GLOBAL INSIGHT CREATES ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE

Global Insight Inc (GII), a privately held corporation, announced the formation of the breakaway leader in economic and related financial information, forecasting, analytic software and solutions based consulting. GII has been formed through the acquisition of 100% of four businesses and a significant interest in a fifth.

• Data Resources (DRI), a leader in economic information and forecasting;
• WEFA (formerly called Wharton Economic Forecasting Associates), a leader in economic information and forecasting;
• Primark Decision Economics, provider of action-oriented economic advice to financial and business leaders, headed by noted economist Dr. Allen Sinai, who continues to hold an equity interest in this company;
• DAFSA, a European market research company; and
• Primark Poland, a software development company with deep expertise in time series data management.

DRI was acquired from The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. The interests in the other businesses were acquired from The Thomson Corporation. The purchase prices were not disclosed.

This powerful combination creates a strong and vibrant organization with comprehensive global capabilities focused on data, forecasting, consulting, analytic software and database management systems and tools. GII will start as a company with revenues of $70 million and more than 500 employees in 12 countries. This dynamic combination is the brainchild of former Primark CEO, Joseph E. Kasputys.

"GII was formed to create a comprehensive line of top quality products and capabilities that provide our clients with the insights needed for better decisions," stated Joseph E. Kasputys, Global Insight's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Our mission is to be the leading organization that provides business executives, investors and government officials around the world with economic information, analysis and solutions," he added.

GII has a seasoned management team drawn from all the individual companies. Dr. Kasputys, president, chairman and CEO of Global Insight as well as CEO of DRI-WEFA, holds a doctorate from Harvard. He was president of DRI from 1977 to 1983 and was executive vice president of its parent company, McGraw-Hill, until 1987. After joining the publicly traded Primark Corporation as CEO, Dr. Kasputys immediately began transforming this $2 billion gas utility holding company into a financial and economic information company. While with Primark, in 1997 he acquired WEFA, a leading economic information company; in 1996, he co-founded Primark Decision Economics with noted economist, Dr. Allen Sinai; and he also began Primark Poland, a software development group specializing in time series data management.

In addition to Dr. Allen Sinai, joining Dr. Kasputys in this new company will be Walt Arvin, the current president of DRI and Priscilla Trumbull, the current COO of WEFA. GII corporate officers will include Mike Kargula, General Counsel, and Paul Sandford, CFO, both formerly senior corporate officers of Primark. The leadership of the other companies will also continue with GII.

GII's first step with these acquisitions has been to create DRI-WEFA by integrating DRI and WEFA, two of the most respected economic information companies in the world. DRI and WEFA have many complementary capabilities. As a result, DRI-WEFA can provide clients with the most comprehensive coverage of countries, regions and industries available from any source.

DRI-WEFA's subscription-based economic information services are founded on analyses and forecasts produced through a unique set of internally consistent models and the geographic and industry expertise of 250 on-staff economists. DRI-WEFA forecasts economic activity in over 110 countries and provides in-depth analyses and forecasts of major industries regions. DRI-WEFA also possesses one of the largest collections of historical economic information available, covering over 150 countries and all major industries, and has the analytical software to manipulate, analyze, display and report this information.

DRI-WEFA also provides a broad range of consulting capabilities covering market analysis, business planning, investment strategy, risk assessment, infrastructure analysis, policy evaluation and economic development and impact. The combination of expertise, modeling assets, data repository and analytical software tools delivers actionable solutions that address specific client problems.

Decision Economics will continue to offer its separate but coordinated forecasts and forward views of the US and world economies, fixed income, equity and forex markets, as well as investment and strategic advisory services.

About Global Insight

Global Insight Inc (GII) was formed in March 2001 to be the leading organization that provides business executives, investors and government officials with economic information, analysis and solutions. In May 2001, GII created DRI-WEFA as its first subsidiary from the integration of two of the most respected economic information companies, Data Resources Inc (DRI) and WEFA (formerly called Wharton Economic Forecasting Associates). The inclusion of Decision Economics, Primark Poland and DAFSA round out the capabilities of GII.

GII has over 3,000 clients in industry, finance and government around the world, with $70 million in revenues, over 500 employees and 30 offices covering North and South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Contact Joseph E. Kasputys, CEO Global Insight, 781-487-2102, jekasputys@dri-wefa.com or Priscilla Trumbull, COO DRI-WEFA Inc, 610-490-2672, priscilla.trumbull@dri-wefa.com.