<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">J. P. Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM - News) and Bank One Corporation (NYSE:ONE - News) today announced that they have agreed to merge in a strategic business combination establishing the second largest banking franchise in the United States, based on core deposits. The combined company will have assets of $1.1 trillion, a strong capital base, 2,300 branches in seventeen states and top-tier positions in retail banking and lending, credit cards, investment banking, asset management, private banking, treasury and securities services, middle-market, and private equity. With balanced earnings contributions from retail and wholesale banking, the combined company will be well-positioned to achieve strong and stable financial performance and increase shareholder value through its balanced business mix, greater scale, and enhanced efficiencies and competitiveness.</font>