Two Big I's - Internet and International - Power U.S. Growth Companies into Year 2000; Substantial Growth in Corporate Investments and New Hiring Planned Over Next 12 Months, PricewaterhouseCoopers Finds.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 20, 1999

PricewaterhouseCoopers' "Trendsetter Barometer" interviewed

CEOs of 452 product and service companies identified in the media

as the fastest growing U.S. businesses over the last five years. The

surveyed companies range in size from approximately $1 million to

$50 million in revenue/sales.

Looking into the year 2000, CEOs of America's fastest growing companies are buoyed by the U.S. and world economies, and their own growth momentum. They see their future through "two big I's," Internet and international. Each represents significant opportunity, and consequently, "Trendsetter" companies are cranking up increased investments for corporate and human capital - which in turn will contribute to continuation of the long-running economic expansion. These are the highlights from the latest "Trendsetter Barometer," released today by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the world's largest professional services organization.

For a copy of the complete news release on this topic, including charts, please visit our website: www.barometersurveys.com