Texas Short Term Asset Reserve ("TexSTAR") Selects JPMorgan Fleming Asset Management And First Southwest Asset Management, Inc. As Co-Administrators

Market Wire, 20050229

The Board of Directors of TexSTAR(TM) (the "Board") announced today the formation of the Texas Short Term Asset Reserve ('TexSTAR(TM)") Program. Additionally, the Board announced that JPMorgan Fleming Asset Management and First Southwest Asset Management, Inc. will serve as co-administrators.

TexSTAR(TM) is a local government investment pool program, initially composed of the Cash Reserve Fund offering eligible governments and municipalities in the State of Texas a safe, efficient and liquid short term investment alternative. The primary investment objectives of the Cash Reserve Fund are, in order of priority, preservation and protection of principal, maintenance of sufficient liquidity to meet participants' needs, diversification to avoid unreasonable or avoidable risks, and yield. Investors in the pool will be composed of local governments and agencies of the State of Texas, such as municipalities, school districts, counties, special districts, junior college districts, and other eligible government entities of Texas.

The TexSTAR(TM) Cash Reserve Fund will pursue its investment objectives by maintaining a portfolio of high quality money market securities of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, with obligations that may be fixed or of variable rates of interest, and repurchase agreements that will be over-collateralized and contracted with high-quality counterparties.

Standard & Poor's has assigned its "AAAM" rating to the TexSTAR(TM) Cash Reserve Fund. The rating is based on Standard & Poor's analysis of the fund's credit quality, market price exposure, and management. The rating signifies excellent safety of invested principal and a superior capacity to maintain a $1.00 per share net asset value at all times.

JPMorgan Fleming Asset Management (USA), Inc. will serve as the investment adviser to the program. JPMorgan Fleming is a leading global financial services company and one of the largest asset managers worldwide. As of December 31, 2001, JPMorgan Fleming had more than $600 billion in assets under management. JPMorgan Chase Bank is the custodian and will provide fund accounting, transfer agency, and depository services. First Southwest Asset Management, Inc., an affiliate of First Southwest Company, will serve as customer service and marketing agent. Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Texas, First Southwest Company is the largest privately held investment banking firm in the Southwest U.S. and a leading public finance advisory firm both in Texas and nationally. First Southwest and JPMorgan Fleming formerly co-managed the Texas Local Government Investment Pool ("TexPool") for 4 years to multi-year records of success and achievements.

New or Existing Participant Inquiries: TexSTAR(TM) Participant Services First Southwest Asset Management, Inc. 1700 Pacific Avenue, Suite 1300 Dallas, Texas 75201 1-800-839-7827 www.texstar.org Other Contacts: First Southwest Asset Management Mary Ann Dunda SVP (214) 953-4086 JPMorgan Fleming Gabrielle Gagliardo (212) 837-2340

www.texstar.org