Edward Ramos Joins New York Life Investments as International Equity Portfolio Manager

Fundamental International Equity Strategy to Transition from MacKay Shields LLC to Madison Square Investors LLC

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Jun 29, 2011, 09:56 ET

NEW YORK, June 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Multiple-boutique asset manager New York Life Investments has announced that Edward Ramos, CFA joined the firm on May 27th as senior managing director and lead portfolio manager for the International Equity strategy at MacKay Shields LLC. He has also assumed portfolio management responsibilities for the MainStay International Equity Fund and MainStay VP International Equity Portfolio, respectively.

With over 19 years of investment experience in international and global equities, Ramos most recently served as executive director, lead portfolio manager and head of the Global Growth Team at Morgan Stanley Investment Management.

"We are pleased to have someone of Eddie's acumen and experience joining our organization. International equity is a strategically important asset class and we believe Eddie will bring this portfolio the leadership and a disciplined process necessary to provide consistency for our clients," said Drew Lawton, CEO of Traditional Investments at New York Life Investments.

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Ramos served as lead portfolio manager of International Growth Equities at Brown Capital Management and as a portfolio manager with Templeton Investment Counsel. He graduated with a BS in finance from Lehigh University and an MBA in finance, accounting, and international business from Columbia Graduate School of Business. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Intra-Boutique Transition

As part of MacKay Shields' strategy to focus itself as a premier global fixed income manager, the firm has announced that the International Equity team led by Ramos will transition from MacKay to its New York Life Investments affiliate, Madison Square Investors LLC (MSI). The transition has begun and is expected to be completed shortly.

"With expertise across the global fixed income spectrum, MacKay Shields has built a reputation of excellence in fixed income asset management. Today at approximately $57 billion in fixed income assets under management, this decision enables the firm to better partner with its clients as the role and importance of fixed income continues to evolve over time," said Lucille Protas, acting CEO of MacKay Shields.

Launched by New York Life Investments in January 2009 as a stand-alone equity boutique, Madison Square Investors (MSI) has built and managed its portfolios with a rational and disciplined investment process.

"One of MSI's greatest strengths is our ability to provide institutional investors with strategies that are intuitive and easily placed within a portfolio. We understand the importance of articulating and executing a transparent, consistent process so that a strategy performs as expected," said Michael Maquet, CEO of Madison Square Investors LLC. "We also believe that such an approach isn't the exclusive domain of quantitative managers. The International Equity team's fundamental investment strategy already shares MSI's core principles of discipline and predictability and we welcome them to our roster of equity investors."

"The multi-boutique investment model provides us the flexibility to best position our investment teams for success. Our ultimate objective is to enable our affiliate firms to best serve the needs of their clients, and this transition is consistent with that philosophy," concluded Lawton.

About New York Life Investments

New York Life Investments ranks among the largest asset management firms in the United States.(1) Through its multiple boutique management structure, New York Life Investments offers access to leading institutional managers that drive performance. Through MainStay Investments and NYLIFE Distributors LLC, New York Life Investments provides access to some of the most highly regarded mutual funds and wrap accounts in the industry. Together with its affiliates and over 1,400 employees, New York Life Investments manages nearly $300 billion in assets as of March 31, 2011. New York Life Investments is a leading provider of retirement plans for corporations, multi-employer trusts, and individuals, and is recognized as one of the nation's top providers of guaranteed products to both the qualified and non-qualified markets.

"New York Life Investments" is a service mark used by New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC and its subsidiary, New York Life Investment Management LLC. MacKay Shields LLC and Madison Square Investors LLC are registered investment advisors and affiliates of New York Life Investments.

(1) Source: Pensions & Investments, May 31, 2011.

SOURCE New York Life Investments