RiskMetrics Group Completes Acquisition of CFRA

Qualitative Research & Analysis Helps Investors Make More Informed Decisions By Providing Insight Into the Financial Health of Portfolio Companies NEW YORK, Aug. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- RiskMetrics Group, a leading providerof risk management and corporate governance services to the globalfinancial community, announced today that it has completed its acquisitionof CFRA (Center for Financial Research & Analysis). Serving institutionalinvestors and other market players, CFRA is an independent global leader inforensic accounting risk research, legal/regulatory risk assessment,due-diligence, and educational services. "RiskMetrics Group is now in a position to provide investors withextensive quantitative and qualitative analysis across a broad spectrum ofrisk," said Ethan Berman, Chief Executive Officer of RiskMetrics Group."Our clients must manage risk from multiple angles and by viewing the riskspectrum in the broad way that we do, RiskMetrics Group helps enable itsclients to make more informed investment-related decisions through productsand services designed to provide transparency to the capital markets." Through a rigorous and proprietary research process, CFRA assesses thequality and sustainability of reported financial results at over 10,000companies globally. CFRA brings a global clientele that includes some ofthe most prestigious institutional investors, insurance underwriters,regulatory bodies, and diversified financial services firms in the world. With the close of the CFRA transaction, Richard Leggett, formerlypresident and chief executive officer of CFRA, will head a newly formed ISSGovernance Services unit of RiskMetrics Group, which includes the corporategovernance and proxy voting-related services of ISS and the research &analysis capabilities of CFRA. "RiskMetrics, ISS and CFRA are all incredible franchises in and ofthemselves," commented Leggett. "Together, we can offer our clientsservices that address a broad spectrum of risk." About RiskMetrics Group: RiskMetrics Group is a leading provider of financial risk managementand corporate governance solutions serving the financial community througha broad range of research, analytics, data, governance and proxyvoting--related products and services. The company is headquartered in NewYork City, with 23 offices worldwide. Visit http://www.riskmetrics.com for moreinformation.