SPSS Inc. Acquires LexiQuest, Inc.

Business Editors

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 22, 2002

Expands Data Mining Capabilities to Include Text Mining

Broadening and deepening its industry leading predictive analytics solutions with the addition of innovative text mining software, SPSS Inc. (Nasdaq: SPSS) a worldwide provider of analytical technology, acquired LexiQuest Inc., a leader in the development of linguistics-based information management software. The acquisition combines LexiQuest's proven expertise in linguistics-based text mining and SPSS data mining capabilities, strengthening the company's leadership position in predictive analytics by tapping into the vast volumes of information locked in text documents.

"We live in a text-rich environment," said Jack Noonan, president and chief executive officer, SPSS Inc. "Estimates suggest that more than 80 percent of the information available today exists in some type of text format whether it is reports, e-mail messages, research documents or other text-rich information sources. There is a tremendous amount of data that traditional data mining cannot access directly. By combining text mining and traditional data mining technologies our customers will have access to a wealth of undiscovered information to make effective decisions. It stands to reason that good information drives good decisions, and text mining adds a new dimension to effective decision-making."

"Text mining enables forward-thinking companies to uncover new business insights in their customer correspondence, product research, and competitive intelligence data," commented Andrew Braunberg, senior analyst at Current Analysis. "By integrating text mining into its data mining solution, SPSS is significantly expanding the utility of its offering."

LexiQuest is recognized for its expertise in computational linguistics and Natural Language Processing (NLP), two technologies which are fundamental to text mining. NLP analyzes everyday human language to understand the meaning of each word, sentence structure and overall concepts. Current LexiQuest customers are in text-intensive markets such as pharmaceutical, finance, government, information technology and law.

"The experience of LexiQuest in the field of linguistic engineering was a strong guarantee in selecting the technology," said current LexiQuest customer Marc Guichard, head of Prospective and International Relations, INIST-CNRS. INIST (Institute for Scientific and Technical Information) is a service unit of the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) whose mission is to collect, analyze and disseminate the results and findings of international scientific research. INIST has a collection of documents in science, technology, medicine, humanities and social sciences of 26,000 periodical titles and close to 250,000 monographs.

LexiQuest technology has been implemented by customers that include Bristol-Myers Squibb, General Electric and Banque de France. PSA Peugeot Citroen Group, a major player in the European automobile industry, uses LexiQuest technology to watch the Internet for market trends.

"The strength of SPSS is the depth and breadth of their technology and expertise in data mining and statistical analysis; the technologies that make predictive analytics possible," said Bruno Henry, former chief executive officer of LexiQuest Inc. "Combining the technologies of both companies will give our customers the best data mining has to offer."

SPSS BI, a leader in business intelligence products and solutions, is the first of the company's division to sell LexiQuest technology. This acquisition expands and enhances the division's offerings in data mining, which already includes Clementine, the leading data mining tool. SPSS Inc. supports LexiQuest technology worldwide, and will continue to enhance its new text mining capability. The transaction is valued at $2.5 million. Transaction details are available in the 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements. Such statements can be identified by phrases such as "should be," "can generate," and "expects." Such statements also involve known and unknown risks, including market conditions and competition, 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, especially in Asia; 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. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to materially differ from those in the forward-looking statements is contained in SPSS' periodic reports (copies of which are available from SPSS upon request).

About SPSS Inc.

SPSS Inc. (Nasdaq: SPSS) headquartered in Chicago, IL, USA, is a multinational computer software company providing technology that transforms data into insight through the use of predictive analytics and other data mining techniques. The company's solutions and products enable organizations to manage the future by learning from the past, understanding the present, as well as predicting potential problems and opportunities. For more information, visit www.spss.com.