Exhibit 99
                                                            
                                               July 18, 1995
                                                            
                                                            
                                                            
                                                            
                                                            

     J.P. Morgan sells local custody and securities clearing
             businesses in Europe to Banque Paribas
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     J.P. Morgan announced today that Banque Paribas has
agreed to acquire Morgan's local custody and securities
clearing businesses in Continental Europe.  The sale is
expected to close within four months, subject to regulatory
approvals.  Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

     This announcement follows Morgan's recent agreements to
sell its global securities custody and U.S. commercial paper
issuing and paying agency businesses.  The sales reflect a
sharpening of the firm's strategic focus on its core global
banking activities.

     Walter Gubert, head of J.P. Morgan in Europe, said:
"We are extremely optimistic about prospects for our
advisory, trading, capital raising, and asset management and
private banking businesses in Europe and around the world.
We are already a leader in each of these areas, and with our
increased focus, we are ideally positioned to build on our
existing strengths."

     He added that "Banque Paribas was selected on a number
of factors -- all underlined by its commitment to providing
a smooth transition and continued service excellence for our
clients."  Morgan will use Banque Paribas for its own local
custody and clearing needs.

     Banque Paribas will offer jobs to all the Morgan
employees directly involved in the local custody and
securities clearing business.  Morgan provides these
services in Europe through its offices in Brussels,
Frankfurt, Madrid, Milan, and Paris.

     J.P. Morgan's role as operator of the Euroclear System,
the world's largest clearance and settlement system for
internationally traded securities, will not be affected by
the sale.

     J.P. Morgan is a global banking firm that serves
clients with complex financial needs through an integrated
range of advisory, financing, trading, investment, and
related capabilities.

     Banque Paribas is part of Groupe Paribas, an
international banking and financial company headquartered in
Paris, with offices in 60 countries.
                                
                                
                                
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