CompassPoint Names New Managing Partners; David T. Harrington and John D. Fraser extend new investment firm to East Coast.

Business Editors/Financial Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 26, 2000

CompassPoint Partners, LLC, today announced that David T. Harrington and John D. Fraser have joined the investment firm as managing partners. Combined, Harrington and Fraser bring over 30 years of investment experience to the firm.

Harrington and Fraser will launch CompassPoint's East Coast office, based outside the Philadelphia/Wilmington area. The new office augments CompassPoint's established San Francisco and Jackson Hole, Wyoming-based research teams.

Harrington joins CompassPoint after nine and one-half years with Friess Associates, advisor to the Brandywine Funds, where he was an analyst and portfolio manager. He was responsible for managing more than $3 billion in investments with an emphasis of various technology and semiconductor investments. From 1986 to 1990, Harrington was a financial consultant to wealthy families and private companies.

Fraser joins the firm after four and one-half years at Friess Associates, where he was a client liaison officer, analyst and portfolio manager. He was responsible for managing Friess Associates' $600 million small cap portfolio. Prior to Friess, Fraser spent 13 years in institutional equity research sales, most recently with Credit Suisse First Boston.

Diane McGonagle and Kerry Pollini round out CompassPoint's East Coast team after six and five years respectively, at Friess Associates. These new research additions bring further depth to CompassPoint's research team.

Andrew T. Graves, managing partner, founded CompassPoint Partners, LLC, in April 2000 after nine years at Friess Associates, where he was responsible for over $2 billion in investments with a focus on technology and consumer investments. John Early, formerly a senior partner with Security Research, a Marin, California-based investment firm, brings 17 years experience to the investment process, while Tersh Barber, formerly an associate analyst at Friess Associates, adds eight years of experience to the CompassPoint investment team.

Jim Mott and Ari Goldstein cover the private company and venture research area for CompassPoint. Jim's background includes 11 years in startup technology companies and venture capital investing. Ari's experience includes over two years in healthcare mergers and acquisitions and four years as an equity analyst in New York City.

"I am thrilled to reunite with David and Jack," said Andy Graves. "Our expanded investment team brings incredible strength and depth of experience to our clients and a powerful start to our funds."

About CompassPoint Partners, LLC

Compass Point Partners, LLC, was founded in April 2000 by Andrew T. Graves. It is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with offices in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.

CompassPoint Partners is the general partner and investment advisor to:

-- The CompassPoint Fund, a diversified equity fund targeting mid- to large-growth companies with market capitalizations greater than $2 billion;

-- The CompassPoint Explorer Fund, targeting emerging growth companies with market capitalizations of less than $2 billion; and,

-- The CompassPoint Venture Fund invests in private companies in fast growing industry segments (launching fall 2000).

CompassPoint Partners employs a fundamental research strategy to identify and invest in high quality growth companies in the United States and global economies.

CompassPoint Partners can be reached at 415/394-7730, or on the Internet at www.compasspointfunds.com.