SPSS Acquires VerbaSTAT; Market Research Group Adds Product for Coding Open-Ended Survey Questions.

Business Editors

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 24, 1999

Adding to its offering of market research software products, SPSS Inc. (Nasdaq:SPSS) has acquired the VerbaSTAT product from DataSTAT, S.A. for approximately $1 million cash. VerbaSTAT is a software tool for computer aided coding of open-ended survey questions.

SPSS plans to continue marketing and supporting the VerbaSTAT product. "This acquisition is part of the ongoing strategy in our SPSS MR group to be the leading end-to-end supplier of market research products," said Jack Noonan, president and CEO of SPSS Inc. "The addition of VerbaSTAT is another indication of our commitment to offer a line of products that meet the needs of our market research and survey research customers."

VerbaSTAT's classification and coding modules are used by market research companies to import open verbatim questions from CATI (Computer Aided Telephone Interviewing), CAPI (Computer Aided Personal Interviewing) or CAWI (Computer Aided Web Interviewing) systems. Users can then export the coded data file for further analysis in SPSS. For short surveys, companies use VerbaSTAT for data entry, classification and coding of both open and closed end questions.

Belgium-based DataSTAT specializes in reliable, affordable and professional solutions for market research and opinion poll data treatment. Serge Luyens, creator of VerbaSTAT will join SPSS and will continue development efforts for VerbaSTAT and for other SPSS products.

SPSS MR is the worldwide leader in technologies for market research and provides market research firms with integrated solutions throughout the entire research process, from survey design and data collection to advanced analysis and publishing. These solutions are genuinely end-to-end, accommodating the entire spectrum of industry needs. The purchase of the VerbaSTAT product marks the fourth market research product and/or company SPSS has acquired in the last three years. In 1997, SPSS acquired Quantime Ltd. and In2itive Technologies, both industry leading market research software companies. In 1998 the company acquired Surveycraft Pty. Ltd. The acquisition of the VerbaSTAT product further solidifies the company's position as the leading provider of market research software.

SafeHarbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements. Such statements can be identified by phrases such as "plans to" and "we expect." Such statements also involve known and unknown risks which may cause the company's actual results, performance, achievements, or industry results, to be materially different than any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in or by such forward-looking statements. By way of example and not limitation, known risks and uncertainties include changes in market conditions; continued stable relationships with partners; success in incorporating VentoMap solutions into SPSS' organization; success in integrating SPSS' analytical components into Vento products; changes and/or product demand and acceptance; the competitive environment; product release schedules; and currency fluctuations. In light of these and other risks and uncertainties, the inclusion of a forward-looking statement in this release should not be regarded as a representation by the company that any future results, performance or achievements will be attained. The company assumes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release.

About SPSS Inc.

SPSS Inc., a multinational software and services company, is a leader in business intelligence, especially data mining and customer relationship management. The company delivers enterprise solutions to key vertical markets including: telecommunications, healthcare, banking, finance, insurance, manufacturing, retail, consumer packaged goods, market research and the public sector. With products running on all major computer platforms and translated in several languages, SPSS helps organizations leverage information to increase revenues and improve processes.

Founded in 1968, the company has more than 40 offices, nearly 900 employees and 1998 revenues of $121 million. The company also has won the following awards: ranked No. 70 on Forbes 1999 list of the "200 best small companies" and as the 22nd most profitable company on the Nasdaq exchange by Equities magazine; granted 1999 World Class Solution award in business intelligence and named "best decision support system for business intelligence" in the 1999 RealWare award competition; named No. 14 in DM Review's 1999 Data Warehouse Top 100; placed No. 23 on the 1999 Soft-letter 100, a ranking of the top 100 personal computer software companies in the United States; and No. 97 in the 1999 Software 500, a ranking of the world's largest software vendors by Software Magazine. Headquartered in Chicago, SPSS has offices and distributors around the world. For more information, visit www.spss.com.