Russell and SIS Announce New Agreement to Share Research (Russell.com)

Russell and SIS Announce New Agreement to Share Research

TACOMA, Wash. — Mar. 9, 2005 — Russell Investment Group, a global leader in multi-manager investment services, and Strategic Investment Solutions (SIS), a specialist investment consulting firm, announced today that they are entering into a new agreement to share research knowledge capital. The new agreement is being put in place after both firms decided not to exercise their respective options for Russell to acquire a greater share of SIS. Russell has owned a minority share in SIS since 2003, and SIS will purchase back from Russell its minority holding. The terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.

Under the new arrangement, the two firms will operate independently and SIS has signed an agreement with Russell under which SIS will have access to Russell's research resources, implementation techniques, website technology and seminars. Russell will continue to collaborate with SIS consultants on topics such as private equity, asset/liability modeling, asset allocation, and industry perspectives.

"We have developed a close and mutually beneficial working relationship with SIS during the past two years, and we have seen firsthand the strength of their advisory services," said Paul Reynolds, managing director, Institutional Investment Services. "While we have decided to operate as separate organizations, this is not a parting of our cooperative efforts, and we are very pleased to be able to continue collaborating with them to deliver leading research capabilities to some of the most sophisticated pension plans in the world."

Commenting on the announcement, Michael Beasley, co-founder of Strategic Investment Solutions, said, "Our clients have come to highly value Russell's knowledge of managers, investment content and ideas, which they have been able to leverage over the past two years. This new agreement allows them to continue this, and we look forward to our ongoing relationship with Russell. Our two firms are pleased to continue this strong relationship built through the exchange of industry knowledge and research."

About SIS
Strategic Investment Solutions was founded in 1994 by Michael Beasley and Barry Dennis as a high-end investment advisory firm that consults to a small group of large pension clients. Today, the SIS staff of 22 serves 33 institutional clients with assets in excess of $600 billion.

About Russell
Russell Investment Group, a global leader in multi-manager investment services, provides investment products and services in more than 35 countries. Russell manages more than $131 billion in assets and advises clients worldwide representing more than $1.8 trillion. Founded in 1936, Russell is a subsidiary of Northwestern Mutual and is headquartered in Tacoma, Wash., with additional offices in New York, Toronto, London, Paris, Singapore, Sydney, Auckland and Tokyo.

Contacts:
Steve Claiborne (253) 594-1858
Kerstin Parkel (718) 875-2121

Russell Investment Group is a registered trade name of Frank Russell Company, a Washington, USA corporation, which operates through subsidiaries worldwide. Frank Russell Company is a subsidiary of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company.

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