<body.content> <block> <p>DARIEN, Conn., Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ — The CRA Business Strategies Group, a leading consulting firm to the nation’s multi-trillion-dollar asset managementindustry, today announced its annual Competitive Challenges Conference will be held September 16-17 at New York City’s Palace Hotel. The well-attended, two-day meeting, a comprehensive,up-to-the-minute insiders’ look at the business of money management, will once again feature panels and presentations by some of the sector’s most respected names.</p> <p>In addition totop BSG consultants, panelists and presenters include such industry luminaries as:</p> <p style=”pre-list”> * Brian Storms, President and Chief Executive Officer, UBS Global
Institutional Asset Management, Americas;
* Lisa Jones, Director of MFS Institutional Advisors, MFS Investment
Management;
* Kevin Charleston, Chief Financial Officer, Loomis Sayles & Co.;
* Stephen Burke, Chief Executive Officer, Deutsche Asset Management;
* Stephen Kneeley, President and Chief Executive Officer, Turner
Investment Partners;
* Gregory T. Rogers, Chief Operating Officer, John A. Levin & Co.;
* John Reinsberg, Managing Director, Lazard Asset Management;
* Bill Cline, Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Clovis Capital;
* Guy Hudson, Executive Vice President, Mellon Institutional Asset
Management; and
* DeAnne Dupont, Treasurer, David L. Babson & Co.
</p> <p>Commenting on the upcoming event, CRA Business Strategies Group President Don Rogers said: “With the asset management sector operating in the most turbulent and unpredictable market environment in recent memory, the 2003 Conference shapes up as perhaps the most important and essential meetings we have ever sponsored. A lineup of blue-chip speakers and panelists will be offering institutional, high-net worth, and retail money managers invaluable guidance for negotiating today’s often uncharted business terrain.”</p> <p>The Conference will highlight a detailed review of the firm’s just-completed Competitive Challenges Survey, an annual in-depth examination of current industry performance, practices, and concerns. Findings are based on extensive polling of a broad range of representative money management firms. Key metrics will be highlighted and market opportunities identified.</p> <p>Speakers will also focus on such critical areas as hedge funds, profitability and productivity, keys to success in today’s marketplace, compensation and value sharing, distribution trends, the next generation of new products and strategic mergers and acquisitions activity.</p> <p>Further details and information about the 2003 Conference can be obtained from Karen Byrnes at CRA Business Strategies Group’s Chicago office (312-575-1823). The firm has arranged for a block of rooms at the New York Palace Hotel (212-888-0131) to be available at a discounted rate for Conference attendees.</p> <p>CRA Business Strategies Group is the established source for executive decision-makers in the asset management industry for leading-edge data and advice about their critical business activities. BSG works closely with senior managers in the industry to develop value-enhancing strategies. In addition to strategic consulting services, BSG’s core products include Competitive Challenges, product competitiveness analysis services, trading cost analysis services, and Summit Alliance leadership conferences. </p> <datasource>CRA Business Strategies Group</datasource> </block> <block class=”contact”> <p>CONTACT: Jim Swords, Media Relations of The Dilenschneider Group,<br/> +1-212-922-0900, ext. 156, <virtloc idsrc=”dummy” value=”dummy”>[email protected]</virtloc>, for CRA Business Strategies<br/> Group</p> </block> </body.content>
