Deals & People July 10, 2008

AIM Global Value Fund Gets New Leadership, Name

Invesco Aim announced today a new team approach for the AIM Global Value Fund.
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According to the firm, a team of 13 investment professionals from Invesco Global Asset Management (N.A.), Inc., will provide new management leadership for the fund. The fund’s new investment team, which takes over management responsibility immediately, includes portfolio managers Ingrid Baker, W. Lindsay Davidson, Michele Garren, Erik Granade, and Kent Starke. The five portfolio managers named to the fund have an average of 24 years of investment experience.

The new team replaces portfolio manager Glen Hilton, who has left the firm.

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“We welcome the opportunity to provide fund shareholders with access to a much larger and more experienced group of portfolio managers and investment professionals at Invesco who take a team approach to managing global equity portfolios,” said Phil Taylor, senior managing director and head of Invesco’s North American retail asset management business, including Invesco Aim.

Decisions regarding U.S. and foreign stock selections in the fund’s portfolio are part of an integrated and disciplined process that uses a committee structure, according to the firm.

In addition, effective July 24, the fund’s name will change to AIM Global Core Equity Fund to better reflect the fund’s positioning in the global core space.

Products July 10, 2008

vWise Launches 401(k) Video-Based Engagement System

vWise Inc. today announced the general availability of SmartPlan 401, a new interactive video-based engagement system.
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According to the Aliso Viejo, California-based firm, SmartPlan401 prompts greater participation in company-sponsored investment plans, such as 401(k)s, and increased investment by each plan participant.

“We are very excited at the results so far. New hires informed of the availability of SmartPlan 401 are flocking to it, and our analytics show they are really engaging with it. They are watching short video presentations about their plan, taking a risk profile questionnaire, and even choosing their plan investments and contributions,” said Dona Helle, Manager, Retirement Plan Administration, Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., in the announcement.

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“Most employees don’t know how-or why-to invest in a 401(k). And they don’t read the materials designed to explain it. Now companies can provide the critical 401(k) investment information employees need, in a format they will actually use, with SmartPlan 401,” commented vWise President Tony Mingo.

Designed to help average investors better understand their 401(k) plans, SmartPlan 401 provides the benefits of a personal financial professional, without the expense, according to a press release. vWise said that by combining a video-based presentation of detailed financial information with an interactive application that prompts users to make informed investment decisions, SmartPlan401 can help plan sponsors increase enrollment, raise participant contribution levels, migrate participants out of “default’ funds, reduce customer support costs, and improve customer loyalty.

vWise is a developer of rich-media internet applications based upon its E3 (that’s E-Cubed) architecture.

More information is available at www.vwise.com or by contacting Gregory Newman, vice president, operations/COO at 949.233.7588

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