PR Newswire and The Archipelago Exchange (ArcaEx®) today announced a partnership to provide companies listed on ArcaEx, a facility of the Pacific Exchange (PCX), with services designed to assist in communications to investors, regulatory agencies and the media.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000306/PRNLOGO )

The partnership with PR Newswire provides ArcaEx's corporate clients with access to PR Newswire's suite of products. Clients will be able to disclose company news simultaneously to investors and the media around the world through PR Newswire's distribution network. The partnership also provides ArcaEx clients with access to PR Newswire's Edgar Express service for filing financial documents directly to the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission's Edgar database.

"This partnership affords ArcaEx's corporate clients a 'tried and tested' disclosure system," said Dave Armon, chief operating officer of PR Newswire. "Not only will they be able to meet their company disclosure requirements in both a cost effective and efficient manner, but the partnership will also help them increase their exposure among shareholders, investors and institutions by communicating to a broad audience."

"We are very excited with the partnership that we have forged with PR Newswire," said Jenny Drake, Managing Director with ArcaEx's Corporate Client Group. "By partnering with a recognized industry leader like PR Newswire, we will be able to deliver additional value added services to our corporate clients and to our growing roster of listed companies."

PR Newswire will also be offering ArcaEx's corporate clients access to its NewsPrompt™ news monitoring and alerting service, enabling them to stay abreast of the latest breaking business and financial news on their company, their competitors, or their industry.

Currently more than 230 companies are listed by PCX for trading on ArcaEx. As the first totally open all-electronic stock exchange in the United States, ArcaEx offers corporate issuers and investors the advantages of meeting directly, without intermediaries within a fully electronic and totally transparent environment. ArcaEx trades all Nasdaq-listed equity securities and exchange listed equity securities, including those traded on the New York Stock Exchange®, American Stock Exchange® and Pacific Exchange®.

About PR Newswire

Now in its 50th year, PR Newswire Association LLC (http://www.prnewswire.com/) provides electronic distribution, targeting, measurement, translation and broadcast services on behalf of some 40,000 corporate, government, association, labor, non-profit, and other customers worldwide. Using PR Newswire, these organizations reach a variety of critical audiences including the news media, the investment community, government decision-makers, and the general public with their up-to-the-minute, full-text news developments.

Established in 1954, PR Newswire has offices in 11 countries and routinely sends its customers' news to outlets in 135 countries and in 30 languages. Utilizing the latest in communications technology, PR Newswire content is considered a mainstay among news reporters, investors and individuals who seek breaking news from the source. PR Newswire's leading services include ProfNet ExpertsSM, eWatch™, MEDIAtlas™, NewsPrompt™, Search Engine Visibility (SEV) and MultiVu™. PR Newswire is a subsidiary of United Business Media plc of London.

About the Archipelago Exchange (ArcaEx®)

The Archipelago Exchange (ArcaEx®) is the first totally open all- electronic stock exchange in the United States. ArcaEx trades all Nasdaq- listed equity securities and exchange listed equity securities, including those traded on the New York Stock Exchange®, American Stock Exchange® and Pacific Exchange®. ArcaEx offers corporate issuers and investors the advantages of meeting directly, without intermediaries within a fully electronic and totally transparent environment. ArcaEx is a facility of and regulated by the PCX, a registered exchange. ArcaEx was approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission in October 2001 and ArcaEx began trading operations in March 2002. The Archipelago ECN, a precursor to ArcaEx, was one of the four original ECNs, formed in December 1996 with Townsend Analytics. For more information please visit http://www.arcaex.com/.

   CONTACT:

   Archipelago
   Margaret Nagle
   312-442-7083

   Jason Rando
   On behalf of PR Newswire
   646-536-7025
   jrando@theruthgroup.com

SOURCE: PR Newswire Association LLC; The Archipelago Exchange