Benefitdecisions Outsourcing Acquires HR Consulting and Outsourcing Leader Black Mountain Management

Business Wire, March 29, 2005

CHICAGO -- Benefitdecisions Outsourcing Inc., a subsidiary of Chicago-based Benefitdecisions Inc., announced today that it has completed its first strategic acquisition.

The acquisition of the New York-based U.S. operations of global human resource consulting and outsourcing firm Black Mountain Management Inc. marks Benefitdecisions' continued expansion into the fast-growing human capital outsourcing industry. Benefitdecisions is a leading employee benefits company serving clients throughout North America and seven countries.

"We are excited with the opportunities that we gain by joining the Benefitdecisions family of companies," said Black Mountain's founder and chairman, Stephen Medici. "We eagerly anticipate the extension of our capabilities to include Benefitdecisions' expertise in benefit consulting, risk management and brokerage services. The combination of services uniquely positions both firms as market leaders, while offering end-to-end benefit and HR consulting and brokerage services to an underserved middle market."

Black Mountain, founded in 1994, will continue to operate out of its New York office under its brand name, Black Mountain Group.

"Black Mountain provides us with the depth and breath of capabilities in HR consulting and outsourcing that are highly complementary to our current employee benefits services," said Mark Matuscak, founder and president of Benefitdecisions. "HR consulting and outsourcing represents one of the most promising growth opportunities for our business, and we are well positioned to take advantage of this trend with the addition of an established market leader like Black Mountain."

Benefitdecisions and Black Mountain share a corporate commitment to delivering ethical, creative and cost effective solutions using a customized, client-centric approach.

Chicago-based Benefitdecisions is a leader in employee benefits consulting, risk management and brokerage services. Offering a client-centric approach, Benefitdecisions delivers creative and ethical applications of dynamic actuarial, underwriting, consulting, brokerage and technology solutions to local, national and global clients.

Black Mountain Management is an innovative international HR and employee benefits consultancy. Black Mountain works in partnership with its clients to create exceptional customized outsourced benefit solutions. Established in 1994 in New York, Black Mountain has a clientele ranging from small start-up technology companies to large global financial institutions.