CHICAGO, Jan. 9, 2001 -- The following is being issued by William Blair & Company L.L.C., a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, CRD# 1252:

William Blair & Company today issued its 150th 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 12 to 24 months.

The current list includes Baxter International Inc., The Home Depot, Inc., Solectron Corporation, and United Parcel Service, Inc. in the $5 billion-plus market capitalization range; Express Scripts, Inc., Jones Apparel Group, Inc., Renal Care Group, Inc., and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in the $1 billion - $5 billion range; and G&K Services, Inc. and ICON plc with a market capitalization below $1 billion.

"Aside from lower interest rates, United Parcel Service's 2001 financial results also should benefit from the new China air routes, a stronger Eurodollar, lower fuel prices, and better results from UPS' logistics businesses, which have been in the investment spending mode the past few years," said analyst Jeff Medford.

Analyst Bob Simonson noted that Royal Caribbean is approaching an important inflection point in its earnings pattern.

"We expect earnings in fourth quarter 2000 and first quarter 2001 will prove to be the most difficult year-over-year comparisons of this cycle and to then turn positive and begin an accelerating pattern in the second quarter of this year," Simonson said. "With a modest valuation of 11 times our 2001 EPS estimate, and a turn in earnings momentum expected, we believe the stock is very attractive for current purchase."

The selection process for placing a company on the list is based on input from the research department's 35 equity analysts. Once a list is published, no changes in the stocks are made over the ensuing two-year performance period.

Additional information is available upon request.

William Blair & Company, L.L.C. was manager or co-manager of a public offering within the last three years for ICON plc and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

William Blair & Company, L.L.C. maintains a market in the common shares of Express Scripts, Inc., G&K Services, Inc., ICON plc, and Renal Care Group, Inc.

William Blair & Company, L.L.C. is an employee-owned financial services 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.