The Cobalt Group Honored for 6th Straight Year as One of Seattle's Fastest Growing Companies

The Cobalt Group Continues to Rank Among Technology's Fastest Growing Companies

Cobalt a Deloitte & Touche Washington State Technology Fast 50 Winner for the 6th Time


SEATTLE, Oct 01, 2007 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Cobalt Group, Inc. the leading provider of marketing services to the retail automotive industry, announced today that it has been named to Deloitte's prestigious Technology Fast 50 Program for Washington State, a ranking of the 50 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, and life sciences companies in the region by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP, one of the nation's leading professional services organizations.

Cobalt's CEO, John Holt, said, "We are excited to receive this honor for the sixth time. With the help of our dedicated employees and loyal customers, we continue to lead our industry. We are developing a variety of new products and services to support our clients and help them exceed their own growth goals for years to come."
The Cobalt Group's 2002 - 2006 revenue growth of 165% resulted in a 23rd place ranking in the Technology Fast 50 for Washington State.

"To rank on Deloitte's Technology Fast 50, companies must have phenomenal revenue growth over five years. The Cobalt Group has proven to be one of the fast-growth success stories in Washington State and we applaud their dedication to making their vision a reality," says Larry Hile, a Partner in Deloitte's Technology, Media & Telecommunications.

To qualify for the Technology Fast 50, companies must have had operating revenues of at least $50,000 in 2002 and $5,000,000 in 2006, be headquartered in North America, and be a company that owns proprietary technology or proprietary intellectual property that contributes to a significant portion of the company's operating revenues; or devotes a significant proportion of revenues to the research and development of technology. Using other companies' technology or intellectual property in a unique way does not qualify.

This year's Washington State Technology Fast 50 program is co-presented by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP and Perkins Coie, Citibank, AH&T Insurance and the Puget Sound Business Journal.

About The Cobalt Group

The Cobalt Group is North America's leading provider of automotive marketing services. For over twelve years, Cobalt's exclusive mission has been to help automobile dealers and manufacturers increase their retailing effectiveness and profits. Cobalt provides marketing services to more than half the automotive dealerships in the United States, Canada and Mexico and is endorsed by more than two-thirds of the world's major automotive manufacturers. Cobalt is endorsed by the American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA).

About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a Swiss Verein, its member firms and their respective subsidiaries and affiliates. As a Swiss Verein (association), neither Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu nor any of its member firms has any liability for each other's acts or omissions. Each of the member firms is a separate and independent legal entity operating under the names "Deloitte", "Deloitte & Touche", "Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu" or other related names. Services are provided by the member firms or their subsidiaries or affiliates and not by the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Verein.

Deloitte & Touche USA LLP is the US member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. In the US, services are provided by the subsidiaries of Deloitte & Touche USA LLP (Deloitte & Touche LLP, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP, Deloitte Tax LLP and their subsidiaries), and not by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP.