Korea Investment Holdings and Atlas Capital Management Form K-Atlas Advisors and Launch K-Atlas Fund

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. & SINGAPORE & SEOUL, Korea--(Business Wire)--
Korea Investment Holdings Co., Ltd. ("KIH") and Atlas Capital
Management, LLC announced today the establishment of K-Atlas Advisors
PTE, Ltd., a Singapore-based manager of alternative investment funds,
and the launch of K-Atlas Fund, a Singapore-domiciled alternative
investment fund targeting hedge fund and private equity investments.
The K-Atlas Fund will be funded initially with US$100 million.
Subsequent rounds of capitalization are planned once the initial $100
million is invested.

K-Atlas joint venture partners are KIH, a leading Asian financial
group and Atlas, a leading emerging market alternative investment
manager. K-Atlas intends to create, manage and bring attractive and
differentiated international private equity and hedge fund products to
Korean institutional and high net worth investors.

"K-Atlas is an important strategic initiative for both firms,"
said Deputy Chief Executive Officer of KIH Joowon Kim. "When we
founded KIH five years ago, we made ambitious promises to lead the
Korean asset management market, to develop new revenue and business
models, and to compete with mega-banks and global investment houses in
places where we could develop competitive advantages. K-Atlas is
another step on our path to fulfilling these promises."

Atlas Co-Founder and Co-Manager of the Discovery Atlas Fund David
Chon adds, "The principals of Atlas and the senior management of KIH
have known one another for years and have great respect and admiration
for the complementary skills each party brings to the table. We are
very honored to work together with KIH on this important venture."

The timing of K-Atlas coincides with impending CMCA regulatory
changes in February 2009, which are expected to alter the investment
landscape in Korea. "As part of a comprehensive strategic initiative
synchronized with CMCA, K-Atlas will play a pivotal role in developing
and marketing proprietary and exclusive products and services to KIH's
institutional and retail client bases," according to Chris Lee, newly
appointed chief executive officer of K-Atlas Advisors and the head of
corporate strategy at KIH.

K-Atlas product offerings will be differentiated, target high
risk-adjusted returns and will be unique to the Korean marketplace.
"Specific product offerings planned for the future include private
equity in Latin America, a global value fund, hedge fund investments
in EMEA, opportunities in real estate and an endowment product,"
according to Chief Investment Officer of K-Atlas and Co-Founder of
Atlas Harry Krensky. "Our pipeline is full and we have aggressive
growth plans."

"We will consider K-Atlas successful five years from now if there
are KRW 5 trillion (approximately US$5.3 BN) of assets in K-Atlas
platform related funds," says K-Atlas Business Development Head and
Head of International Sales at KIH's investment banking subsidiary KIS
Simon Mun.

"Over the past two decades, Atlas' principals have developed an
extensive global network and a well-tested and evolved investment
platform," adds Atlas Co-Founder and Discovery Atlas Fund Co-Manager
Rogerio Chequer. "We think this will be important to the success of
K-Atlas."

Chris Lee (from KIH) and Simon Mun (from KIS) and Harry Krensky
and David Chon (both from Atlas) will serve on the board of directors
of K-Atlas and K-Atlas Advisors. BG Kim, formerly a senior manager in
KIS' proprietary trading and derivatives division, will head K-Atlas'
Singapore office, which will also serve as the firm's worldwide
headquarters.

About Korea Investment Holdings

Korea Investment Holdings is a leading financial group in Asia. It
is a financial holding company based in Korea with subsidiaries that
specialize in a comprehensive range of investment banking operations
including securities brokerage, corporate financing and asset
management. This focus sets KIH apart from the other major Korean
financial groups that are based on banking services. KIH is
solidifying its position as the leading asset management firm and
investment bank in Korea. KIH and its subsidiaries are also developing
a Pan Asian and global footprint and capabilities, with overseas
presence/offices in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Ho Chi Minh City, New York,
London and Singapore (pending).

About Atlas Capital Management

Atlas Capital Management, LLC (and its affiliates) is an
international and emerging markets investment firm. Atlas Capital was
founded by Rogerio Chequer, David Chon and Harry Krensky. The firm is
headquartered outside of New York City in White Plains, NY. The firm
has international offices in Mexico and Singapore (pending). Since its
founding, the firm has offered total return strategies to
sophisticated institutional and high net worth and clients. Atlas also
manages global and emerging market multi-asset class hedge funds and
emerging markets private equity funds.

Atlas Capital Management, White Plains
Alex Seiler, 914-517-6370
seiler@atlasEM.com
or
LJH
Charlotte Luer, 212-925-8703
cluer@ljhfm.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008