Booz Allen Hamilton Joins Forces with IM2 For Merger and Acquisition Integration Services.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 7, 2002

Leading management and technology consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton announced today that it has formed and alliance with IM2, Inc., a financial services merger and acquisition integration specialist.

The alliance is intended to provide banking, brokerage, investment management and insurance clients with full lifecycle support for M&A transactions, from pre-deal strategy and candidate analysis through deal closing, post-merger integration, and synergy attainment.

"Booz Allen is quite strong in the early and latter stages of merger transactions, where we leverage our extensive industry knowledge and strategy expertise," said Mike McKeon, Booz Allen Vice President. "Our clients and prospects, however, have increasingly asked us for assistance in accelerating their change-of-control and post-merger integration processes, as this is where the bulk of their deal synergies are achieved. Teaming up with IM2 provides the deal-proven methodology and experienced staff necessary to deliver this benefit to our clients."

McKeon added that current market trends point to a significant need to create synergies between merged companies. Many firms that have recently merged have neither the time nor the opportunity to optimize themselves as true single entities. Instead, duplicate departments and processes remain, leaving them unable to fully capture the value that the merger was intended to create. The resulting redundancies and inefficiencies drag down operating margins and stock prices.

"Today's difficult business climate demands that merger integration be carefully planned and fully realized," says Philip Panaro, President of IM2. "Full M&A lifecycle support means total commitment to all aspects of the transaction, particularly the synergy attainment aspects. Such an offering is currently unmatched in the marketplace."

About Booz Allen Hamilton

Booz Allen Hamilton has been at the forefront of management consulting for businesses and governments for more than 80 years. Booz Allen combines strategy with technology and insight with action, working with clients to deliver results today that endure tomorrow. With 11,000 employees on six continents, the firm generates annual sales of $2 billion. Booz Allen provides services in strategy, organization, operations, systems, and technology to the world's leading corporations, government and other public agencies, emerging growth companies, and institutions.

To learn more about the firm, visit the Booz Allen Web site at www.boozallen.com. To learn more about the best ideas in business, visit www.strategy-business.com, the Web site for strategy+business, a quarterly journal sponsored by Booz Allen.

About IM2

The principals of IM2 are career bankers, financial services consultants and M&A Integration specialists that have worked with numerous clients, including JP Morgan Chase, Deutsche Bank, Banker's Trust, Deutsche Asset Management, Zurich Scudder Investments and many others.