Commodity Deal of the Year, 2010

Winner: Credit Suisse

In October 2009, Credit Suisse Asset Management LLC launched the Glencore Active Index Strategy (GAINS) funds, for the first time providing investors access to the unrivalled physical market information advantage of Glencore International AG, one of the world’s largest commodity traders.

The GAINS strategy, developed through an alliance between Credit Suisse’s investment bank and Glencore, utilizes the market intelligence from Glencore’s physical commodity trading business to over- or underweight allocations to individual commodities in a commodity index. In addition, the strategy can hold cash based on bearish views, potentially providing downside protection. [Performance for the GAINS Index is available on Bloomberg ticker CSGADTR <Index>.]

The GAINS funds, which are offered as various vehicles to a range of investors globally, also benefit from CSAM portfolio managers actively managing the futures roll process. Most new commodity indices introduced in the market are based upon static algorithms, and many are available only through dealers. The launch of the futures-based GAINS funds represents a unique fundamental index available through a fiduciary structure, truly an innovative transaction which could set the benchmark for commodity solutions as well as benefiting investors across the entire investment spectrum.

Voters were suitably impressed, making Credit Suisse this year’s winners of the Commodity Business Awards, Commodity Deal of the Year.

The Award for Commodity Deal of the Year 2010 was presented to Kamal Naqvi, Director, Credit Suisse by Gyles Brandreth, celebrated British author, broadcaster, actor and former Conservative Member of Parliament.