Harcourt Partners SA has changed its name to Peak Partners SA as of 1 January 2006 and is preparing to launch a new fund run by Nikhil JPARA_BREAK_SENTINEL_9f8e7d6c

Harcourt Partners SA has changed its name to Peak Partners SA as of 1 January 2006 and is preparing to launch a new fund run by Nikhil Jhangiani.

The Geneva-based firm stated: 'This name change reflects the significant enhancement of our own research capabilities. Thanks to the recruitment of highly trained professionals, Peak Partners SA will reinforce its existing line and develop a range of new funds.'

At the same time, Peak Partners SA will continue to allow its long term
partner, Harcourt Investment Consulting AG, to manage some of its products.

The following is a list of the key people who have joined Peak Partners: Nikhil Jhangiani, Administrator and Member of the Investment Committee. Dominique Grandchamp, Senior Analyst, in charge of quantitative analysis and risk management, and Thierry Fragnière, Operations Manager

In addition, Ernesto Prado will join the company in April, 2006 as the company's CIO and Member of the Investment Committee.

Prado started his career in New York at Serfin Securities, the third largest Latin
American broker. Prado then joined Fidelity Investments in Boston as a trader active in rebalancing large portfolios and later on moved to Salomon Brothers in New York and London where he traded fixed income derivatives and fixed income arbitrage strategies. In 1998, he successfully restructured Salomon's LTCM's portfolio in extremely volatile conditions.

In 2002, he joined Harcourt Investment Consulting AG as an executive director, member of the extended management team responsible for all Fixed Income and Macro portfolios. He held this position until this month when he joined Peak Partners as Chief Investment Officer and Member of the Investment
Committee.

By strengthening its own research team, Peak Partners SA aims to enhance its ability to pursue goal of offering its institutional client base, tailor made alternative solutions of 'above-industry-standards'.

New fund launch

Over the first quarter of 2006, Peak Partners SA will launch Mont Blanc Dynamic
Management, a new fund managed by Nikhil Jhangiani using a proprietary allocation process on a managed accounts platform.

Jhangiani has more than ten years experience in the alternative investment industry. He used to be Chief Alternative Investment Officer (CAIO) at Ferrier
Lullin & Cie SA (now part of Julius Bär). Prior to that, Nikhil was a Senior Analyst in hedge fund research at Union Bancaire Privée (UBP). He holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Cornell University, New York and a Master's Degree from IUHEI in Geneva.

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