CLIENT FIRST BROKERAGE SERVICES, INC.,
AND ITS AFFILIATED COMPANIES, HAVE MERGED
WITH GROUP BENEFIT SERVICES, INC.

Towson, MD - Group Benefit Services ("GBS") of Hunt Valley, Maryland and Client First Brokerage Services ("Client First") of Towson, Maryland have announced the formation of a strategic alliance effective November 1, 2009. As part of the transaction, Client First will merge all its group and individual insurance business to GBS for all future sales, customer service, claims reporting, policy administration, and billing. GBS provides these third party administrative services to thousands of clients located throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Also as part of the transaction, Rodger Bayne, CEO of Client First, will join the executive management team of GBS and be responsible for marketing, product development and sales. Existing Client First team members will immediately be employed by GBS and will report to the Hunt Valley headquarters beginning on November 9, 2009.

From Kathy Simmons "The executive team of GBS is excited about the alliance we have formed with Client First. We are especially excited about the energy level and forward-thinking vision that Rodger Bayne and his management team bring to our organization. We are confident that this relationship will be win-win-win for GBS, Client First, and all our brokers and clients."

Rodger Bayne added, "Client First is extremely pleased to formalize this relationship with GBS. This will help the firms to become a single solid force to secure market share in the mid-Atlantic region, broaden their capabilities, increase their marketing and sales effectiveness, and optimize the very tangible synergies that exist to the benefit of our brokers, clients, and prospective clients. We look forward to even greater growth opportunities in the future as we pursue our shared vision."

The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Daymark Advisors, LLC provided advisory services to Client First, and assisted with the negotiation and structuring of the transaction. Daymark is a Baltimore based management consulting and M&A advisory firm serving the insurance, benefits and voluntary benefits industries.

For More Information contact: Rodger Bayne at GBS, (410) 832-1300.