Zacks Investment Research Chooses RealTick(R) as a Preferred Real-Time Market Data Partner

CHICAGO, May 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Townsend Analytics (http://www.townsendanalytics.com/), a leading provider of multi-broker, multi-asset, multi-currency, and multi-route electronic trading solutions for the global capital markets, has been selected by Zacks Investment Research to provide buy-side clients with real-time market data, news and analytics from Townsend's RealTick EMS (http://www.realtick.com/).

Zacks is a highly-respected provider of independent equity research and analysis to the financial community. Initially Zacks will distribute Townsend's standalone RealTick application and premium real-time content to its clients and expand on the existing equity research offering of Zacks Company Profile, Earnings Estimates, and Snapshot information, currently offered within RealTick.

The partnership enables Zacks to further integrate RealTick's real-time content with its own proprietary range of quantitative and fundamental tools, to offer its institutional clients a true value-added trading experience complete with decision-making and analytical tools.

"Our clients want rich, real-time data and news, sophisticated analytics and seamless technology, so RealTick was the natural choice," says Adam Cohen, Vice President of Institutional Services at Zacks. "This partnership combines the strengths of both firms to create a comprehensive, broker-neutral offering that meets the evolving needs of our buy-side clients."

"We're extremely pleased that one of the most respected providers of independent stock research has chosen RealTick to partner with," comments Lawrence Hansen, Head of Content Services for Townsend Analytics. "This not only cements RealTick's position as a superior provider of real-time data, news and analytics, but also allows us to expand our reach of offerings in North America through Zacks distributorship."

RealTick delivers a wide range of North American, European and Asian-Pacific market data and trading capability across equity, futures, options, fixed income, and foreign exchange markets, unlimited depth of book, advanced research and analytical tools, risk and account management tools, as well as direct trading connectivity to major pools of liquidity such as listed exchanges in the U.S. and overseas, ECNs and broker specific destinations.

About RealTick

RealTick, created by Townsend Analytics, is the electronic trading industry's premier multi-asset, multi-broker, and multi-route direct-access trading platform. RealTick delivers real-time market data, news and analytics; sophisticated trading tools; unrivaled access to brokers, exchanges and ECNs; and risk management tools to institutions, broker-dealers and individual investors. RealTick's advanced technical design is supported by state-of-the-art data centers and a redundant network for market data and orders. For more information, visit http://www.realtick.com/. *RealTick is a registered trademark of Townsend Analytics, Ltd.

About Townsend Analytics

Townsend Analytics has been changing the way the world trades since 1985. The Chicago-based company created many technology innovations that are now considered standards in the financial services industry. These include the first real-time financial software under Microsoft Windows(R); the first product to provide real-time streaming data over the Internet; the first integrated solution for Nasdaq trading rooms; and the first Windows-based direct-access trading solution. Townsend Analytics also developed Archipelago and the Archipelago Exchange, the nation's first all-electronic, fully open exchange. The firm has engineered direct-access solutions for money managers, asset managers, hedge funds and mutual funds worldwide. The firm's four main lines of business include Trading Services, Content Services, Exchange Services, and Risk Management Services. Townsend Analytics, Ltd. is a wholly owned, independently-operated subsidiary of Lehman Brothers (ticker symbol: LEH). For more information, visit http://www.townsendanalytics.com/.

About Zacks Investment Research

Founded in 1978, Zacks Investment Research has more than 25 years of experience in providing institutional and individual investors with the analytical tools and financial information necessary to the success of their investment process. Zacks created the first earnings estimate revision model and originated the concept of the Earnings Surprise. Today, Zacks' models process over 25,000 earnings estimate revisions and changes in broker recommendations weekly from over 200 brokerage firms, produced by more than 3,500 analysts. As one of the top market data and proprietary investment model providers, Zacks clients include some of the most widely known institutions in the financial industry. You can get more information on Zacks institutional products at http://www.zackspro.com/.