METROPOLITAN TITLE MERGES WITH INDIANAPOLIS' ASSOCIATED TITLE COMPANY

 HOWELL, MI.  (February 18, 2000) -- Metropolitan Title Company, based in Howell, Michigan, has acquired Associated Title Company, Inc., an Indianapolis-based title company that serves customers throughout Central Indiana. Following the merger, which became official on February 8, Metropolitan Title now employs a staff of nearly 1,000 employees in 90 offices in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois.

 "Last year around this time we announced our expansion into the Chicago market," said Ken Lingenfelter, president, Metropolitan Title. "We're similarly excited about our new presence in Indianapolis and Central Indiana—particularly with a proven and established business partner such as Associated."

 Metropolitan Title Company, which was founded in 1979 by Lingenfelter, has a history of consistent growth. Key to their impressive growth over the last two decades is a dual emphasis on both human resources and advanced technology. A hallmark of the company has been progressive adaptation of technological innovation for title agency customers. These innovations have created a more efficient system for all customer real estate transaction needs - from professional real estate closing to 1031 tax deferred exchange.

 Associated Title Company, Inc., was founded in Indianapolis in 1983 by James Cook and Thomas Duh. For the last 17 years, Cook and Duh have remained owners of the company, overseeing an expansion that included an additional Indianapolis office as well as an office in Greenwood, Indiana, located just south of Indianapolis. Over the years, Associated's client base has filtered outside Marion County, servicing customers in the surrounding counties of Johnson, Hamilton, Boone, Hancock, Hendricks, Morgan and Shelby as well. Currently, a total of 20 people are employed at the three office locations.

 "The reason a merger with Metropolitan was so attractive to us is that we were looking to partner with a company that can take us, as well as our customers, to the next level of service," said Duh. "We feel that the technological capabilities and network structure of Metropolitan will greatly assist us in reaching these goals in the new millennium and beyond."

 Headquartered in Howell, Michigan, Metropolitan Title also has regional centers in Rochester and Holland, Michigan; Mishawaka, Indiana and Lombard, Illinois.