ADVISORY/Merrill Lynch and Cap Gemini Ernst & Young World Wealth Report Shows How Investors Fared in Volatile Markets.

Business Editors

ADVISORY...for Monday (June 17)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

Are Global Financial Assets Up or Down Over the Past 12 Months?

The Answer May be Surprising

Are There More or Less Millionaires in the U.S. Today?

The 2002 World Wealth Report by Merrill Lynch and Cap Gemini Ernst & Young reveals how high net worth individuals and their financial assets fared world-wide in extraordinarily volatile markets.

For the first time, the report indicates whether there are more or less high net worth individuals in the United States today.

In a special section, the World Wealth Report assesses clients' wealth management needs and analyzes the latest trends in private banking.

You are invited to attend an on-the-record media launch of this benchmark report on personal finance and investment trends around the world at:

                10:30am, Monday June 17, at
                Merrill Lynch Boardroom, 33rd floor,
                4 World Financial Center, New York

The briefing will be hosted by John Morris, head of marketing at Merrill Lynch International Private Client Group, and James Greene, global head of financial services at Cap Gemini Ernst & Young.

Please RSVP to Guy McKanna at [phone] or [e-mail] if you would like to be part of this newsworthy event. Light refreshments will be served.