Business Wire and Nikkei BP Ad Partners Enter Into a Sales Collaboration Agreement to Promote Business Wire's Global Media and Investor Relations Services to Japanese Companies

Business Wire, Feb 22, 2005

TOKYO -- Business Wire and Nikkei BP Ad Partners, a leading provider of business-to-business marketing solutions affiliated with Japan's largest publisher and content provider, have entered into a sales collaboration agreement that will promote Business Wire's worldwide media and investor relations services to Japan's leading corporations.

Business Wire recently announced the opening of a full-service office in Tokyo, which will serve as an operational hub for a planned network of satellite sales offices throughout the Asia Pacific region.

Nikkei BP Ad Partners is the commercial division of Nikkei Business Publications, Inc., Japan's leading business publisher with some 40 trade magazines having a combined readership of more than 2.3 million.

The company publishes the top titles in business, computers, electronics, construction, services and medicine, as well as over 80 online information services. Nikkei BP Ad Partners supports the advertising and marketing activities of its client companies through its multiple communications platforms, including magazines, websites, exhibitions and seminars.

"The addition of Business Wire to Nikkei BP Ad Partners' unparalleled product portfolio provides a convenient outlet for Japanese companies to reach consumers and investors worldwide with their corporate message," noted Cathy Baron Tamraz, president of Business Wire. "We are very honored to be working with Nikkei BP Ad Partners, a member of the prestigious and respected Nikkei Group. They are a perfect partner in this very important market."

"Business Wire will enable Japanese companies to play an even larger role in today's global information exchange," said Masanobu Chiba, president and CEO, Nikkei BP Ad Partners. "Business Wire is an excellent fit in terms of our strategic focus, and our complementary range of products. We believe that Japanese companies will embrace the opportunity to become more proactive in reaching out to key audiences around the world."

The Nikkei BP Ad Partners-Business Wire sales alliance will be formally introduced at a dinner event February 23 at the Japan Press Club in Tokyo. Top-level speakers from Reuters and Toyota will address several hundred corporate executives and other Japanese dignitaries anticipated to be in attendance. In addition to Mr. Chiba, president and CEO of Nikkei BP Ad Partners, Lorry Lokey, chairman/CEO, and Cathy Baron Tamraz, president, of Business Wire will take part in the opening ceremonies.

About Business Wire:

Business Wire was founded in 1961 by chairman/CEO Lorry I. Lokey, veteran journalist and public relations executive. The company's multi-channel delivery network, with access to some 60 international and national news agencies, financial information providers and Web-based news services throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, provides real-time, simultaneous access to key audiences -- the news media, trade publications, institutional and individual investors, business-to-business decision-makers and consumers.

Business Wire electronically disseminates some 1,000 full-text news releases daily to the media, the Internet, online services and databases, and the global investment community in 150 countries in 45 languages. Business Wire has 24 U.S. offices, Frankfurt, London, Stockholm, Brussels, Sydney and Tokyo offices, and reciprocal offices throughout the world.

About Nikkei BP Ad Partners, Inc.:

Nikkei BP Ad Partners was established in July 1997 as an advertising agency of the Nikkei Business Publications group. The company supports the marketing activities of client companies, using mainly Nikkei BP's advertising vehicles such as magazines, websites, exhibitions and seminars. It is a leading provider of extensive business-to-business marketing solutions, which help client companies reach their target customers both effectively and efficiently.

About Nikkei Business Publications, Inc.:

Nikkei Business Publications is part of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun group, the world's largest group of companies providing mainly business and financial information for the majority of Japan's decision-makers. Covering a wide variety of specialized areas including business, computers, electronics, construction, services and medicine, Nikkei Business Publications is the number one business publisher in Japan.