TEI and RIA extend affinity contract: member benefits expanded with discounts now available on online programs offered by MicroMash.

Tax Executives Institute and RIA have agreed to extend their affinity contract through 2008, yielding significant benefits for both parties as well as for the members of TEI. RIA is a part of The Thomson Corporation and is the premier provider of technology and information solutions to tax professionals. RIA includes such resources as Checkpoint[R] and the treatises and newsletters of Warren, Gorham & Lamont. The affinity agreement guarantees TEI members significant discounts on both new and renewal subscriptions. In addition, the new agreement includes online courses developed by MicroMash, an RIA business, within the scope of the discounts, enabling TEI members to earn CPE credit from their desks. The contract also continues the discounts long available in respect of Carswell, another Thomson business and Canada's leader in tax information. Finally, under the affinity agreement, TEI has the opportunity to assist RIA in the development and assessment of tax information solutions by maintaining an Editorial Advisory Board of TEI members.

"We are excited to continue our longstanding relationship with TEI and its members in support of their mission to enhance and improve the tax system," said Steve Zelman, Senior Vice President, Content Operations. "RIA continues to provide products and solutions, such as Checkpoint, to help tax professionals, including TEI members, work most efficiently."

"RIA has been TEI's exclusive affinity partner for tax research for almost a decade, having previously worked with the Institute to provide significant discounts to TEI members. The relationship has been mutually beneficial," according to TEI President Michael P. Boyle. "Our members have greatly benefited from the high quality of the products, as well as the discounts offered. We are pleased to extend the contract and continue offering timely, accurate, authoritative, and cost-effective services to TEI members and their staffs."

Mr. Boyle explained that TEI's relationship with RIA benefits the organization in at least three ways. "First, RIA affords TEI members a significant discount on the full range of RIA products, including the web-based Checkpoint tax research tool and the unparalleled Warren, Gorham & Lamont tax treatises and journals. We are pleased to be able to add the Micro-Mash products to this list," he said.

"Secondly, the relationship affords TEI members the opportunity to provide RIA with input on evolving corporate tax needs and how RIA can adapt and enhance its products to satisfy those needs," Mr. Boyle continued. "Finally, RIA's financial support enables the Institute to engage in a full complement of educational, networking, and advocacy programs and, hence, helps the Institute pursue its vision of being the preeminent association of business tax professionals." Mr. Boyle also noted that the agreement also provides for RIA to advertise in TEI's publications, to become a conference sponsor, and to assist the Institute in expanding its membership.

Under the affinity agreement, TEI members are eligible for new and renewal purchase discounts on all tax information products and services marketed under the RIA branded lines (RIA and Warren, Gorham & Lamont), as well as Carswell's CD-ROM, Web-based, and print products and the MicroMash on-line CPE courses. The affinity discounts for TEI members are over and above most other discounts and promotions regularly offered by RIA to its customers. The agreement also provides for RIA to furnish TEI members with discounts on publications such as RIA's Internal Revenue Code, Federal Tax Regulations, and Federal Tax Handbook, and Carswell's Practitioner's Income Tax Act, Stikeman's Income Tax Act, Practitioner's GST Annotated, and Practitioner's Ontario Taxes Annotated in Canada.

In addition, the TEI-RIA Editorial Advisory Board provides a forum for TEI members to provide their feedback on existing RIA products as well as their ideas on satisfying the evolving tax-information needs of the business tax community.

TEI members with questions about the RIA discounts under the affinity program should contact their field sales force agent.

RIA, a business of The Thomson Corporation and a part of Thomson Tax & Accounting, is the premier provider of technology and information to tax professionals, providing the most comprehensive and innovative tax research and information products as well as industry-leading tax compliance software. Tax Executives Institute is the preeminent association of in-house tax professionals in the world. With chapters in Europe, Asia, Canada, and the United States, the Institute supports networking among corporate tax executives, sponsors more than 600 educational programs a year (through the Institute and locally), and engages in advocacy work in behalf of the business community.