METHODOLOGY

Summary: The information in the report is assembled and organized from websites evaluated by our staff during the months of January through May 2001. Websites reflect the actual site address once any redirection is complete; URL forwards or pointers not recognized as primary address.

In order to make valid peer comparisons, this report divides Mutual Fund Distributors into two peer groups — 1st Tier Group and 2nd Tier Group Companies. Companies are categorized as top-performing or average-performing based on fund assets under management.

GROUPINGS: Data is segmented by:

• Product & Services — All Products & Services, Single-Product and Multi-Products & Services; Cross-Marketing and Cross-Selling
• Distribution & Communication — Intermediary Sold, Direct Sold and Internet Sold
• Company Size — Under $10 Billion, Over $10-$25 Billion, Over $25-$50 Billion, Over $50-$100 Billion, and Over $100 Billion
• Company Ownership — Bank, Brokerage Firm, Insurance Company, Private, and Public
• Active Domain Name Strategy — Similar, Companion, Keyword and Country Code
• Non-Active Domain Name Strategy — Similar, Companion, Keyword and Country Code

KEY DEFINITIONS:

1st Tier Group Companies: Those companies for which mutual fund assets exceed $60.0 Billion.

2nd Tier Group Companies: Those companies for which mutual fund assets are $60.0 Billion or less.

Top Companies: The top 7 companies in each of the respective tier groups. Note: the makeup of the Top 7 companies in each tier group remains constant throughout the report.

Average Companies: Average tier group benchmarks are averages of all companies in the tier group sample including the Top 7.