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UBS Launches a New Philanthropy Offering for U.S. Clients

UBS

UBS Financial Services, Inc. announced today that the firm’s wealth management clients in the U.S. are now able to make philanthropic donations to the UBS Optimus Foundation (the Foundation). The Foundation is dedicated to the health, education and protection of children around the world. Investors with an interest in improving the lives and potential of children will now have the opportunity to join UBS clients in other parts of the world in accessing the Foundation’s verified and focused network of community-based partner organizations as part of their own philanthropic giving and wealth management planning, via the recently-established Friends of UBS Optimus Foundation Fund.

Established in 1999, the Foundation is a charitable grant-making vehicle dedicated to ensuring children are healthy, safe and ready for their future. To date, it has received over 20,000 donations, totaling more than USD 250 million. The Foundation currently funds projects in 40 countries reaching 1.8 million children, and offers UBS clients a range of options to support causes and charities that are important to them without the burden of doing their own research, vetting and monitoring. The Foundation works with experienced partner organizations around the world to identify, track, and supervise the programs, and provides regular updates to clients to ensure that they remain properly informed of the impact of their support. Because UBS bears all administrative costs of the Foundation, 100% of client donations go directly to the intended service organizations.

“Our clients are increasingly looking for advice regarding their philanthropic giving — both in directing and executing their social investments, as well as ensuring they are achieving their desired impact,” said Bob McCann, CEO of UBS Group Americas. “Through the UBS Optimus Foundation, we can provide a unique giving experience that is aligned with clients’ overall wealth management goals. We are proud that our U.S. clients now have the opportunity to invest in established programs that we believe will deliver tangible and measurable results.”

“By choosing to work with only the best-in-class partners — including the World Health Organization, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) in South Asia, a regional office of J-PAL Global based at the Economics Department at MIT— we are providing clients with a turnkey offering that will deploy their resources in ways that create meaningful and lasting impact,” said Phyllis Costanza, CEO of the UBS Optimus Foundation. “We focus on aiding children in areas of the world that are impoverished or isolated, which typically present a challenge for individual philanthropists. Our mission is to eliminate those barriers and make investments early in children’s lives in order to yield both social and economic results.”

As one of the first banks to engage in philanthropy solutions for wealth management clients around the world, UBS' commitment to giving has a strong history and deep roots in the bank's culture. UBS was voted the Best Private Bank for Philanthropic Services by Euromoney 2014 based on the strength of its Client Philanthropy Services, which covers the complete value chain in philanthropy, providing giving, investing and networking resources to align clients' wealth with their values. Nicole Sebastian, previously with the Robin Hood Foundation, UNICEF and Heidrick & Struggles, will oversee this new philanthropic offering for U.S. clients.

This new philanthropy offering is being made available in the U.S. as the Friends of UBS Optimus Foundation Fund, through a collaboration with National Philanthropic Trust, which manages one of the largest donor-advised funds in the world.

About UBS

UBS draws on its 150-year heritage to serve private, institutional and corporate clients worldwide, as well as retail clients in Switzerland. Its business strategy is centered on its pre-eminent global wealth management businesses and its leading universal bank in Switzerland, complemented by its Global Asset Management business and its Investment Bank, with a focus on capital efficiency and businesses that offer a superior structural growth and profitability outlook.

UBS is present in all major financial centers worldwide. It has offices in more than 50 countries, with about 35% of its employees working in the Americas, 36% in Switzerland, 17% in the rest of Europe, the Middle East and Africa and 12% in Asia Pacific. UBS employs about 60,000 people around the world. Its shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

About UBS Optimus Foundation

The UBS Optimus Foundation is an established grant-making foundation created by UBS AG in 1999. The Foundation works to break down barriers that prevent children from reaching their potential by funding leading organizations to improve the health, education and protection of children.

The UBS Optimus Foundation supports projects in places where children face adversity. UBS covers all the Foundation's administrative costs so that 100 percent of all donations go directly to the projects.

UBS Optimus Foundation – A better future for children.

About National Philanthropic Trust

National Philanthropic Trust (NPT) is a public charity dedicated to providing philanthropic expertise to donors, foundations and financial institutions, enabling them to realize their philanthropic aspirations. NPT was founded in 1996, and since that time has raised $4 billion in charitable contributions and currently manages over $2.1 billion in charitable assets. NPT has made more than 100,000 grants totaling $2 billion to charities all over the world.

UBS
Gregg Rosenberg, 212-713-8842
Gregg.rosenberg@ubs.com

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