CNBC-TV18 announces India’s first Financial Advisors Awards Presented by Prudential ICICI Mutual Funds & powered by ICRA

CNBC-TV18 announces India’s first Financial Advisors Awards Presented by Prudential ICICI Mutual Funds & powered by ICRA

Mumbai, January 3, 2006: CNBC-TV18 and Prudential ICICI Mutual Funds present India’s first Financial Advisor Awards. The country’s most authoritative evaluation and awards have been instituted to recognize the best among financial advisors in the country, powered by ICRA.

India is finally witnessing an investor revolution, in which the number of people investing in equity markets, mutual funds, etc. is increasing exponentially year after year. In this environment, the need to evaluate, understand and choose the right investment alternative has become paramount; resulting in the increased reliance by investors across categories on financial advisory services.

CNBC-TV18's Financial Advisor Awards aims to set a benchmark that will help investors select the best financial or investment advisors across geographies and categories.

Recognizing the critical role that financial advisors play in the wealth creation process, CNBC-TV18 and Prudential ICICI Mutual Fund will identify, honor and celebrate India’s best financial experts through CNBC-TV18's Financial Advisor Awards.

The CNBC-TV18's Financial Advisor Awards will have the following
categories:
• Individual Financial Advisor (North, East, South, West)
• National Level Financial Advisor - Predominantly Institutional
• National Level Financial Advisor - Predominantly Retail
• Regional Level Financial Advisor (North, East, South, West)
• Equity Broker (National)
• Banks (National)

The Evaluation Process:
ICRA Limited, India’s leading provider of investment information and credit rating services in India, and an associate of Moody's Investors Service, will conduct the evaluation process. The first round of assessment will be carried out based on the following indicative parameters. This information will be gathered through the nomination forms.

? Quantitative parameters:
• Investor Accounts
• Assets under management (size)
• Asset profile
• Number of investment advisors
• Number of products offered

? Qualitative parameters
• Educational/Professional Qualifications
• Experience
• Client Servicing
• Scope of Services
• Forms of compensation

The evaluation process will be a three-stage process:
• First stage - will be a screening of completed nomination
application forms
• Second Stage - short listing of a limited number of financial
advisors in each category (top 10% - for example); detailed information will be sought and analysis will be carried out based on extensive interactions with ICRA.
• Third stage - Three final short listed financial advisors will
go through a round of presentations to a jury comprising of industry experts, regulators, CNBC-TV18 representatives and representatives from ICRA.

Prudential ICICI Mutual Fund presents– ‘CNBC-TV18's Financial Advisor Awards’

•Entry forms: Moneycontrol.com, or at the nearest Prudential ICICI AMC Branch Office ` •Mail complete application forms to:
The Manager - Financial Advisor Awards, Television Eighteen India Ltd., Empire Complex, First floor, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai – 13 Last date for receiving entries – 30th Jan 06

About CNBC-TV18:
CNBC-TVI8 is India's No.1 business medium. CNBC-TV18 is the undisputed leader in the business. The channel's benchmark coverage extends from corporate news, financial markets coverage, expert perspective on investing and management to industry verticals and beyond. CNBC-TV18 has been constantly innovating with new genres of programming that helps make business more relevant to different constituencies across India.
CNBC-TV18 is currently available in over 26 million households in India

For further queries, please contact:
Vineet Nigam (ICRA) - 98103 01167
Deepa Bhavnani (CNBC-TV18) - 98203 14547 SMS FAA to 2622, log on to www.moneycontrol.com/cnbc/financialadvisor or
email: [email protected]
Glen D’Souza/ Janice Goveas/ Lorraine Correa Hanmer & Partners 56335969/ 55524600

Thanks and regards,
Lorraine Correa
Hanmer & Partners Communications Pvt. Ltd.
3rd Floor, Rehem Mansion I
42, Shahid Bhagat Singh Road
Colaba, Mumbai 400 001, INDIA
Tel: +91-22-56335969/55524600
Fax: +91-22-56335979
Cell: 9819890093