NEW YORK (September 10, 2002) -- The Official Information Company announced today that the holders of all of its outstanding stock had executed an agreement to sell its pre-employment screening business, Total Information Services, Inc., to US Investigations Services, Inc., Annandale, PA, for a purchase price of $245 million (subject to adjustment with respect to working capital at the time of the closing). The agreement has been approved by the board of directors of US Investigations Services. Consummation of the transaction is subject to compliance with regulatory requirements and certain other conditions. It is contemplated that the transaction will be consummated in October.

While the pending transaction will be structured as a sale of the stock of The Official Information Company, the other businesses of The Official Information Company (ExpoExchange, LLC, Atwood Publishing, LLC and GEM Communications, LLC) are not being sold in connection with this transaction. TOIC continues to be owned by VS&A Communications Partners II, L.P., the private equity affiliate of New York merchant bank Veronis Suhler Stevenson, along with and Fir Tree Partners.

Contact:

The Official Information Company

Brian Meyer
(

VS&A

Scott Troeller
(