CHRIS BEER AWARDED 2010 FUND MANAGER OF THE YEAR BY INVESTMENT EXECUTIVE

TORONTO, Dec. 1 /CNW/ - RBC Global Asset Management Inc. (RBC GAM) is pleased to announce that Chris Beer, Senior Portfolio Manager, has been awarded the 2010 Fund Manager of the Year distinction by Investment Executive (IE), Canada's dedicated publication for investment advisors. IE named Beer the top manager as a result of his superior 10-year performance track record managing the RBC Global Precious Metals Fund.

"It is an honour to receive this recognition and share it with my co-manager Brahm Spilfogel and other members of the RBC GAM Canadian Equity Team, who have been instrumental in providing consistent and rigorous research that has resulted in added value for our clients," said Beer, who joined the team in December 2000. "Over the past 10 years, we have navigated a number of extreme market events and we view this acknowledgement as continued confidence in our approach."

IE selects the Fund Manager of the Year by ranking all funds with a 10-year performance record in a point-based scoring system. The funds are ranked based on annual returns, relative outperformance and quartile performance. Other criteria factored into the methodology include cumulative 10-year returns, management expense ratios and correlation with the S&P/TSX Composite Total Return Index.

According to IE, "Anyone can have a good year or two; we look for managers with outstanding 10-year records, on the basis that 10 years represents two average business cycles, which means that excellent performance over that time frame is probably due to manager skill, not simply luck or good timing." 

The RBC Global Precious Metals Fund is a five-star Morningstar-rated fund and is among the lowest cost precious metals fund in its category. The fund is available to individual investors through the following management fee options: 1.00 per cent for Series D (for those who invest directly through PH&N Investment Services and RBC Direct Investing), 1.75 per cent for Series A, 1.75 per cent for Advisor Series and 0.75 per cent for Series F (available through financial advisors).

Please read the prospectus before investing. There may be commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses associated with mutual fund investments. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

About RBC Global Asset Management and RBC Wealth Management
The RBC Global Asset Management (RBC GAM) brand comprises investment services and solutions offered by RBC Global Asset Management Inc., RBC Global Asset Management (U.S.) Inc., RBC Asset Management U.K. Ltd. and RBC Investments Management (Asia) Ltd. The group of companies form the asset management division of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), a global institution with the reputation of stability and strength. RBC GAM group of companies manage approximately C$200 billion (US$203B, £129B or €149B) in assets as of October 31, 2010. RBC Global Asset Management Inc. is the manager of RBC Funds and PH&N Funds. PH&N Funds won the Lipper Awards for "Best Overall Fund Group" in 2010 and "Best Bond Fund Family" in 2007, 2008 and 2010; RBC Funds won the Lipper Awards for "Best Bond Fund Family" in 2009 and "Best Overall Fund Group" in 2007 and 2008. Lipper Fund Awards were awarded based on the best risk-adjusted performance over the three-year periods ended December 31 of the previous year. Website: www.rbcgam.com.

RBC Global Asset Management is part of RBC Wealth Management which directly serves affluent and high net worth clients in Canada, the United States, Latin America, Europe and Asia. RBC Wealth Management provides integrated and diversified international wealth management expertise and solutions, asset management and trust services to high net worth individuals and to corporate and institutional clients. Services provided by RBC Wealth Management consultants, advisors, private bankers and trust officers include trust and estate planning, tax advice, discretionary investment management and investment advisory services, structured solutions, banking, lending and global custody. RBC Wealth Management has approximately $500 billion of assets under administration, $250 billion of assets under management and more than 4,500 financial consultants, advisors, private bankers and trust officers.

For further information:

Yen To, RBC Global Asset Management Communications, 416 955-5916
Elyse Lalonde, RBC Media Relations, 416 974-8810