Sponsors

With 80 years experience in fund management, Pioneer Investments (the “Group”) has a history few asset management companies can match. Pioneer Investments flagship fund, Pioneer Fund™, is the third oldest mutual fund in the United States. It has not only weathered volatile market conditions, but has outperformed common stocks, long term bonds, US Treasury Bills and inflation since its foundation in 1928.

Innovation is part of Pioneer heritage. At the forefront of the establishment of the modern US mutual fund industry, Pioneer Investments is an industry leader in the development of this market in Europe. The Group was the first asset management company to launch investment funds in

Italy, first in Germany to register US mutual funds under the Foreign Investments Act, and first to distribute open-ended investment funds in Poland. In 2002 it acquired the Momentum Group, which in keeping with Pioneer Investments’ tradition of innovation, is one of the founders of the funds of hedge funds industry.

In October 2000, UniCredito Italiano S.p.A. (“UCI”) completed its acquisition of the Pioneer Group, Inc., further bolstering the capabilities of its asset management operations in Milan and Dublin. Through the consolidation of these powerful investment houses, Pioneer Investments is ideally positioned to expand its global reach and penetrate deeper into each market

The main activity of Pioneer Investments is the management and distribution of over 180 investment funds and alternative investments. With investment centres in Boston, Dublin, Milan and Singapore it manage assets worth €167 billion as on 31st July 2009. Headquartered in Milan, Pioneer Investments has a presence in over 31 countries around the world.The investment process is active, bottom-up and research-driven, based upon the principles of fundamental investing that Pioneer Investments has used since 1928. The approach enables Pioneer Investments to make informed judgements about how industries and companies have operated in the past, about their future behaviour and about the effects of these variables on stock prices. We add a strong quantitative discipline to this process, which supports the work of fundamental analysts and keeps a close check on the investment risks for its funds.

*Pioneer Investments is a trading name of the Pioneer Global Asset Management S.p.A. group of companies (“PGAM”). PGAM is a wholly owned subsidiary of UniCredit S.p.A

In the Indian banking universe, Bank of Baroda occupies a distinct position. Bank of Baroda is a state-owned bank with more than 100 years of successful existence. The biggest strength is its uninterrupted profit performance and consistent record in dividend payments. The name inspires confidence among its customers. The track record in the market, the sound financials, its contribution to social sectors and even to policy-making has given the Bank a unique place in the market place.

Bank of Baroda’s vast distribution channel of domestic branches (at 2,926 on 31st March, 2009), extension counters and ATMs (at 1,179), and a strong international presence in 25 countries (excluding India) covering regions like U.S.A., U.K., Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific zones has ensured a wide global client base of 36.5 millions.

During the financial year 2008-09, Bank touched a global business level of 3,36,383 crores reflecting a growth of 30% (y- y). The level of net profit at Rs.2,227 crores reflected a robust year-on-year growth of 55.2%. On the front of asset quality management, while the gross NPA declined from 2.47% in 2006-07 to 1.27% in 2008-09, the net NPA declined from 0.60% to 0.31%.

Bank of Baroda enjoyed the CRAR of 14.05% (as per the Basel II). While the ROAA stood at 1.09%, the ROE stood at 19.56% at end March 2009.

For more information on Bank of Baroda click here.