BearingPoint Completes Assessment of The World Bank's Strategy, Integrated Risk and Performance Management Functions

BearingPoint, Inc. (NYSE: BE), one of the world’s largest management and technology consulting firms, today announced the completion of a broad assessment of the World Bank’s strategy, integrated risk and performance management functions. The survey of public and private sector organizations included firms from different industry and sectors in the USA and Europe. The World Bank’s strategy, integrated risk, and performance management framework is complex, reflecting the unique nature of its mission — the alleviation of poverty in member countries through Bank-supported programs. Like most organizations, the Bank’s strategy, integrated risk and performance management practices have evolved to support its changing business model and environment. Since its inception in 1944, the World Bank has expanded from a single institution to a closely associated group of five development institutions with 185 member countries. The World Bank, which provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world, initiated the assessment to enable the Bank to become more flexible, strategically focused and results-oriented. The Bank selected BearingPoint to provide counsel on how best to design or alter the structure of its strategy, integrated risk and performance management functions to: Ensure continuous alignment of the Bank’s strategy with its resources; Link strategy planning and risk assessment; Increasingly focus on meaningful results; and Support senior management in the formulation and implementation of the Bank’s strategy and integrated risk management. "This engagement with BearingPoint exceeded my expectations. Just meeting expectations, in this particular case, was not an easy task,” said Hans-Martin Boehmer, Head of Strategy and Integrated Risk Management Group with the World Bank. "We presented BearingPoint with a challenging opportunity and they demonstrated their value beyond what the World Bank staff could have accomplished on its own. I’m confident that BearingPoint’s work, including the comparative survey of leading practices, will allow us to move forward with concrete actions on several fronts.” Based on the survey, BearingPoint identified leading practices in the three functions of strategy, integrated risk management and performance management: Strategy: Successful organizations link strategy formulation with execution by understanding and managing risks and monitoring results in a systematic fashion. This requires alignment of the strategic process with tactical tools and support by a governance structure that ensures focus on objectives, challenges, results, and management of risk. Integrated Risk Management: Leading practices in Risk Management indicate that there should be a single corporate-wide risk management approach to manage internal and external risks, regardless of their nature. Performance Management: The performance management process links strategy to metrics, and metrics to reporting, allowing leadership to monitor strategy execution and review strategic directions. Strategy should drive the performance and budget cycles — an organization’s budget should not be the tool that determines strategic priorities and corresponding performance measures. "We are proud that we were able to participate in this effort and help the World Bank continue to evolve its strategy, integrated risk and performance management functions,” said Sally D’Amato, a vice president for BearingPoint’s Emerging Markets segment. "The Bank now has a guide that can be used to help them move toward optimal execution of their strategy to achieve performance and organization goals.” In October 2007, BearingPoint introduced its cross-industry Risk, Compliance and Security Solution Suite to help clients become "risk-sensitive enterprises.” Through the integrated portfolio, BearingPoint delivers the full breadth of its global RCS capabilities — from strategy development to systems deployment and management — more rapidly and broadly, with the flexibility to tailor its risk, compliance and security services to address the unique needs of each individual client. About BearingPoint, Inc. BearingPoint, Inc. (NYSE: BE) is one of the world's largest providers of management and technology consulting services to Global 2000 companies and government organizations in more than 60 countries worldwide. Based in McLean, Va., the firm has more than 16,000 employees focusing on the Public Services, Commercial Services and Financial Services industries. BearingPoint professionals have built a reputation for knowing what it takes to help clients achieve their goals, and working closely with them to get the job done. Our service offerings are designed to help our clients generate revenue, increase cost-effectiveness, manage regulatory compliance, integrate information and transition to "next-generation” technology. For more information, visit the Company's Web site at www.BearingPoint.com. Some of the statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections. Words such as "will,” "expects,” "believes” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and as such are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions as to future events or our future financial performance that may not prove to be accurate. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in these forward-looking statements. As a result, these statements speak only as of the date they were made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.