Total Information Services Announces Acquisition of STA United.

Business Editors

TULSA, Okla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 2, 2000

Total Information Services, Inc. (TISI) today announced the acquisition of STA United from Employment Screening Partners, Inc. (ESP) effective February 1, 2000. The transaction was announced jointly by Dick Wimbish, President of TISI, and Murray Lappe. MD, Chairman of ESP.

Total Information Services Inc. (TISI), headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, employs more than 300 people supplying public and proprietary information primarily to employers in the Trucking, Gaming and Healthcare industries. The company, under the trade name of DAC Services, maintains an employment history database that is a major source of employment data for the Trucking industry. The American Trucking Association and 38 state trucking associations endorse DAC Services. TISI also serves the Gaming industry and the Healthcare industry in a similar manner through the World Gaming Network (WGN) and Healthcare Employment Screening (HES). Record Search Inc. (RSI), acquired by TISI in September 1999 focuses on serving the airline, staffing, retail, and high tech markets.

STA is based in Lincoln, Nebraska and is a leading provider of pre and post employment drug screening services. With approximately 13,000 clients and a staff of 40 professionals, STA is believed to be the largest third party administrator of drug and alcohol testing services for the transportation industry. STA is also endorsed by The American Trucking Association and 35 state trucking associations.

In commenting on the merger, Dick Wimbish, President of TISI stated &uot;The addition of STA to TISI significantly expands DAC's pre-employment services to the transportation industry and provides important resources to TISI's growing pre-employment screening business in other industries. We look forward to the increased opportunities the combination of the two companies will create.&uot;

Bob Wekesser, President of STA said &uot;STA is proud to join a company that has an outstanding reputation in the industry. Our affiliation with TISI will provide our employees with additional opportunities for development and growth; and our respective clients will benefit from access to a broader assortment of pre-employment screening services.&uot; TISI is a subsidiary of The Official Information Company (T.O.I.C.) based in New York City. The Official Information Company is a diversified business media company principally involved in (1) business-to-business communications, publishing and related services and (2) business and professional information. TOIC's principal businesses include: Galaxy Information Services LLC, the largest provider of trade show and convention, registration, exhibitor information, lead management and housing, travel and event planning services in the U.S. Atwood Publishing, LLC, the largest domestic independent publisher of exposition and association publications and directories; GEM Communications LLC, the premiere gaming industry publisher and tradeshow operator; InterGame Limited, the premiere UK-based gaming and amusement industry publisher; Total Information Services, Inc., the leading pre-employment screening service for the trucking and transportation industry. For the fiscal year ending December 1998, TOIC posted revenues of $96 million. TOIC's web-site can be found at www.toic.com.

TOIC is majority owned by VS& Communication Partners II, L.P., the private equity affiliate of Veronis Suhler. Veronis Suhler (www.veronissuhler.com) is an independent merchant bank dedicated exclusively to the media, communications, and information industries. The firm specializes in mergers and acquisitions, the sale of media properties and companies, joint ventures, and management buy-outs.