NEW YORK, April 15, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Stockgroup Information Systems Inc. (OTCBB:SWEB) (TSX Venture Exchange:SWB) a leading financial media and technology company, and AP Digital, a division of The Associated Press that provides news and information to interactive markets, announced today that they have signed a licensing agreement with Netster.com.
As a result of the agreement Netster.com, one of the fastest growing search engines on the Web, will use AP Financial Tools, a suite of news, market data and financial applications powered by Stockgroup's Financial Content Software System and provided by AP Digital. Netster.com is now able to offer its audience these turnkey solutions that present and manage quotes, charts, user portfolios, technical analysis, watch lists and more, through its portal site www.netster.com.
Stockgroup's Financial Content Software System includes a suite of more than 30 proprietary financial and software tools and 100 different data sources. Stockgroup developed and configured the AP-branded applications, while AP Digital provides the business news feeds that integrate with Stockgroup's tools. The companies work together to support AP Digital's sales and marketing efforts through joint training, marketing and customer support.
"We chose the AP Financial Tools solution because of its completely integrated platform of financial data, content and software applications that can be added to our existing AP service," stated Bill Marcas, CEO of Netster.com. "Having access to financial information and sophisticated decision-making applications is a primary need of our millions of users and customers."
"We are pleased with the progression of sales to date of AP Financial Tools, developed as a result of our relationship with Stockgroup," said Thomas E. Slaughter, vice president and director of AP Digital. "This suite of financial applications, market data and AP news provides a flexible, scalable financial data solution with reduced development time and costs for our commercial customers."
Marcus New, CEO of Stockgroup said, "Our Financial Content Software System provides growing businesses like Netster.com the scalable, critical financial information their customers demand. This combination of AP and Stockgroup products chosen by Netster.com conforms to the requirements of both traditional and new media firms. Netster.com will be one of many firms using AP Financial Tools to expand their client service and achieve cost reduction goals."
ABOUT NETSTER.COM
Netster.com is one of the fastest growing search engines on the Web and is now ranked among the top 500 most-visited sites in the world. In addition to providing in-house search results, Netster.com holds strategic partnerships with the top search-technology companies, allowing it to provide users with accurate and content-relevant searches from a base of over three billion Web sites.
While search results remain the focus of the site, becoming a complete-destination portal is a top priority. Providing quality content from providers such as AP and Stockgroup has now become a key element to success for Netster.com and its newly released Smart Browse technology. This downloadable toolbar provides top AP headlines, worldwide weather forecasts, stock quotes, games, e-mail and a number of other content options that are accessible with a click of a button. A free download can be found at: http://www.netster.com/smartbrowse/promo.asp
ABOUT AP DIGITAL
A division of The Associated Press, AP Digital offers news services containing text, photos, audio, graphics and video on a wide variety of topics to the Web and wireless markets.
ABOUT THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Associated Press, founded in 1848, is the world's oldest and largest newsgathering organization, providing news content in text, audio, video, graphics and photos to more than 15,000 news outlets with a daily reach of more than 1 billion people worldwide. AP's multimedia services are distributed by satellite and the Internet to more than 120 nations. For more information about AP Digital, visit www.apdigitalnews.com. For more information about The Associated Press, please visit www.ap.org.
ABOUT STOCKGROUP
Stockgroup Information Systems Inc. is a financial media and technology company. It is a leading provider of private labeled financial content and software solutions to media, corporate and financial services companies. Stockgroup employs proprietary technologies that enable its clients to provide financial data streams and news combined with cutting edge fundamental, technical, productivity and disclosure tools to their customers, shareholders and employees at a fraction of the cost of traditional internal methods. Stockgroup is also a provider of Public Company Disclosure and Awareness Products for publicly traded companies. Its financial Web sites including www.stockhouse.com, www.stockhouse.ca and www.smallcapcenter.com are state-of-the-art online research centers for the investment community. To find out more about Stockgroup (OTCBB:SWEB) (TSX Venture Exchange:SWB), visit our website at www.stockgroup.com.
This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21B of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, goals, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are based on expectations, estimates and projections at the time the statements are made that involve a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those presently anticipated. Forward-looking statements in this action may be identified through the use of words such as "expects", "will," "anticipates," "estimates," "believes," or statements indicating certain actions "may," "could," or "might" occur.
The TSX Venture has neither approved nor disapproved this news release.