a focused phase of international expansion.

To be regionally headquartered in Kuala Lumpur - with consorts in Auckland, Bangkok, Brisbane, Hong Kong, London, Singapore and Sydney - GA GROUP will focus primarily on established and emerging markets throughout the Asia Pacific region, with a particular focus on China as the world's second largest economy.

Tim Munro-Keene has been appointed Executive Chair of GA GROUP, bringing almost 20 years international investment and private banking sector expertise and leadership to the organisation. For the past decade, Mr. Munro-Keene held the position of Group CEO for a leading China focused non-bank financial institution and as a Director of the Board was responsible for all strategic, regulatory, governance and marketing functions of the firm.

"This marks the start of an energetic expansion phase for GA GROUP, our aim is to provide a focal point for investment, capital growth and the continual development of diversified private equity portfolios," said Tim Munro-Keene, Executive Chair, GA GROUP.

"We remain committed to New Zealand's standing as a world-class financial centre. Now, GA GROUP can lead the way in the development of some of the world's most dynamic financial products throughout the Asia-Pacific region."

GA GROUP will deliver financial services functionality through nine specialist cohorts designed to partner institutional, corporate and private clients to optimise their positions, needs and aspirations. These include private client services; investment product development; asset management; advisory services; capital raisings and partnerships; direct and managed investment; innovative risk-managed offerings; specialist sector funds; and debt restructuring and leverage.

"Our relationships extend across cultural and national boundaries, and our solutions will be managed internationally," continued Munro-Keene.

"We have hand-picked a management team to head up each of these specialist cohorts, based on experience and expertise in Asian financial markets."

Board director and leadership team appointments will be announced in the coming weeks.

GA GROUP will, in the months ahead, reveal strategic joint and special purpose enterprise ventures across asset management licences; regulated funds management; emerging market plays; blue chip operating leases; targeted lending licences; insurance product distribution; socially responsible finance for climate change; asset holding; Australia, New Zealand and global fiduciary structures and services; and specialist New Zealand offshore trust services.

"This acquisition greatly enhances our position at the heart of the world's most dynamic new economies, connecting Asia to Europe and North America all the while providing a superior platform to generate confidence in New Zealand's economic future."

Contact

Kelly-Anne Smith Corporate Communications GA GROUP Email: k.smith@gagroup.co http://www.gagroup.co