AVZ Amvescap

AIM Investments announced today the launch of seven new retail mutual funds that provide investors and their advisors additional ways to achieve portfolio diversification through one of the industry's most comprehensive lineups of quality investment solutions. The seven funds - AIM China Fund, AIM Japan Fund, AIM Structured Core Fund, AIM Structured Growth Fund, AIM Structured Value Fund, AIM Enhanced Short Bond Fund, and AIM International Bond Fund - will leverage the investment management expertise and disciplines of several AMVESCAP entities across the globe. A I M Advisors, Inc. (AIM) is a subsidiary of AMVESCAP PLC (AMVESCAP), a leading independent global investment manager dedicated to helping people worldwide build their financial security. "The launch of these seven new mutual funds re-emphasizes our commitment to investment excellence and product diversity for investors and their advisors through one of the industry's pre-eminent distribution models," said Mark Williamson, President and Chief Executive Officer of AIM Investments. "We are very excited about how these products will benefit from the subadvisory capabilities of large teams of AMVESCAP investment professionals worldwide in specialized areas of expertise." -- AIM China Fund offers entry into this growing market through a diversified portfolio of companies based in China or with substantial exposure to China's expanding economy. The fund leverages the local presence and expertise of INVESCO Hong Kong Ltd., one of the region's largest investment managers. -- AIM Japan Fund seeks to capitalize on the growth opportunities in one of the world's most dynamic economies by investing in securities of Japanese issuers. The fund is managed by a Tokyo-based investment team from INVESCO Asset Management (Japan) Ltd., which has been investing in Japan for approximately 20 years. -- AIM Structured Core Fund, AIM Structured Growth Fund, and AIM Structured Value Fund are actively managed mutual funds which target ranges of return, risk, and sector allocations relative to their respective benchmark indexes. The funds leverage the management experience of INVESCO Institutional (N.A.), Inc.'s Structured Products Group to apply a distinct, research-based stock selection process, rigorous risk control management, and state-of-the-art trading techniques. -- AIM Enhanced Short Bond Fund provides broad exposure to the fixed-income market by investing in domestic and foreign government and corporate debt securities with shorter maturities. The fund is actively managed by a global team of approximately 45 investment professionals from INVESCO Institutional (N.A.), Inc.'s Worldwide Fixed Income Group. -- AIM International Bond Fund provides broad exposure to the international fixed-income market by investing in foreign government and corporate debt securities generally represented by the sector categories within the Lehman Brothers Global Aggregate ex U.S. Index (unhedged)(a). The portfolio is strategically constructed to seek total return and can offer investors a way to broaden their fixed-income investments across countries. The fund is subadvised by a team of investment professionals from INVESCO Institutional (N.A.), Inc.'s Worldwide Fixed Income with a focus on investment decision making, portfolio construction, and risk management and control. Important Information About Investing in AIM China Fund, AIM Japan Fund Foreign securities have additional risks, including exchange rate changes, political and economic developments, the relative lack of information about these companies and the potential lack of strict financial and accounting controls and standards. Investing in a single-country mutual fund involves greater risk than investing in a more diversified fund due to lack of exposure to other economies. The prices of securities held by the fund may decline in response to market risks. AIM China Fund may invest in A Shares which have limitations to repatriate fund assets back to the United States. The fund also may use enhanced investment techniques such as leverage and derivatives. Leveraging entails special risks such as magnifying changes in the value of the portfolio's securities. Derivatives are subject to counterparty risk--the risk that the other party will not complete the transaction with the fund. The prices of initial public offering (IPO) securities may go up and down more than prices of equity securities of companies with longer trading histories. In addition, companies offering securities in IPOs may have less experienced management or limited operating histories. There can be no assurance that the fund will have favorable IPO investment opportunities. Important Information About Investing in AIM Structured Core Fund, AIM Structured Growth Fund and AIM Structured Value Fund Foreign securities have additional risks, including exchange rate changes, political and economic developments, the relative lack of information about these companies and the potential lack of strict financial and accounting controls and standards. The prices of securities in the funds may decline in response to market risks, changes in interest rates, effective maturities and credit ratings of those securities. The values of convertible securities will be affected by market interest rates, and the value of the underlying common stock into which these securities may be converted. The funds may use enhanced investment techniques such as leverage and derivatives. Leveraging entails special risks such as magnifying changes in the value of the portfolio's securities. Derivatives are subject to counterparty risk--the risk that the other party will not complete the transaction with the fund. AIM Structured Growth Fund invests in "growth" stocks, which tend to be more sensitive to changes in their earnings and can be more volatile than other types of stocks. AIM Structured Value Fund invests in "value" stocks which can continue to be inexpensive for long periods of time and may not ever realize their full value. Important Information About Investing in AIM Enhanced Short Bond Fund, AIM International Bond Fund Foreign securities have additional risks, including exchange rate changes, political and economic developments, the relative lack of information about these companies and the potential lack of strict financial and accounting controls and standards. The funds may use enhanced investment techniques such as leverage and derivatives. Leveraging entails special risks such as magnifying changes in the value of the portfolio's securities. Derivatives are subject to counterparty risk--the risk that the other party will not complete the transaction with the fund. The prices of securities in the funds may decline in response to market risks, changes in interest rates, effective maturities and credit ratings of those securities. The funds may invest in asset-backed or mortgage-backed securities which may lose value if they are called or prepaid. Investing in higher-yielding, lower-rated corporate bonds (commonly known as "junk bonds") has a greater risk of price fluctuation and loss of principal and income than U.S. government securities, such as U.S. Treasury bills, notes and bonds. Treasuries are guaranteed by the government for repayment of principal and interest if held to maturity. Fund shares are not insured, and their value and yield will vary with market conditions. Investors should carefully assess the risk associated with investing in the funds. About AIM Investments Houston-based AIM Investments represents one of the nation's leading investment management companies. It is dedicated to building solutions for its clients with exceptional products and services through multiple investment management styles and a broad range of investment portfolios - mutual funds, retirement products, separately managed accounts for high-net-worth and institutional investors, annuities, cash management, college savings plans and offshore products. Founded in 1976, AIM Investments had $128 billion in assets under management as of Dec. 31, 2005. For more information, visit www.aiminvestments.com. AIM Investments is a service mark of A I M Management Group Inc. A I M Advisors, Inc., A I M Capital Management, Inc., and AIM Private Asset Management, Inc. are the investment advisors for the products and services represented by AIM Investments. A I M Distributors, Inc. is the distributor for the retail mutual funds and Fund Management Company is the distributor for the institutional money market funds represented by AIM Investments. About AMVESCAP A I M Management Group Inc. is a subsidiary of AMVESCAP PLC, a leading independent global investment manager, dedicated to helping people worldwide build their financial security. Operating under the AIM, INVESCO and Atlantic Trust brands, AMVESCAP strives to deliver outstanding products and services through a comprehensive array of retail and institutional products for clients around the world. The Company, which had approximately $404 billion in assets under management as of Feb. 28, 2006, is listed on the London, New York and Toronto stock exchanges with the symbol "AVZ." Additional information is available at www.amvescap.com. Note to editors -- We are required to include the following information with our news release: (a) The Lehman Brothers Global Aggregate ex U.S. Index (unhedged) is an unmanaged index considered representative of bonds of foreign countries. Consider the investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses carefully before investing. For this and other important information about any AIM fund, please obtain a prospectus from your financial advisor and read it carefully before investing. A I M Distributors, Inc., Distributor.