THE GENERAL INVESTMENT & DEVELOPMENT COMPANIES PROMOTES TIMOTHY J HINKLE TO SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL

Boston - (April 1, 2005) - The General Investment & Development Companies ("GID") is pleased to announce the promotion of Timothy J. Hinkle to Senior Vice President and General Counsel of GID Investment Advisers LLC effective as of April 1, 2005. In this capacity, Tim assumes responsibility of the management of GID’s in-house legal team, which serves the varied and extensive legal needs of all departments within The General Investment & Development Companies.

Since August 2001, Tim has been Associate General Counsel and Vice President and a valuable member of GID’s legal department. Prior to joining GID, Tim worked for the Boston-based law firm of Ropes & Gray in the Real Estate Department. He has extensive background in all facets of commercial real estate, including joint ventures, acquisitions/dispositions and leasing and development, in addition to particular expertise in environmental and litigation matters. Tim received his J.D., cum laude, from Suffolk University Law School in 1989 and his B.A. from Williams College in 1984.

GID is pleased to have Tim leading GID’s legal department in providing the highest quality legal services to all of The General Investment & Development Companies.