RHB Sakura is now RHB Investment Bank

KUALA LUMPUR, 13 October 2006: RHB Sakura Merchant Bankers Bhd (“RHB Sakura”) has been renamed RHB Investment Bank Bhd (“RHB Investment Bank”) with effect from 10 October 2006.

The move is in line with the Guidelines on Investment Banks issued jointly by Bank Negara Malaysia and the Securities Commission on 1 July 2005 that specifies requirements and processes for the transformation of merchant banks into investment banks as well as the regulatory framework within which these banks would operate.

Under this initiative, RHB Sakura will merge with two of its subsidiaries – RHB Securities Sdn Bhd and RHB Futures Sdn Bhd – to form RHB Investment Bank. RHB Asset Management Sdn Bhd, RHB Unit Trust Management Bhd and RHB Research Institute Sdn Bhd will remain subsidiaries of RHB Investment Bank.

In a statement issued today, RHB Investment Bank also announced that its brand name will now be RHB INVESTBANK.