New firm will bridge the gap between management consulting and investment banking

NEW YORK, January 24, 2007 — Marakon, the international management consultancy and Integrated Finance Limited (IFL), a financial advisory firm, are merging. The transaction is scheduled to close by the end of January subject to the receipt of required regulatory approvals.

The new firm, Trinsum, will integrate advisory services previously accessible only through the use of multiple providers. By offering an integrated approach, Trinsum will fill the gap between management consulting and investment banking for objective, real-world advice steeped in financial science.

The new company will serve top management of large corporations on issues relating to strategy, execution, organic growth, M&A, productivity and organization. The firm also plans to add a strategic risk management practice in early 2007. In addition, Trinsum will offer sophisticated investors a range of investment vehicles, and will continue to develop next-generation financial products such as SmartNest, a pension management solution that addresses deficiencies associated with traditional defined-benefit and defined-contribution plans.

Jim McTaggart, co-founder of Marakon and CEO of Trinsum states, "Our ambition is to serve existing and new clients better by combining Marakon’s expertise in strategic consulting with IFL’s distinctive use of financial science in corporate finance and investment management."

The firm’s leadership also includes Roberto Mendoza, co-founder of IFL and former vice-chairman at JP Morgan, as chairman of Trinsum. Robert Merton, a Nobel Prize winner for his work on options pricing, will become chief science officer and Marakon’s current CEO, Brian Burwell, will continue as head of Trinsum’s consulting business. Peter Hancock, IFL co-founder and former CFO of JP Morgan, will lead the development of Trinsum’s strategic risk management practice.

This announcement comes on the heels of the firm’s newly released book, The Three Tensions: Winning the Struggle to Perform without Compromise (Jossey-Bass, January 2007), co-authored by Marakon managing partner Ken Favaro.

For additional information, contact Colleen Gargan at (212) 377-5044 or cgargan@marakon.com.

About Trinsum
Trinsum is an advisory firm that works with top management and sophisticated investors on the management issues and financial opportunities that most affect their prosperity. We create breakthrough solutions by combining the science of finance, the discipline of management and the art of advice. Trinsum has offices in Chicago, London, New York, San Francisco, Singapore, Tokyo and Zurich.

About IFL
Integrated Finance Limited (www.ifltd.com) is a specialist advisory firm founded in 2002 with deep expertise in M&A, funds management and financial innovation.

About Marakon Associates
Founded in 1978, Marakon Associates (www.marakon.com) is a management consulting firm that works with senior executives of Global 1000 companies on the issues that most drive corporate performance and long-term value.

About The Three Tensions
The Three Tensions: Winning the Struggle to Perform Without Compromise (Jossey-Bass January 2007, www.thethreetensions.com) draws on groundbreaking research and in-depth discussions with more than a dozen chairmen and CEOs of the world’s best-known companies. The book explains the three fundamental tensions every leader faces and how to overcome them.