IOS Acquires Lateral Group to Broaden Product Offering

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August 8, 2011
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IOS Acquires Lateral Group to Broaden Product Offering

LONDON, August 8, 2011/PRNewswire/ --

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    Innovative Output Solutions (IOS), a UK-based subsidiary of DST Systems,
Inc. (NYSE: DST), is pleased to announce the acquisition of Lateral Group
Limited ("Lateral Group"). Lateral Group is a UK company with operational
facilities located principally in London, Nottingham and Edenbridge, and is
engaged in integrated, data driven, multi-channel marketing. Lateral Group
is a private company and the terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

    IOS (http://www.i-os.com [http://www.i-os.com/_ ]) is one of the largest
direct communications manufacturers within its sector in the UK. It is also
one of Europe's largest variable colour digital printers, specialising in
innovative one-to-one communication solutions for various sectors including
financial services, retail, utilities, travel, charities and local
government.

    The addition of Lateral Group is viewed as a complementary fit with
existing IOS operations both in terms of services offered and business
outlook.

    "This is an excellent strategic development for IOS," commented IOS
chief executive Mark Felstead. "Lateral Group has a strong presence in the
industry and we are pleased to be able to provide further solutions such as
data insight and online marketing to our client base through this
acquisition."

    Commented Nick Dixon, the principal founder of the Lateral Group: "We
have found a great home for the business, and I am absolutely confident that
it will go from strength to strength. We look forward to taking advantage of
new technologies and resources through this transaction and achieving
further scale as a marketing services provider."

    Said Felstead: "This move represents the execution of IOS's strategy to
extend and develop our product offering - particularly integrating
communications through print, data and e-solutions - as well as helping to
ensure that we continue to develop a market-leading position in our
traditional services. At a time when there is much structural change taking
place in the industry, it is important for IOS to lead the market. This
acquisition helps us to achieve that. We are now in an even stronger
position to support larger contracts across the entire spectrum of output
solutions in the UK."

    Notes for editors:

    Innovative Output Solutions (IOS) was formed in July 2010 when
U.S.-based, DST Systems Inc. (NYSE: DST) merged its UK subsidiary DST Output
with dsicmm Group Limited. IOS (http://www.i-os.com) is one of the largest
direct communications manufacturers within its sector in the UK. It is also
one of Europe's largest variable colour digital printers, specialising in
innovative one-to-one communication solutions for various sectors including
financial services, retail, utilities, travel, charities and local
government.

    Lateral Group was formed in 2008 following the acquisition of existing
businesses and is an integrated multi-channel marketing services provider,
comprising four companies: Data Lateral, Shift Click, Dialogue Solutions and
Howitt.

    Data Lateral is a data specialist which has been working with a growing
list of some of the UK's most skilled direct marketers and biggest brands
for more than 15 years while Shift Click is an online marketing and web
development agency which also provides clients with an established and
powerful email broadcasting capability.

    Dialogue Solutions has 27 years' experience in delivering successful
high quality digital communications, workflow technologies and supply chain
management solutions for clients large and small using its marketing
resource management software MarketPower(R).

    Howitt is one of the UK's leading print and direct mail producers, with
a 180-year heritage in high-quality, flexible printing, incorporating a
range of print, communication, direct mail, personalisation and fulfilment
services.

    DST Systems, Inc. provides sophisticated information processing and
computer software products and services to support the mutual fund,
investment management, insurance, brokerage and healthcare industries. In
addition to technology products and services, DST provides integrated print
and electronic statement and billing output solutions through a wholly owned
subsidiary. DST's world-class data centres provide technology infrastructure
support for mutual fund companies, healthcare providers, banks, mortgage
bankers and insurance companies around the globe. DST is headquartered in
Kansas City, Missouri, and is a publicly traded company on the New York
Stock Exchange.

    More information can be found at:

    http://www.i-os.com [http://www.i-os.com/_ ]

    http://www.lateralgroup.co.uk [http://www.lateralgroup.co.uk/_ ]

    http://www.dstsystems.com [http://www.dstsystems.com/_ ]

Source: Innovative Output Solutions (IOS)

Contact: Rob Metcalfe, Tel: +44(0)20-7388-7421

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