For Immediate Release: Monday 11 December 2000

AUTIF STEPS UP FREE FUND DATA SERVICES ON ITS PUBLIC WEBSITE

AUTIF’s web site already contains static data on authorised unit trusts and open-ended investment companies and links to most of its member companies, however with effect from 15 January 2001, there will be a number of new features:

• Daily prices
• Total expense ratios
• Types of unit / share
• Names of fund managers

Anne McMeehan, Director of Communications commented:

"The AUTIF website has grown hugely over the last three years and our plans for a substantial upgrade are just starting to fall into place. The next three months will see significant changes in terms of ease of navigation around the site and the degree of detailed information on offer."

She continued:

"Most important is the need to have up-to-date and accurate information of a standard format, so that investors and their advisers are in a better position to compare like with like. This is especially true in terms of yields and total expense ratios."

DAILY PRICES - Since early September the Association of Unit Trusts and Investment Funds (AUTIF) has been working closely with TrustNet to arrange for daily prices for all authorised unit trusts and open-ended investment companies to appear on the AUTIF web site.

FUND AND COMPANY DATA - the price information of the 1,906 funds will be linked to the ‘static’ information held for each fund and management company details.UP TO

DATE INFORMATION - On 1 December member companies were asked to start preparing their AUTIF fund information returns. These are to be accurate as at 31 December 2000. This year member companies were asked to supply additional information on total expense ratios and the types of units/shares available i.e. income / accumulation.

FUND MANAGERS - Standard & Poors Fund Services has also agreed wherever possible, to supply the names of the specific fund managers running each portfolio. It is intended that further specialist fund data, likely to be of particular interest to professional advisers, will be made available in the first quarter of 2001.

AUTIF’s public information brochures and leaflets will still be available, but the obvious advantage of a web site is that it can be updated more easily and more frequently. It is planned that web site data will be updated quarterly. It will be the responsibility of member companies to ensure that their data is made available to AUTIF for inclusion on a timely basis.

For further information please contact:

Anne McMeehan, Director of Communications, AUTIF - +44 (0)20 7831 0898
Clare Arber, PR Manager, AUTIF - +44 (0)20 7831 0898