ACOM Acquires Irvine-Headquartered ECOM/EDI in Major Thrust Into Electronic Commerce Field.

LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 16, 1999--

ACOM, widely recognized as the premier source for integrated secure MICR laser payment processing systems, has broadened the scope of its specialized solutions for business with the acquisition of the business, technology and assets of ECOM/EDI, an Irvine, California developer and marketer of E-Commerce solutions, it was announced today by ACOM President Patrick McMahon. Both companies are privately held and details of the stock transaction were not disclosed.

ECOM/EDI has 12 years of in-depth experience in relational database EDI and electronic commerce applications and a client base of more than 100 firms in industries such as aerospace, manufacturing, banking and retail, among them Lockheed Martin, the University of Southern California, Nissin Foods, Del Monte and Levi Strauss in the U.S.; and Banamex, Del Monte and Levi Strauss in Latin America. Founder Denni Barrett will continue to direct ECOM/EDI activities as a division of ACOM.

"Over the months we examined a number of companies in the E-Commerce field as possible acquisitions and have settled on ECOM/EDI because we found both the company and its personnel to be outstanding in every way," McMahon said.

ECOM/EDI's product offerings include the Paragon EDI system and the Paragon-Net Internet-enabled EDI system.

The PC-based Paragon package, which utilizes open relational technology rather than a proprietary language or flat file format, includes a Translator, EDI Testing Tool, EDI Standards Dictionary, EDI Implementation Builder, and support for XML.

Utilizing the same basic elements, Paragon-Net runs on Windows 95/NT, UNIX and VMS "hub" platforms, providing a secure, Internet-based EDI system for instant synchronization of documents between multiple trading partners. The system allows partners to connect internal departments and external sites efficiently and economically in a hub-and-spoke networking scenario, enabling them to place purchase orders, track availability and delivery, and complete transactions through secure electronic transfer of funds.

"There is a remarkable synergy between our two operations that will prove beneficial not only to ACOM, but also to our customers," McMahon said. "ECOM/EDI gives ACOM immediate access to the booming E-commerce market with market-proven products that are open-ended both in terms of the technology and the market.

"To our customers, it extends the ACOM concept of a `single source' for business solutions, from our initial concentration on MICR laser payment solutions to include the broad and growing field of electronic commerce. ECOM/EDI enables customers to make payments electronically by ACH or F-EDI, as well as provides remittance advices via fax, email or EDI. In the near future we will be adding electronic bill presentment and payment (EBP) to these capabilities."

ACOM has become a leader in the MICR laser payment processing field through its QuickCheck payment processing software, which formats data from any financial software system for generation of checks on MICR-enhanced Xerox DocuPrint N-Series Network Laser Printers. The ACOM solution also includes QuickForm forms design software; Secure-A-Check blank safety check stock; and MICR laser toner and other laser printer consumables.

About ACOM

ACOM is an international developer and marketer of advanced business solutions that provide companies with a choice between conventional hard copy processes, pure electronic processes, and solutions which advantageously combine desirable elements of both. ACOM solutions include platform-independent integrated hardware-software MICR laser payment processing systems; Internet-based electronic data interchange (EDI) for synchronizing documents between multiple trading partners in networked E-commerce applications; and electronic document printing systems for laser printer generation of business and financial forms, checks and labels. The company's customer base is comprised of more than 2,500 users. ACOM is located at 2850 E. 29th Street, Long Beach CA 90806; telephone [phone]; fax [phone]; e-mail [e-mail]; Web: www.acom.com.