Financial research powerhouse teams with premier full and field service market research company

CALABASAS, CALIFORNIA (September 1, 2004) Informa Research Services, Inc. – today announced the acquisition of Market Trends, Inc., a leading provider of market research and statistical services.

“Both Market Trends and Informa were founded over 20 years ago, and the synergies from this acquisition will benefit both companies’ clients,” said Michael E. Adler, president and managing director of Informa Research Services, Inc. “The Market Trends management and staff have the extensive expertise in major industries that will enable us to expand our market research services outside the financial industry.”

Market Trends established itself as one of the most respected market research firms in the telecommunications, consumer goods, business-to-business, financial, and technology markets. The company also maintains a separate field and tab department in their Seattle and Bellevue, Washington, offices with state-of-the-art focus group rooms, commercial kitchens, and one-on-one facilities. The full service and field service divisions have both national and global abilities. The Market Trends staff consists of research and industry professionals that have built a wealth of industry-specific knowledge and research expertise. Bill Young is the founder and president of Market Trends.

“It is exciting to have Bill Young and the Market Trends team join the Informa Family,” said Adler. “I have a great deal of respect for the company and its employees. Both companies enjoy excellent reputations in the industries we serve and this acquisition will combine the best of both of our companies while allowing us to build a broader and stronger market research company.”

In 2003, Informa Research Services acquired Barry Leeds & Associates, Inc., a mystery shopping and market research company that pioneered many of the research techniques that have become indispensable management tools to major organizations. Now with the acquisition of Market Trends, Informa will provide a greater range of market research services across a broader set of industries. All three companies will be branded under the Informa Research Services, Inc., name.

“I am thrilled about this acquisition,” said Bill Young. “The Market Trends name has stood for quality, but the dedication to quality has always come from our people. Although the Market Trends name is changing, the people are not. Informa is committed to retaining the staff and investing in the infrastructure. I look forward to even better things to come under the Informa Research Services banner.”

Mr. Young will be a Senior Vice President at Informa Research Services, Inc., and continue to lead the same team of professionals at the Seattle office.



About Informa Research Services, Inc.

Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Calabasas, CA, Informa Research Services, Inc., provides the financial industry's most extensive array of market research and decision-support information.

Conducting daily surveys of the retail and business products offered by more than 10,000 financial organizations nationwide, Informa Research Services, Inc., currently supports the product pricing decisions of more than 2,500 clients, representing all 50 states and including the top 25 financial institutions. This electronically transmitted competitive pricing intelligence effectively generates profitable responses to continual market changes, enables clients to effectively position deposit and loan products within local markets, maximizes interest income, and manages interest expense. Informa is the premier provider of fee and feature studies used to determine the competitiveness of fee-based services. In-depth studies are also available on cash management services, trust products, mystery shops, and other specialized services.

Informa Research Services, Inc., is a division of London-based Informa Group plc (LONDON:INF). Collectively, the business units of Informa Group plc sell to more than 121,000 delegates and 80,000 subscribers, generating annual revenues of over $283 million.

About Market Trends, Inc. (www.markettrends.com)

Market Trends, Inc., is a marketing research firm providing both full and field/tab services.  Founded in 1982 by Bill Young, a veteran of the market research industry, Market Trends was originally designed to serve local clients in a variety of industries. The quality of the company’s reporting and recommendations allowed them to enjoy a high degree of repeat and loyal customers nationwide. Market Trends’ client base has broadened to become a leader in the industrial, financial, and high technology markets.  Business leaders around the world rely on Market Trends to gather feedback and opinions on a wide variety of topics. They have surveyed over 2-million people worldwide in order to meet clients’ needs over their 22-year history.