Communications professionals in the Nordic region can now reach a wider audience including the media, disclosure points, investors, analysts and fund managers around the world with the implementation of Phase One of the exclusive partnership between Hugin and PR Newswire, the two companies announced today.

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In May, PR Newswire, the world's leading corporate news distribution service, and Hugin, the specialist IR services provider in the Nordic region, announced plans to deliver a range of cost-effective online media targeting and distribution circuits through an exclusive partnership. "All our clients will benefit from this new service which provides improved control of message and simultaneous distribution. It will free up publishing time allowing communications professionals to concentrate on the more critical aspects of their job," said Tor Baekkelund Hugin's Chief Executive Officer. "By accessing PR Newswire products through Hugin's service, our clients can now benefit from a wider distribution capability which includes US disclosure, reach to the IR community and the global media. "

Phase one will provide a wider range of distribution options available through the Hugin 'Connector'. Distribution circuits will include North America, Europe and Asia. The new service will provide for the instantaneous distribution of news releases by wire, email and fax. Plus, through an exclusive alliance with PR Newswire and Thomson Financial, distribution to Thomson Financial's First Call Network through the PR Newswire-First Call Wire is now available, reaching fund managers and analysts in all major sectors. "This partnership further strengthens PR Newswire's position as the leading global news distribution provider. The move enables our customers to benefit from extensive distribution and regulatory options in the Nordic region and provides access to a wealth of international, regulatory and industry specific circuits from PR Newswire, including reach to tens of thousands of journalist contacts and one million equities terminals," said David B. Armon, Chief Operating Officer of PR Newswire.

Phase Two will launch during the first half of 2004 and will provide Nordic communication professionals with a completely new distribution application including an integrated media contact database from PR Newswire.

The new service is available with a flat-fee pricing model for international distribution for companies based in the Nordic countries. For more information please contact Hugin on +47 22 80 79 80 and PR Newswire on +44(0)20 7490 8111.

About Hugin

Hugin is the leading pan-European financial press release wire, distributing corporate information directly from companies to the media, investors and other stakeholders. Founded in 1995 in Norway, Hugin continually researches new technologies to develop services to facilitate connectivity between companies and their investors.

Hugin offers investors real-time news through its Internet portal at http://www.huginonline.com/ and free subscription to an immediate email alert service. Online portals and data vendors are provided access to real-time feeds of regulatory news, financial PR and financial event information.

Hugin has operations in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, the Benelux and the UK.

About PR Newswire

PR Newswire (http://www.prnewswire.com/) provides electronic distribution, targeting and measurement services on behalf of some 40,000 customers worldwide who seek to reach the news media, the investment community and the general public with their up to the minute, full-text news developments. Established in 1954, PR Newswire has offices in fourteen countries and routinely sends its customers' news to outlets in 135 countries in 27 languages. Utilizing the latest in communications technology, PR Newswire content is considered a mainstay among news reporters and investors as well as increasing numbers of private individuals. PR Newswire is a subsidiary of United Business Media plc of London www.unitedbusinessmedia.com

SOURCE: PR Newswire LLC; Hugin