SNL announces eighth annual Analyst Training in the Financial Services Sector

Charlottesville, VA - The SNL Center for Financial Education will host its eighth annual Analyst Training program, a seminar that offers focused and intensive instruction in the fundamentals underlying the evaluation of banks, thrifts and insurers. For a list of faculty and additional information on the seminar, visit www.snlcenter.com/analyst_training/2005.

Led by a faculty of investment analysts, financial advisers, academics and executives in the financial services sector, the seminar will:

• Examine the fundamental earnings metrics, valuation multiples and accounting adjustments used in financial statement analysis.
• Demonstrate the effective use of varied valuation techniques and analytical tools, using real financial services companies as case studies.
• Explore strategies for accessing the capital markets and managing capital.

SNL’s Analyst Training is scheduled for August 8-12, 2005 at the Darden Graduate School of Business in Charlottesville, Virginia. Banks and thrifts will be covered in the first half of the week, with insurers covered in the second half. Please contact Sarah Jackson at sjackson@snl.com or 434-951-7551 with any questions.

About SNL Financial

SNL collects, standardizes and disseminates all relevant corporate, financial, market, and M&A data — plus news and analysis — for the Banking, Financial Services, Insurance, Real Estate, Energy and Media & Communications industries. For more information, visit www.SNL.com.