GA GROUP Signs Joint Venture with Malaysia's SEGO Holdings To Form New Zealand Based GA SEGO Limited

Kuala Lumpur, Mar 21, 2011 (ABN Newswire) - GA GROUP - the global financial services organisation held by GA GROUP (ASIA) Limited in the Isle of Man - today announced it has signed a Joint Venture agreement with SEGO HOLDINGS (NZ) Ltd - a Malaysian backed, New Zealand investment holding company. GA SEGO Limited will provide an investment vehicle from which partnerships will be developed with key Malaysian and New Zealand enterprises. The company will be headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand. "Our partnership with GA GROUP paves the way for tapping the incredible potential business synergies between Malaysia and New Zealand," said Tan Sri Datuk Hamid Bugo (PhD), Director of SEGO HOLDINGS (NZ) Ltd. Tan Sri Bugo is the former State Secretary of the Malaysian state of Sarawak and is experienced as director of some of Malaysia's most eminent public and private companies including Malaysia Airlines Bhd, Malaysia Employees Provident Fund and Malaysia LNG Sdn Bhd. Current board appointments include Sapura Resources Bhd, SapuraCrest Petroleum Bhd, Superlon Holdings Bhd, Sarawak Consolidated Industries Bhd, Zecon Bhd, X-Fab Silicon Foundaries NV and the multinational conglomerate Sime Darby Bhd. Tan Sri Bugo is a member of the Institute of Integrity, Malaysia and a serving member of the Advisory Committee to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. Tan Sri Bugo has a deep personal affinity with New Zealand; an alumnus of Christchurch's Canterbury University with a Bachelors, then Master of Arts in Economics and later conferred with an Honorary Doctorate in Commerce from Lincoln University. The Joint Venture is GA GROUP's first enterprise signing, aimed at enhancing New Zealand's standing as a world class financial centre and increasing its industry links in the Asia-Pacific region. "With the formation of GA SEGO we mark a significant milestone for GA GROUP," commented Tim Munro-Keene, Executive Chair, GA GROUP. "It is our first major step towards leading the way in the development of some of the world's most dynamic financial products and services for the Asia-Pacific region. In the days ahead GA SEGO will make announcements regarding new business and, in the coming weeks, GA GROUP will reveal further strategic joint and special purpose enterprise ventures. About GA GROUP GA GROUP - the global financial services organisation held by GA GROUP (ASIA) Limited in the Isle of Man – is to be regionally headquartered in Kuala Lumpur with consorts in Auckland, Bangkok, Brisbane, Hong Kong, London, Singapore and Sydney. GA GROUP recently acquired the business and assets of GA Group Limited, New Zealand. GA GROUP delivers financial services functionality through nine specialist cohorts - 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 & leverage. GA GROUP leads 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. GA GROUP partners institutional, corporate and private clients to optimise their positions, needs and aspirations.