SEI's Pension Lifecycle Meter Shows 60 Percent of US Corporate Pension Plans Are Closed to New Entrants

New Gauge Provides Updates on Current Stage of Corporate Pensions

OAKS, PA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 05/11/11 -- SEI (NASDAQ: SEIC) today released the findings of a new gauge that will provide updated statistics on the state of plan design for U.S. corporate defined benefit plans. SEI's Pension Lifecycle Meter will be used to survey finance and human resource executives from a minimum of 100 U.S. corporate defined benefit plans on the current condition of their organizations' pension plan. The findings will be updated twice a year, in May and November.

Here are the current plan design stages from SEI's Pension Lifecycle Meter (May 2011):

• 36 percent are "active" in that the "plan is active and open to new hires"
• 31 percent are "closed" in that the "plan is closed to new entrants, but participants are still accruing benefits"
• 30 percent are "frozen" in that the "plan is closed to new entrants, participants are no longer accruing benefits, but the termination process has not started"
• 3 percent are "terminating" in that the "plan is closed, accruals are frozen, and the termination process is underway."

"The goal of this meter is to provide insight into the current state and potential future direction of corporate pension plans in the U.S.," said Jon Waite, Director, Investment Management Advice and Chief Actuary, SEI's Institutional Group. "With such a high percentage of plans currently being closed or frozen, it is important that plan sponsors have a full understanding of how to de-risk the portfolio as funded status improves. Closed and frozen plans have different, but no less time-intensive, needs for strategic management and plan sponsors need to have the proper resources in place to continuously manage this process."

If you would like the findings represented as a graphic, please email Frank Wilkinson at fwilkinson@seic.com or visit http://www.seic.com/enUS/institutions/139.htm.

About SEI's Institutional Group
SEI's Institutional Group delivers integrated healthcare, retirement and nonprofit investment solutions to more than 500 global institutional clients (of which 340 are U.S. based) in six different countries. SEI enables clients to meet financial objectives, reduce business risk, and fulfill their due diligence requirements through implemented fiduciary management strategies for defined benefit plans, defined contribution plans, endowments, foundations and other balance sheet assets. For more information, visit www.seic.com/institutions.

About SEI
SEI (NASDAQ: SEIC) is a leading global provider of investment processing, fund processing, and investment management business outsourcing solutions that help corporations, financial institutions, financial advisors, and ultra-high-net-worth families create and manage wealth. As of March 31, 2011, through its subsidiaries and partnerships in which the company has a significant interest, SEI manages or administers $429 billion in mutual fund and pooled assets or separately managed assets, including $179 billion in assets under management and $250 billion in client assets under administration. For more information, visit www.seic.com.

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Company Contact:
Frank Wilkinson
SEI
610-676-1483
Email Contact

Media Contact:
Alex Dalgliesh
Braithwaite Communications
215-564-3200 x116
Email Contact

Source: SEI

Released May 11, 2011