Access reports strong revenue growth, continued profit in second quarter; Document management provider further proves customer value of implementation skills.

CINCINNATI, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 7, 1995--Access Corp., a leader in total-solutions document and workflow management, today announced second quarter software revenue growth of more than 175 percent over the same period one year ago.

The quarter was profitable even after consideration of acquisition and operating costs associated with the company's purchase of CimSoft Corporation of Ann Arbor, MI on the last day of the previous quarter. The company anticipates fiscal 1996 will be the fifth profitable year in the past six years. In addition, cash reserves grew during the quarter and now exceed 15 percent of fiscal 1995 sales revenue.

Access attributes much of this quarter's revenue growth to their continuing ability to get systems into productive operation quickly, leading customers to rapidly expand document management into new areas of their companies. "Our software products are world-class, but just as important is our ability to get a comprehensive document and workflow management system in operation quickly and effectively, delivering user benefit," says Scott D. Watkins, president & CEO of Access Corporation. "Our strategy is to remain the leader in engineering document management implementation and support skills, and our financial strength helps this effort tremendously."

Carleton Howk, editor of the A-E-C Automation Newsletter notes, "Access Corporation has a long-term reputation as a very service-oriented company. These results indicate Access, with their new Cimage partnership, is on track."

Access also reported that the total company revenue increased by 31 percent over the same quarter a year ago.

By providing a range of different software products, Access can provide applications targeted at each customers' particular needs. The Engineering Document Information Control System/400 (EDICS/400) for the IBM AS/400 mid-range computer family is the only large-format document management system for that popular platform. And with the recently announced marketing agreement with Cimage Enterprise Systems, Ltd., Access is the exclusive distributor for the entire Cimage document and workflow management product family in North America. With the CimSoft acquisition, Access gained the services of much of the former Cimage Corporation key employees.

In addition to its industry-leading level of planning and implementation skills in document management, Access Corp. is unique in providing a single point of contact for support of their application software, the computer, operating system, storage and any specialized input and output devices associated with that system. Access takes responsibility for total support of customer systems utilizing staff located across the US and Canada.

About Access Corp.

Access is dedicated to providing and supporting total solutions for the management and use of long life-cycle documents in the manufacturing, utilities, petrochemical, telecommunications, AEC and pharmaceutical industries. With over thirty years of experience, the company offers the most comprehensive design, implementation and support services in the industry. Access has the skills to work across the customer organization, assuring the system meets the intended objectives and user needs. Today Access products are used by leaders in a variety of industries to meet international regulatory requirements and standards including OSHA, NRC, EPA, EDMICS and the ISO. Access was the first to provide an FDA-certified document management product (1992). Access Corporation has committed to support standards issued by the Document Management Alliance (DMA).

Access supplies products for use on Apple Macintosh, HP-UX, IBM AIX, IBM AS/400, Microsoft Windows and Windows NT, Sun Solaris and other operating environments. Virtually any application file type and format can be supported.

Companies using Access and Cimage Applications

Access Corporation has over 500 customers located in 120 cities across the United States. Below is a list of major companies using Access and Cimage products worldwide.

Utilities: AT&T, Bay Area Rapid Transit, British Telecomm, Central Arizona Water, China Light & Power - Hong Kong, Florida Power & Light, Nuclear Electric - UK, Pacific Gas & Electric, Sacramento Mun., San Diego Gas & Electric, Scottish Nuclear, Seattle Metro, Sydney Electricity, US West Communications.

Petrochemical: Agipplas - Italy, Ashland Chemical, Amoco UK & US, Aramco - Saudi Arabia, ARCO - China, Indonesia, UK, US, Bahrain Petroleum Co. - Bahrain, BP - Norway & UK, Caltex - S. Africa & Australia, Citco, Elf Enterprise Caledonia, Exxon Chemical, Han Yang Chemical - Korea, Honam Oil - Korea, Inelectra, US & Venezuela, MW Kellogg Co., Mobil, UK & US, Philips Petroleum - UK, Shell - UK & US, Texaco - UK & US, Unocal.

Manufacturing: Alcoa, Allied Signal, BAe Dynamics - UK, Chrysler, Cincinnati Milacron, Compaq, Daewoo - Korea & US, Detroit Diesel, Sony DADC Division, Dupont, Ford (France, Germany, Spain, UK & US), GEC Alstholm, GEC Ferranti Defence, Gillette - Germany, UK & US, Hughes, ITT Aerospace/Communications, Los Alamos Laboratories, Lucas Aerospace - France, UK & US, McDonnell Douglas Aerospace, Motorola, Printronix, Raytheon - UK & US, Rover Group, Symbol Technology, Valmet - Finland.

Pharmaceuticals: Abbott Laboratories, Allergan Medical Optics, Avibank Mfg, C.R. Bard, Sandoz, Smith & Nephew (medical devices), Schneider Division of Pfizer Chemical (medical devices).

For additional information about Access Corp. and its products and services, contact Peggy Richards at [phone] (East Coast), Hollye LaJeunesse [phone] (West Coast).

CONTACT: Boston Communications

Bill Perkins, 617/247-1112

E-mail: [e-mail]