Press Releases

IW Financial Incorporates Sudan Information into Investing Workstation Platform

Gives investment managers the ability to screen for companies doing business in that country

PORTLAND, Maine, February 27, 2006 — IW Financial, a leading provider of research-based technology solutions that enable investment professionals to analyze portfolio holdings using corporate governance and social criteria, added information on corporate involvement in Sudan to its IWF Workstation platform, it was announced today. With the new data, asset managers, institutional investors and plan sponsors will be able to quickly identify publicly traded companies with exposure to that country. Conflict Securities Advisory Group (CSAG), the world's only research firm dedicated to identifying and assessing companies that have business activities in State Department-designated terrorist-sponsoring states, is providing the research.

"CSAG's Sudan data is a good fit for the IWF Workstation platform," said Mark Bateman, IW Financial's Director of Research.   "I worked with CSAG years ago developing their research methodology. Their approach is consistent with IW Financial's commitment to objective and impartial data."

Last year the U.S. declared the ongoing crisis in Darfur to be genocide and urged the international community to take action. Several states reacted by passing Sudan divestment legislation, prohibiting state pension funds from investing in companies doing business there. Illinois acted first, mandating divestment by the end of January 2006; Oregon and New Jersey have all passed similar legislation. A number of universities are also considering measures to require divestiture on the part of asset managers overseeing their endowments.

"We have seen a significant increase in the level of interest in Sudan on the part of our clients," said Sam Pierce, chief executive officer at IW Financial. "The issue poses compliance problems for money managers working with clients who require divestiture and, at the same time, presents opportunities for those working with clients who are concerned about human rights. Adding data from CSAG to the IWF Workstation gives asset managers a streamlined way to analyze their portfolios and move them into alignment with the new mandates."

Initially, the IWF Workstation will enable managers to identify and exclude companies doing business in Sudan. Future product releases will provide a more complete picture of the companies' activities, allowing money managers more flexibility. Those who require complete divestiture will be able to automatically exclude companies involved in Sudan, and those with human rights concerns can utilize the ratings system to compare companies on Sudan and other human rights issues.

About IWF Workstation
Research on Sudan is the latest addition to IW Financial's Workstation platform. The platform integrates a broad array of corporate practices and corporate governance research with user or client defined criteria, identifying investments that meet specific guidelines or are best aligned with a portfolio standard. The Workstation's efficiency and accessibility makes it a favorite among research professionals and portfolio managers.

About IW Financial
Founded in 2000, IW Financial is a leading provider of research based technology solutions that enable financial professionals to identify risks and opportunities, differentiate their services, and strengthen relationships with clients. IW Financial offers its applications to money management firms, advisors and institutional investors through the IWF Workstation platform.

IW Financial is based in Portland, Maine. For more information, visit www.iwfinancial.com.

About CSAG
Conflict Securities Advisory Group (CSAG) is a Washington DC-based independent research provider and consulting firm that specializes in identifying and assessing companies that may be exposed to global security risk. CSAG's primary product offering is an on-line investment research tool called the Global Security Risk that is the only service in the world that identifies and profiles U.S. and foreign publicly-traded companies that have business ties to Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Saddam Hussein's Iraq and North Korea. More information on CSAG is available at www.conflictsecurities.com.

Dan Porter
VP of Marketing
IW Financial
207-773-2333

Mike MacMillan or
Rebecca Love
MacMillan Communications
212-473-4442
info@macmillancom.com