Wave Issue 0507 2/18/05 Article 2-01

***National survey: Four in ten technology companies
anticipate a change in ownership within the next decade

CHICAGO
Feb. 14, 2005

As competition continues to increase and companies battle to
win new customers, executives of technology companies are not
ruling out a possible change of ownership in the next decade,
reports a new survey conducted by Grant Thornton LLP, the
accounting, tax and business advisory firm.

According to the Grant Thornton Survey of U.S. Business
Leaders, 42 percent of technology respondents expect a change
in company ownership in the next 10 years, while only 30
percent of all companies nationally feel the same. Among those
who expect this change, 39 percent believe a merger is most
likely, while 30 percent anticipate a trade sale.

The majority of these companies (61 percent) are already
starting to make preparations for such a change, with 79
percent already identifying their personal/business needs, as
well seeking out external business and/or tax advice. In
addition, 64 percent of respondents have also upgraded their
corporate governance/internal procedures and communicated with
their staff in anticipation of this process.

Additional findings from the survey include:

* Three-quarters (73 percent) report they are optimistic about
the economy’s growth in the next six months.

* Almost all (95 percent) say they are optimistic about the
growth of their own business.

* Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of respondents also plan to
increase their headcount over the next six months; and

* Eighty-nine percent are on pace to meet or exceed their
sales targets (22 percent exceed and 67 percent on target).

About the survey

The 10th edition of Survey of U.S. Business Leaders, with a
focus on the business implications of branding, is now
available. To order a full copy of the report, visit Grant
Thornton’s Web site at

www.grantthornton.com/blcsurvey