ACNielsen and CROSSMARK Form Strategic Alliance.

Business Editors

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. and PLANO, Tex.--(BUSINESS WIRE)

July 18, 2001-

Industry-leading Sales & Marketing Firm Chooses

ACNielsen as Provider of Information-Based Sales Solutions

ACNielsen U.S., an operating unit of ACNielsen, a VNU company, and CROSSMARK(R), a leading sales and marketing agency serving clients in the global consumer products industry, today announced the formation of an alliance under which ACNielsen will become CROSSMARK's primary provider of actionable business and market-level information.

Under the agreement, a first between ACNielsen and a major U.S. consumer packaged goods broker, CROSSMARK will use ACNielsen's new Account Planner as its source of retailer-specific market information and insight. Developed expressly for sales agents, Account Planner delivers weekly data about retail sales covering all product categories at the UPC level. CROSSMARK will also adopt additional ACNielsen solutions, including SPACEMAN merchandising software.

"This relationship aligns seamlessly with several of our strategic initiatives," said Butch Smith, CROSSMARK'S chairman and chief executive officer. "ACNielsen is the clear leader and an innovator in market information and services, and our companies share a common vision about strengthening collaboration, communication and coordination within the consumer products value chain. Our job is to identify and implement the most effective solutions within the `go-to-market' process. Timely and actionable information is essential for increasing speed-to-shelf and for delivering greater ROI on promotional activities. Working with ACNielsen gives us access to our industry's most accurate and most usable market information and insight."

"We are delighted to form this alliance with CROSSMARK," said Tim Callahan, president, ACNielsen U.S. "This is an agreement that will bring the benefits of advanced market research information services to a broader base of clients in the consumer packaged goods industry. Our information and CROSSMARK'S sales and marketing services will strengthen the supply line and will ultimately add greater value for retailers and consumers."

A key element of the service ACNielsen will deliver to CROSSMARK is timely, store-specific information about distribution of its clients' products. "An out-of-stock condition in a key store in the middle of a promotion is a problem that must be corrected immediately," said John Thompson, president of the CROSSMARK Performance Group. "ACNielsen, which delivers market information faster than any other company in the market research industry, gives us the best opportunity to respond to sales obstacles with mission critical timing."

The agreement commences on August 1, 2001.

ACNielsen, a company of VNU N.V., is the world's leading market research firm, offering measurement and analysis of marketplace dynamics, consumer attitudes and behavior, and new and traditional media in more than 100 countries. Clients include leading consumer product manufacturers and retailers, service firms, media and entertainment companies and the Internet community.

CROSSMARK(R) provides sales, merchandising, marketing, consulting and outsourced management services to the business community. CROSSMARK, with headquarters in Plano, Texas, employs over 9,000 associates in 61 offices throughout the United States, Canada and Australia.

Note to Editors: Look for this press release and other ACNielsen news on the Internet at http://acnielsen.com/news and at www.crossmark.com.