Contacts: Mark Knowles or Gary Reese
InsiderAdvantage.com
770-432-3267

InsiderAdvantage.com Acquires The Suppliers Directory

ATLANTA, Feb. 12, 2002 - InsiderAdvantage.com, the national Internet-based source of government-related information and consulting services, announced the purchase of The Suppliers Directory (http://www.suppliers-directory.com). The Boise, Idaho, company publishes the leading directory of government suppliers in the Pacific Northwest.

The acquisition adds considerable value for customers of InsiderAdvantage.com and GovernmentBids.com-already the flagship resource for companies that do business with governments-and continues a steady pattern of strategic acquisitions by InsiderAdvantage.com since its launch April 2000.

"The combined companies can help clients mobilize key contacts and coordinate communications that are essential for doing business with government," said IA Chairman Matt Towery. "This partnership is another piece of our aggressive plan to create, acquire and aggregate sources of information concerning government and business."

The Suppliers Directory, published annually since 1995, matches public companies and organizations with suppliers to efficiently and effectively meet the needs of both parties. The company serves over 350 suppliers and over 25,000 buyers, and has direct contacts with purchasing departments across the entire Northwest, as well as private industry businesses and Internet services.

"Suppliers expect quick access to procurement opportunities. InsiderAdvantage.com's GovernmentBids listing service provides this tool. We expect to quickly grow The Suppliers Directory though GovernmentBids.com's new Partners! service to more than 20,000 listings," said Curtis Hitchcock, President of The Suppliers Directory. The acquisition will add substantial value for clients of both companies. InsiderAdvantage.com will be better able to keep subscribers in direct contact with government buyers from local, state and federal agencies, while Suppliers Directory customers will have direct access to InsiderAdvantage.com's proprietary information on forthcoming but unannounced opportunities to do business with state and local governments. InsiderAdvantage.com's coverage of active procurement listings currently extends to more than 12,500 federal, state, provincial and local agencies in the United States, Canada, and Australia.

The company serves more than 14,000 registered subscribers worldwide. "Its amazing that in three short years InsiderAdvantage.com has grown to this level of service," said Mark Knowles, InsiderAdvantage.com President & CEO. "We are well on pace to hit our goal of 20,000 subscribers by spring."

Company founders are former state representative Matt Towery and former Georgia Lt. Governor Pierre Howard. IA clients have the option of choosing subscription-based products that include active and upcoming procurement information, legislative analysis, business trends analysis, and state political news. You can learn more about any of IA's products by contacting Mark Knowles at 770.432.3267.

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