RiskMetrics Group Acquires Arrakis from JPMorgan Chase; Integrates Analytics and Infrastructure Platform Powering Morgan OnLine into WealthBench Suite

Business Wire, April 1, 2003

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 1, 2003

RiskMetrics Group, Inc., the financial analytics and technology solutions firm, today announced its acquisition of Arrakis, the analytics implementation and infrastructure underlying JPMorgan Chase's Morgan OnLine. Under the agreement, RiskMetrics Group assumes control of the system's underlying technology, future technology development, Web hosting, maintenance and support. JPMorgan Chase's Private Banking Group will retain exclusive rights to both the Morgan OnLine and Morgan View products as well as the proprietary analytics within Morgan OnLine designed specifically for its clients. Details on the terms and conditions of the transaction were not available.

"This acquisition signals our continued drive towards sensible consolidation of the wealth management solutions space," said RiskMetrics Group CEO Ethan Berman. "The assets from Morgan OnLine combined with our WealthBench(TM) suite of analytics allows us to provide our customers with an enterprise-wide wealth management platform that underscores the changing role of advisers and equips them to succeed in a far more demanding environment."

Arrakis was formed in 1999 by JPMorgan's Private Banking Group to provide an online toolkit for high-net-worth individuals. Its user interfaces, Morgan OnLine and Morgan View, will remain under the control of JPMorgan Chase. In addition, all client data will continue to be maintained solely by JPMorgan Chase in accordance with its Private Bank privacy policy.

About JP Morgan Chase

J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $759 billion and operations in more than 50 countries. The firm is a leader in investment banking, asset management, private banking, private equity, custody and transaction services, and retail and middle market financial services. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase is headquartered in New York and serves more than 30 million consumer customers and the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients.

About RiskMetrics Group

RiskMetrics Group provides financial analytics and wealth management solutions to hundreds of financial institutions, corporations and central banks worldwide. Since 1994, RiskMetrics Group research has set the standard for financial risk management. RiskMetrics Group analytics, data and services enable users to measure and manage risk, and to communicate that risk to managers, clients, investors, shareholders and regulators. Formerly a division of JP Morgan, RiskMetrics Group became an independent company in 1998. The company is headquartered in New York City, with seven offices worldwide, including London, Tokyo and Singapore.