Dutch Insurance Firm FBTO Achieves 29% Increase in Campaign Profitabil

    Business Editors/High-Tech Editors

    CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 18, 2005--Dutch insurance firm FBTO Verzekeringen has substantially improved the results of its direct marketing campaigns using SPSS predictive analytics software. SPSS (NASDAQ:SPSS), a worldwide leader in predictive analytics software, has helped FBTO realize a 29 percent increase in campaign profitability.
    FBTO serves more than 500,000 customers that hold more than one million car, health, home and life insurance policies.
    FBTO required a solution that could predict customer behavior and needs, and anticipate customer reactions to special offers. To meet these requirements, it chose
    PredictiveMarketing(TM) from SPSS over other applications on the basis of the accuracy of results and ease-of-use of the software.
    Enabling cross-campaign optimization, PredictiveMarketing allows FBTO to determine individual preferences regarding openness to multiple contacts and preferred distribution channels. This insight enables FBTO to select the best offer for each customer, instead of the best customers per campaign. As a result of better allocation of customers across different offers, campaigns have generated 29 percent more profit at the same cost of previous campaigns.
    FBTO has also realized new efficiencies across a number of marketing campaigns by deploying SPSS predictive analytics for campaign management. Comparing its previous approach of mass mailings to its new, more targeted approach, FBTO has decreased its direct mailing costs by 35 percent.
    Using SPSS to better target its customers, the company's conversion rate has also increased by more than 40 percent. FBTO's streamlined customer selection process has resulted in a 500 percent increase in the number of campaigns that can be run, without adding personnel to the FBTO marketing team.
    "SPSS enables our marketers to predict the effectiveness of campaigns and increase the efficiency of our entire campaign management process," said Jeroen Pronk, database marketing manager at FBTO.

    About FBTO

    FBTO is a Netherlands-based insurance company and part of the Achmea Group, one of the largest financial services providers in the Netherlands. FBTO serves more than 500,000 customers that hold more than one million car, health, home and life insurance policies. For additional information, please visit www.fbto.nl.

    About SPSS

    SPSS Inc. (NASDAQ:SPSS) is a leading worldwide provider of predictive analytics software and solutions. The company's predictive analytics technology connects data to effective action by drawing reliable conclusions about current conditions and critical future events. More than 250,000 commercial, academic, and public sector customers rely on SPSS technology to help increase revenue, reduce costs, improve important processes, and detect and prevent fraud. Founded in 1968, SPSS is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. For additional information, please visit www.spss.com.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This press release contains forward-looking information made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements can be identified by phrases such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "plans," "intends," "could," "designed," "should be" and other similar expressions which denote expectations of future events rather than statements of fact. These forward-looking statements involve factors that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties, which may not be currently ascertainable and many of which are beyond the Company's control, may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different than the results, performance or achievements expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Copies of these filings are available either on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or from the Company's investor relations department. In light of these risks and uncertainties, the inclusion of forward-looking statements in this press release should not be regarded as a representation by the Company that any future results, performance or achievements will be attained. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

    SPSS information is available on the World Wide Web through the SPSS Press Center at: www.spss.com/press

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CONTACT: SPSS Marc Brailov or Brian Schwartz 800-525-4980 pr@spss.com

KEYWORD: ILLINOIS NETHERLANDS INTERNATIONAL EUROPE INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HARDWARE INSURANCE BANKING ADVERTISING/MARKETING SOFTWARE SOURCE: SPSS

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