Barclays Capital and HFR Asset Management Announce Managed Accounts Relationship

New York, NY, May 17, 2011 – Barclays Capital and HFR Asset Management, LLC, (“HFR”) today announced the launch of a managed accounts relationship. The combined effort brings together HFR Group’s market leading managed account platform and client tools with Barclays Capital’s extensive distribution, structuring and fund-linked product expertise.

Under the arrangement, Barclays Capital will be able to offer its clients risk management and financing solutions linked to managed accounts on the HFR platform through a variety of bespoke delivery mechanisms including UCITS funds, certificates, notes, swaps and unit trusts. With more than 1,000 hedge fund strategies available, the HFR platform provides access to leading hedge fund managers while mitigating some of the risks associated with direct investing. The agreement builds on Barclays’ expertise in alternative investments and the services it provides to asset managers across securities, derivatives and structured solutions.

“As investors increasingly focus on the importance of transparency and liquidity, this relationship with HFR enables us to offer customized solutions to institutional investors with the full benefits of one of the leading platforms,” said Art Mbanefo, Head of Equities and Funds Structured Markets. “By combining our structuring expertise and client relationships with HFR’s robust infrastructure and industry benchmarks, we are able to offer a broad range of managed account solutions.”

HFR’s industry-leading platform offers clients the ability to segregate assets, access daily independent pricing and review manager due diligence. The platform also provides extensive reporting across portfolio and risk management as well as the ability to regularly monitor investments. Through the Hedge Fund Research database, the company tracks more than 6600 funds and provides more than 100 hedge fund indices which are used as benchmarks throughout the industry.

“HFR has experienced considerable growth given the demand for transparency and liquidity offered by managed accounts. The launch of this new initiative is a natural extension of our existing, long standing relationship with Barclays Capital. We are delighted to offer Barclays Capital’s clients the advantages of managed accounts,” said Joe Nicholas, HFR founder.

Barclays Capital is a global leader in structured investments. The firm was recognized as the Most Innovative Bank for Retail Structured Products by The Banker magazine in October 2010, and Structured Products magazine named the firm Equity Derivatives House of the Year in November 2010. Barclays Capital has over 90 ETNs listed globally, more than any other investment bank, and is the leading ETN provider in the US with approximately 60% market share and US$10bn assets under management (Bloomberg, Q1 2011).

Contact:
Mark Lane
+1 212 412 1413
mark.lane@barclayscapital.com

About Barclays Capital

Barclays Capital is the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC. With a distinctive business model, Barclays Capital provides large corporate, government and institutional clients with a full spectrum of solutions to their strategic advisory, financing and risk management needs. Barclays Capital has offices around the world, employs 25,000 people and has the global reach, advisory services and distribution power to meet the needs of issuers and investors worldwide.

About HRF

The HFR companies specialize in alternative investments, providing investment products and advisory and research services. HFR Group includes HFR Asset Management, L.L.C., an SEC Registered Investment Adviser based in Chicago, with offices in London and Tokyo, specializing in fund of funds management, index funds management, product structuring, trading manager selection and risk management; and Hedge Fund Research, Inc., the industry's leading supplier of data and research on hedge funds, specializing in the construction and management of hedge fund indices.