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William Blair & Company Issues 157th Current Better Values List

CHICAGO, Mar 13, 2002 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- William Blair & Company today issued its 157th Current Better Values List, a bimonthly publication initiated in 1976 that includes a small, select group of companies -- chosen by the director of research -- that the department expects will show superior investment performance over the next 24 months.

The current list includes Cardinal Health, Inc. and First Data Corporation in the $10 billion-plus market capitalization range; C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., Circuit City Stores, Inc. -- CarMax Group, Family Dollar Stores, Inc., Intuit, Inc., Jabil Circuit, Inc., and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in the $1.5 billion-$10 billion range; and The Advisory Board Company and Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated in the below-$1.5 billion market capitalization group.

Analyst Franco Turrinelli estimated that First Data, the largest consumer payments processor in the United States, "would be able to sustain high-teens growth in revenue and earnings per share for the next three to five years."

"We believe the combination of attractive market opportunity in the United States and internationally; favorable mix shifts among the company's businesses; impressive managerial, operational, and financial resources; favorable secular trends toward increasing numbers of electronic payments; and the attractive business model characteristics all point to a strong long-term investment opportunity," he added.

Analyst John Kreger said he believes Cardinal Health is the "premier large-cap, health care services company, given its record of consistent execution, above-industry-average growth rates, leading positions in the markets it serves, diverse base of health care businesses, and excellent management team."

"Throughout the slowdown in the domestic pharmaceutical industry during 2001, Cardinal continued to deliver EPS growth of 20% or more," Kreger added. "With signs now beginning to emerge that retail pharmacy growth has reached an inflection point for Cardinal's two largest customers, Walgreens and CVS, we believe Cardinal may experience some P/E-multiple expansion."

The selection process for placing a company on the list is based importantly on input from the research department's equity analysts. Once a list is published, no changes in the stocks are made over the ensuing two-year performance period.

William Blair & Company, L.L.C. was manager or co-manager of a public offering within the last three years for The Advisory Board Company, Circuit City Stores, Inc. -- CarMax Group, Intuit, Inc., Jabil Circuit, Inc., and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

A principal of William Blair & Company, L.L.C. is a member of the board of directors of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated.

William Blair & Company, L.L.C. acted as a financial advisor within the last three years for Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated.

William Blair & Company, L.L.C. maintains a market in the common shares of The Advisory Board Company, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., and Intuit, Inc.

William Blair & Company, L.L.C. is an independent investment firm offering investment banking, equity research, institutional and private brokerage, asset management and private capital to individual, institutional and issuing clients. Since 1935, the Chicago-based firm has been dedicated to helping its clients achieve their financial objectives by providing quality products and services. Located in Chicago, Hartford, London, New York, San Francisco, Tokyo, Vaduz, and Zurich, William Blair & Company is entrusted with more than $22 billion in client assets. For more information, please visit www.williamblair.com .

William Blair & Company, L.L.C. is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, CRD number 1252.

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SOURCE William Blair & Company, L.L.C.

CONTACT: Tony Zimmer of William Blair & Company, L.L.C.,
[phone], [e-mail]

URL: http://www.williamblair.com
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