Malaysia, Singapore, 14 September 2006 – The CIMB Group (CIMB) and Singapore Exchange Limited (SGX) today announced that the FTSE/ASEAN 40 Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) will be listed on SGX on Thursday, 21 September 2006.

The FTSE/ASEAN 40 ETF is the world’s first ASEAN ETF that offers investors a convenient way to access the growing ASEAN economies. This fund is designed to closely track the FTSE/ASEAN 40 Index, which comprises the 40 top stocks by market capitalisation and adjusted for free-float across Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. The ETF will be managed by CIMB-GK Securities Pte Ltd with CIMB Principal Asset Management Berhad as the sub-manager. The fund advisor is Barclays Global Investors and the market maker is Citigroup.

“CIMB’s FTSE/ASEAN 40 ETF is important capital markets validation of ASEAN’s initiative to promote an ASEAN asset class. It gives international investors instantly diversified, cost-efficient exposure to the top 40 securities across five major ASEAN nations,” according to Dato’ Nazir Razak, Group Chief Executive of CIMB.

“CIMB was able to formulate a hassle-free investment solution to allow international retail and institutional investors to prosper from ASEAN’s growth. The benchmark index, FTSE/ASEAN 40, provided Total Returns of 110.61% over the last 5-year period and 22.70% returns over the last 12-month period. The combined GDP of the ASEAN-5 nations accounts for 91% of ASEAN GDP,” Dato’ Nazir added.

Mr Hsieh Fu Hua, CEO of SGX said, “The listing of the FTSE/ASEAN 40 ETF demonstrates greater regional collaboration among the five exchanges and authorities. This serves to promote the ASEAN financial markets collectively to attract more investments into the region.”

Said Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Second Finance Minister for Malaysia: “We, the Finance Ministers for ASEAN, are encouraged that our efforts to promote ASEAN as an asset class have come to fruition with the launch of products such as the FTSE/ASEAN 40 ETF. I would like to commend CIMB for leading this initiative and for taking an increasingly regional perspective in developing their business. The ASEAN Finance Ministers will continue to play our part, in collaboration with leading private sector players, such as CIMB and FTSE, to promote the proliferation of products and growth of funds investing in ASEAN.”

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Second Minister for Finance for Singapore added, “The FTSE/ASEAN 40 ETF is a significant step forward. It brings a new way in which international investors can participate in the growth of the ASEAN economies. We hope to see more collaborative initiatives that increase ASEAN's visibility to international investors, and add further depth to our markets."

For more product information, please visit CIMB website at http://etf.cimb-gk.com

For more information, please contact:

CIMB:
Tengku Zarina Binti Tengku Ibrahim
Tel: (603) 2084 8950
Email : tzarina.ibrahim@cimb.com

SGX:
Magdalyn Liew
Tel: (65) 6236 8157
Email : magdalynliew@sgx.com

About CIMB-Principal Asset Management Berhad
CIMB-Principal Asset Management is a premier, Malaysia-based asset management company with USD1.9 billion in assets under management as at 31 August 2006. CIMBPrincipal’s team of dedicated investment professionals offers expertise in equities, fixed income, cash, and Shariah compliant fund management. One of the largest asset management companies in Malaysia, CIMB-Principal manufactures and distributes a comprehensive range of unit trust funds, and manages customized portfolio mandates for corporations and institutions. CIMB-Principal is a 60% subsidiary of CIMB Berhad and 40% subsidiary of Principal Financial Group Inc (USA). For more information, visit www.cimb-principal.com.my.

About Singapore Exchange Limited (SGX)
Singapore Exchange Limited (SGX) is Asia-Pacific's first demutualised and integrated securities and derivatives exchange. SGX was inaugurated on 1 December 1999, following the merger of two established and well-respected financial institutions - the Stock Exchange of Singapore (SES) and the Singapore International Monetary Exchange (SIMEX). On 23 November 2000, SGX became the first exchange in Asia- Pacific to be listed via a public offer and a private placement. Listed on its own bourse, the SGX stock is a component of benchmark indices such as the MSCI Singapore Free Index and the Straits Times Index. For more information, please visit SGX website: www.sgx.com.