Combination Will Leverage Resources of World Leader in Employee Testing and Assessment with Global Leader in Workforce Solutions

Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN), the premier global provider of staffing and workforce solutions for companies around the world, and SHL Group plc, the world leader in psychometric testing and assessment, have formed a strategic alliance to leverage their tools and resources worldwide. As part of this industry-exclusive alliance, Manpower has acquired an equity position in SHL with the purchase of 7.3 percent of SHL shares through a tender offer completed on Tuesday, June 6, 2000, in the United Kingdom.

"This alliance will allow us to use SHL's online assessment and testing services to complement Manpower's proprietary selection, assessment and training system. The tools we use to match employees with our customers' needs have been a differentiating factor in Manpower's ability to deliver qualified candidates to customers for many years," said Jeff Joerres, president and CEO of Manpower. "The addition of SHL's tools allows us to even further broaden the range of candidates for which we can provide these high-level matching services," Joerres said.

"Our alliance with SHL will also provide our employees and candidates with an avenue for self-assessment online as part of their career development," added Joerres. "When combined with our Global Learning Center, where employees can access more than 1,000 training programs online, we will now have a more complete package for online career development."

Under the industry-exclusive agreement, Manpower will have access to all of SHL's self-assessment products on Manpower Internet sites free of charge. In addition, SHL Group will gain new marketing and sales channels through Manpower's base of 400,000 customers worldwide. The two companies will also conduct joint bids for large recruitment contracts, and will collaborate in developing an electronic commerce strategy and model to eventually include all of Manpower's and SHL's products and services.

"Manpower is well known for providing the highest quality professional and staffing services because of its proprietary selection, assessment and training system," noted Roger Holdsworth, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SHL. "This alliance affords SHL a great opportunity to combine its expertise with Manpower's to serve a broader range of customers worldwide," Holdsworth added.

The alliance will be headquartered in London and managed by an alliance team, made up of representatives from Manpower and SHL. David Arkless, Senior Vice President of Manpower Inc. and Roger Holdsworth, Founder and CEO of SHL, will serve as alliance co-chairmen.

Manpower Inc. is a world leader in providing staffing and workforce management services and solutions to a wide variety of customers through more than 3,400 offices in 53 countries. The firm annually provides employment and training to more than two million people worldwide. More information on Manpower Inc. can be found at the company's website, www.manpower.com.

SHL Group plc provides worldwide assessment and development solutions to address clients' strategic people challenges. Operating in 40 countries and more than 30 languages, the SHL Group devises innovative approaches to help organizations from all sectors of the world economy gain competitive advantage through the more effective use of their human resources. More information on SHL can be found at www.shlgroup.com.