First Call corporation signs distribution agreement with Paribas Capital Markets for Research Direct; Paribas Capital Markets' complete research reports are now available on-line exclusively from First Call Research Direct.

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 19, 1995--First Call Corporation, the leading distributor of real-time commingled research and earnings estimates, today announced that Paribas Capital Markets has agreed to provide its research reports exclusively to First Call Research Direct for electronic delivery to institutional clients worldwide. Research Direct users will be able to gain immediate, on-line access to company and industry research reports from Paribas Capital Markets effective immediately.

Ranked as a top brokerage firm by the industry standard survey conducted and published by FT Extel, Paribas Capital Markets joins the most prominent broker research firms on Wall Street, including eight of Institutional Investor's top 10 ranked firms.

"Clients increasingly require on-line access to research," says Peter Beck, global head of equity brokerage of Paribas Capital Markets. "And First Call Research Direct enables us to meet this need efficiently."

"Widely recognized as a leader in the European equity markets, Paribas Capital Markets covers more than 500 European companies," said Bruce Fador, president of First Call Corporation. "We're pleased to expand our global coverage and welcome Paribas Capital Markets to First Call Research Direct."

The First Call Research Direct system now delivers approximately 34,000 complete equity research reports -- including all text, charts, graphs, color, and formatting -- electronically from 30 of the most prestigious sell-side firms to more than 140 of the world's largest institutional money management firms, representing more than 1,690 desktop views.

"Paribas Capital Markets adds global coverage to First Call Research Direct's impressive list of committed brokerage firms that have evaluated electronic distribution options for its research reports," says Robert Garrigan, general manager, First Call Research Direct of First Call Corporation, U.K. "Ranked as one of Europe's top brokers, Paribas Capital Markets produces in-depth research reports offering critical insight and valued perspectives on a range of European companies."

Paribas Capital Markets is the capital markets operation of Banque Paribas, the leading international investment bank founded in 1872. Recognized as a leader in the fixed income and equity markets, Paribas Capital Markets draws on the expertise of over 2,200 people around the world based in London, Paris, Frankfurt, New York, Tokyo, Singapore, and other offices. Paribas Capital Markets provides a comprehensive range of products and services in the primary and secondary bond and equity markets; currency and interest rate swaps and options; fixed income and equity derivative products; and specialized instruments. With more than 40 sector and country analysts, Paribas Capital Markets' Equity Research Department covers over 500 European companies.

First Call is the premier source of real-time, commingled equity research and corporate financial information. Serving institutional clients since 1985, First Call provides access to analysts morning meeting notes and intraday research broadcasts from major North American and international brokerage firms; full-text corporate press releases from more than 1,000 companies; timely earnings estimates on 13,000 companies as provided by leading research firms; and a fundamental database covering 5,500 public companies. First Call is also the leading provider of on-line equity research reports through First Call Research Direct, as well as a leader in delivery of research, news and commentary on the fixed-income markets via First Call BondCall. Boston-based First Call is part of Thomson Financial Services, a leading provider of quality financial information, research, analysis, and software products to the worldwide financial and corporate communities.

CONTACT: Matt Zachowski

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