LONDON, March 24 /PRNewswire/ --

Northern Trust has been selected to provide fund administration services for the fund platform managed by Earth Capital Partners (ECP), a new investment business with a specialist focus on environmental investment, and an objective to raise US$5bn into the fund platform over the next five years.

The new platform has the opportunity to launch a series of closed end investment vehicles invested in such sustainable projects as solar power, waste-to-energy, southern hemisphere agriculture and may also provide financial backing for companies developing new environmental technologies.

Referring to the selection of Northern Trust, Rufus Warner ECP LLP's Chief Executive, said, In selecting a fund administrator we were specifically looking for proven expertise in administering a range of hybrid funds. Products in sustainable development are a new and exciting area of assets and Northern Trust has demonstrated the fund administration capabilities that respond to our unique requirements.

ECP LLP, chaired by Stanley Fink, was launched in late 2008. At the launch event, Mr Fink described the partnership's objective as to deliver attractive returns to our investors by investing in projects, companies and financial instruments, which address sustainable development challenges, such as climate change, water scarcity and energy security. The ECP Renewables Fund is one of the first investment structures to be launched to reflect those goals.

Kate Stallard, head of private equity, infrastructure and real estate sales at Northern Trust, said, We are delighted to be working with Earth Capital Partners on this initiative addressing a growing need to engage in environmental solutions. As an experienced fund administrator, Northern Trust understands the complex nature of administering alternatives, particularly in intangible assets and looks forward to bringing this experience to bear in this new relationship.

Northern Trust provides a comprehensive range of fund administration solutions for conventional funds and alternative asset classes including hedge funds, fund of funds, property funds, private equity, infrastructure and agriculture. It supports multiple fund structures across multiple jurisdictions including the UK, USA, Ireland, Luxembourg, Jersey and Guernsey. Northern Trust also offers relating banking, trustee and custody services which can be tailored to support evolving business needs.

About Northern Trust

Northern Trust Corporation (Nasdaq: NTRS) is a leading provider of investment management, asset and fund administration, fiduciary and banking solutions for corporations, institutions and affluent individuals worldwide. Northern Trust, a financial holding company based in Chicago, has a growing network of 85 offices in 18 U.S. states and has international offices in 15 locations in North America, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. As of December 31, 2008, Northern Trust had assets under custody of US$3.0 trillion, and assets under investment management of US$558.8 billion. Northern Trust, founded in 1889, has earned distinction as an industry leader in combining exceptional service and expertise with innovative products and technology. For more information, visit http://www.northerntrust.com.

- Northern Trust (Guernsey) Limited, Northern Trust Fiduciary Services (Guernsey) Limited, Northern Trust Fiduciary Company (Guernsey) Limited And Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited are licensed by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission - Northern Trust International Fund Administrators (Jersey) Limited and Northern Trust Fiduciary Services (Jersey) Limited are regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission - Northern Trust Global Services is authorised and regulated in the Netherlands by De Nederlandsche Bank - Northern Trust Global Services Limited Luxembourg Branch is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and in Luxembourg by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) and Northern Trust Luxembourg Management Company S.A. is regulated by the CSSF - Northern Trust Global Services Limited - Abu Dhabi. Representative Office, Licence number 13/238/2008 - Northern Trust operates in Australia as a foreign authorised deposit-taking institution (foreign ADI) and is regulated by The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority - Northern Trust in Hong Kong is a securities company regulated by the Securities and Futures Commission - Northern Trust in Singapore is a foreign wholesale bank regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore - Northern Trust operates in China as a Representative Office and is regulated by the China Banking Regulatory Commission - Where Northern Trust's UK entities undertake regulated business, they are authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority - Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Ireland) Limited and Northern Trust Fiduciary Services (Ireland) Limited are each authorised by the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority pursuant to section 10 of the Investment Intermediaries Act, 1995 (as amended)

Earth Capital Partners

Earth Capital Partners (ECP) is a new investment company created to invest solely in sustainable assets, related to the environment, climate change and natural resources and water scarcity. ECP aims to lead change in financial markets by demonstrating that financing the transition to low CO2, low pollution, resource efficient economies can be achieved sustainably and profitably. ECP's mission is to deliver exceptional, low correlation returns from sustainable development investment throughout the entire cycle.

Principals: Stanley Fink, non-executive Chairman; Rufus Warner, Chief Executive Officer; Ben Cotton, External Relations For further information: info@earthcp.com

EMEA Asia Pacific, Camilla Greene, +44-(0)-20-7982-2176, cg81@ntrs.com, or US Canada, John O'Connell, +1-312-444-2388, jo45@ntrs.com, or Kathleen Fitzgerald, +1-312-444-3094, kdf2@ntrs.com, all of Northern Trust; Earth Capital press enquiries, Simon Rostron, simon@rostronparry.com