First American Fund Services Inc. to serve the fund raising needs of both alternative and traditional investment fund managers

Decibel Marketing, New York, N.Y., Jan. 23, 2003 - Charles Currie, formerly of Asset Management Services, and Michael Leverone, formerly of Delaware Investment Advisors, announced today the formation of their company, First American Fund Services, Inc. First American Fund Services is a professional fund marketing firm that will provide institutional fund raising services for investment management firms seeking to raise assets in the institutional and family office segments.

First American Fund Services offers a wide range of client benefits for both the manager and the investor. By enabling direct contact with the end investor, First American Fund Services creates a critical path to successful fund raising by targeting public and private pension funds, endowments, foundations, family offices, insurance companies, fund of funds and consultants. The combined expertise of Mr. Currie and Mr. Leverone provides the manager and investor an in-depth market knowledge, access to over 6000 investor contacts gathered over more than a decade of active fund marketing, and insight into alternative strategies and traditional fund products.

For the fund manager, First American Fund Services will increase investor awareness of a fund's capabilities; provide cost effective alternatives to hiring in-house marketing staff; and ramp-up a firm's asset-gathering efforts and ability to finalize fund raising. Through a comprehensive understanding of a manager's unique investment process and competitive strengths, First American Fund Services translates a manager's investment insights into a unique selling message which best positions the manager and the investment product in the current market environment.

The benefits First American Fund Services can provide the individual investor include the early introduction to undiscovered and carefully selected manager talent; acting as a resource for both traditional and alternative investments; and offering objective analysis of manager style and capabilities.

"Our combined investment experience and industry relationships, backed up by our advanced contact database, will allow us to quickly identify and access the appropriate investors for our manager clients", commented Mr. Currie. Adds Mr. Leverone, "A professional third-party marketing firm has become the preferred vehicle for raising assets for small and medium-sized investment managers faced with the rising cost and liabilities of hiring in-house and largely unproven sales personnel."

For more information about First American Fund Services please contact:

First American Fund Services
Charles Currie
Michael Leverone
111 John St., Suite 2600
New York, NY 10038

Phone: (212) 385-0786
Fax: (212) 385-9483