Och-Ziff Capital Management Group and Bank of America Merrill Lynch Launch the Och-Ziff European Multi-Strategy UCITS Fund

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Andrew Todd, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, 44.20.7995.4265

andrew.todd@baml.com

LONDON – Och-Ziff Capital Management Group (Och-Ziff) and Bank of America Merrill Lynch today announce the launch of the Och-Ziff European Multi-Strategy UCITS Fund (Fund), offering access to Och-Ziff’s European investment expertise, as part of Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s UCITS III-compliant fund platform, Merrill Lynch Investment Solutions (MLIS).

 

The investment objective of the Och-Ziff European Multi-Strategy UCITS Fund is to achieve consistent, absolute returns with low volatility, primarily by seeking to exploit pricing inefficiencies in equity and debt securities of European companies.

 

The Fund, employing a team-driven investment process led by Och-Ziff’s Head of European Investments, Michael L. Cohen, pursues a diversified investment approach across Long/Short Equity Special Situations, Merger Arbitrage, Convertible/Derivative Arbitrage and Credit strategies.

 

Och-Ziff has been appointed as the investment manager to the Fund with Merrill Lynch International acting as sponsor.

 

Daniel S. Och, founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Och-Ziff, noted: "We are pleased to extend investors access to our investment capabilities and talented investment team in Europe through a UCITS III-compliant fund. The Merrill Lynch Investment Solutions - Och-Ziff European Multi-Strategy UCITS Fund further enhances the investment solutions and products we offer our investors."

 

Mike Stewart, co-head of Global Equities at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, commented: “Och-Ziff Capital Management Group is one of the leading global institutional investment management firms and we look forward to partnering with them on our UCITS platform. Och-Ziff has a strong thirteen-year history of investing in Europe and will further offer our investors investing opportunities with a multi- strategy approach.”

 

The Merrill Lynch Investment Solutions - Och-Ziff European Multi-Strategy UCITS Fund is a sub-fund of MLIS, a regulated, Luxembourg onshore vehicle, with protection for investors through the UCITS framework of risk, diversification, counterparty exposure, liquidity and eligible asset constraints. Processes relating to the running of the Fund, including matters such as risk management, oversight and protection of assets, have been approved by the Luxembourg regulator.

 

The Fund is available for sale to institutional and retail investors in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands with a minimum investment size for the retail share classes of US$1,000. Passporting to additional jurisdictions is currently in progress. The MLIS funds are not for sale to U.S. persons.

 

MLIS was recently awarded best UCITS platform at the prestigious European Fund of Hedge Funds Award 2010.

 

 

About Bank of America Merrill Lynch:

Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 57 million consumer and small business relationships with approximately 5,900 retail banking offices and approximately 18,000 ATMs and award-winning online banking with 29 million active users. Bank of America is among the world's leading wealth management companies and is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations in more than 40 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch is the marketing name for the global banking and global markets businesses of Bank of America Corporation. Lending, derivatives, and other commercial banking activities are performed globally by banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A., member FDIC. Securities, strategic advisory, and other investment banking activities are performed globally by investment banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation ("Investment Banking Affiliates"), including, in the United States, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, which is a registered broker-dealer and a member of FINRA and SIPC, and, in other jurisdictions, locally registered entities. Investment products offered by Investment Banking Affiliates: Are Not FDIC Insured * May Lose Value * Are Not Bank Guaranteed.

www.baml.com

 

About Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC:

Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC is one of the world's largest institutional alternative asset managers with offices in New York, London, Hong Kong, Mumbai and Beijing. Och-Ziff's funds seek to deliver consistent, positive, risk-adjusted returns throughout market cycles, with a strong focus on capital preservation. Och- Ziff's multi-strategy approach combines global investment strategies, including convertible and derivative arbitrage, credit, long/short equity special situations, merger arbitrage, private investments and structured credit.

 

Important Notice

This press release does not constitute an offer of securities or a recommendation to enter into any transaction. Shares in the Fund may not be offered or sold in the United States and will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Investment in the Fund is not intended to be a complete investment programme for any investor. A prospective investor should appreciate that the value of investments and their income can go down as well as up. Investors may not get back the full amount invested. If you have any doubt about the suitability of investments for you, you should consult your financial advisor. Investment in the Fund is intended for experienced investors who are able to understand and accept the risks involved, and potentially to sustain a loss.