Iselin, NJ, September 2, 2008—U.S. Retirement Partners, which recently launched as a 403(b) benefits administrator, announced today that it has acquired a prominent North Carolina company to be part of its national network of providers serving the K-12 teacher market.

F.R. Owen & Associates of Charlotte, N.C., will continue to run its own business as part of U.S. Retirement Partners (USRP), which offers leading 403(b) regional firms a partnership in a national network that provides access to more advanced administrative products and services, broader best practices expertise, a wide array of retirement investments, sophisticated marketing tools and other resources.

“We look forward to our partnership with USRP. Our decision for this partnership was to help solidify our presence as a company with a local focus and high level of service. This relationship allows us to do that while continuing to operate serving the best interests of our clients, who are our most important asset,” said Frank Owen III.

F.R. Owen & Associates of Charlotte, N.C., was founded in 1980 jointly with Frank R. Owen, Jr. the father of principal Frank Owen III, a widely recognized leader in the industry who is president of the 403(b) trade group called the National Tax Sheltered Accounts Association.

USRP drew funding for this and two other recent acquisitions from Centre Partners, a leading middle-market private equity firm with offices in New York and Los Angeles.

“We are off to a very strong start in our acquisitions. And we are pleased to add F.R. Owen & Associates to our roster of well-established companies that are leaders in our industry,” said Mark M. Skinner, president and chief executive officer of USRP.