Press Release - May 17, 2004

Media Contact:
Anne Hebard
Boston Financial Data Services
Phone: 617-483-3158
Fax: 617-483-5952
Email: ahebard@bostonfinancial.com

Jill Metzler
DST Systems, Inc.
1-816-843-9087

Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. Announces Class Action Administration Services
Court-approved administrator provides complete third-party services for financial settlements

Quincy, Mass., May 17, 2004 – Boston Financial Data Services, a leading service provider and recordkeeper in the mutual fund industry, announces Class Action AdministrationSM, a new line of business providing complete third-party administration for financial services firms facing legal settlements.

Boston Financial has, in fact, been providing settlement administration services on a project basis for nearly 10 years, assisting financial services clients that solicited the firm for its administration expertise. The formal development of the Class Action business line reflects a strategic decision to leverage Boston Financial’s success in serving as the court-approved claims administrator for numerous class action settlements since 1995.

With Class Action Administration, Boston Financial offers a complete suite of services, including notification of eligibility, claim form review, distribution and reconciliation. Service model components include: print mail services; technology systems; customer care; election and claim form receipt processing; scanning; and check and coupon production, distribution and reconciliation.

Over the past decade, Boston Financial has administered settlements with class sizes ranging from 36,000 to 11 million. It has developed a reputation for meeting the unique and complex needs of individual clients and for fostering a neutral environment between plaintiff and defendant.

“The management staff at Boston Financial is especially skilled at managing the complex relationships between class counsel, defense and defendant,” said David Little, second vice president of Swiss Re Life & Health America Inc., a former client. “Boston Financial’s flexibility and attention to detail show clearly throughout all administrative facets of the settlement.”

“The team at Boston Financial is impartial and professional,” said Roger Cowie, partner, Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP, a legal firm that has worked with Boston Financial. “In a highly charged settlement environment, it is important that the administrator be neutral and focus on administering the terms of the settlement. Boston Financial understands its role.”

“Boston Financial offers a unique combination of administration experience and industry expertise,” said Darlene DeRemer, managing director, Putnam Lovell NFB Securities, Inc., an international investment banking analyst firm that specializes in financial services. “The confidence and assurance Boston Financial provides is invaluable in a time of crisis.”

“This is a challenging time for financial services firms, and for mutual fund companies in particular. Boston Financial is prepared to help navigate the sensitive administrative issues surrounding settlements,” said Steve Hooley, president and CEO of Boston Financial. “We know this business. We understand the systems and processes involved, and we know how important the class members are to our clients. Most companies won’t have to face this issue very often, but when they do, we think it makes sense for them to work with a trusted service provider who understands their priorities.”

Boston Financial Data Services is one of the industry’s premier third-party transfer agents and has been servicing the back-office mutual fund industry since 1973. Boston Financial is a partnership between DST Systems, Inc. of Kansas City, Mo., and State Street Bank & Trust Co. of Boston, Mass. This partnership has enabled Boston Financial’s clients to utilize DST’s industry-leading software and technology while benefiting from the institutional support and global reach of State Street.

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