Ascent Logic and LeBoeuf Computing Technologies form 2000 Secure Audit Company, L.L.C.; joint venture to provide software and services to qualify firms for 2000 Secure Insurance offered by J & H Marsh & McLennan.

SAN JOSE, Calif--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 4, 1997--Ascent Logic Corporation (ALC), an innovator in Year 2000 risk management software, and LeBoeuf Computing Technologies, L.L.C. (LCT), a Year 2000 risk management consulting subsidiary of the law firm of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, L.L.P., today announced the formation of 2000 Secure Audit Company, L.L.C.

This limited liability joint venture will utilize ALC's software and LCT's expertise to audit prospective insureds for J & H Marsh & McLennan's new insurance product, 2000 Secure(SM), which covers business interruptions and other losses that may occur as a result of Year 2000 computer problems.

"J & H Marsh & McLennan has pioneered insurance coverages to address Year 2000 computer exposures. The expertise and services offered by ALC and LCT are important components of this overall program," said William A. Malloy, managing director of J & H Marsh & McLennan.

"For over a decade, ALC has been a leading supplier of risk analysis and management technologies to large and complex systems projects throughout the world," stated Larry McArthur, CEO and president of ALC. "We are particularly proud to be working with LeBoeuf Computing Technologies, L.L.C. and its parent, LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, L.L.P., the largest and most knowledgeable insurance law firm involved with the Year 2000 computer problem."

With fewer than 1,000 days before computers must be able to recognize the date of a new millennium, concern is mounting in corporate circles about possible legal, technical, and business risks that could result from Year 2000. Commenting on the estimated size of the insurance sub-market in a recent issue of BusinessWeek, Mark Owens, the executive vice president of Reliance National Insurance Co., said that "potentially there will be hundreds of millions of dollars of premiums involved."

The officers of 2000 Secure Audit Company, L.L.C. will be Jeff Jinnett, president, Loretta Auer, vice president, Pat Lambs, chief operating officer and Ephraim Kwok, chief financial officer. The company will staff locations in San Jose and New York City where ALC and LCT currently have offices.

Mr. Jinnett is president of LeBoeuf Computing Technologies, L.L.C. and Of Counsel to LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, L.L.P. Ms. Auer is a former principal of Ernst & Young, L.L.P. Ms. Lambs is currently chief operating officer and executive vice president for Ascent Logic Corporation.

"While there are numerous firms offering services to assist companies with solving various aspects of the Year 2000 computer problem, there are a scant few focusing on risk management," said Jeff Jinnett. "The 2000 Secure audit process is based on qualifying and monitoring audits to determine whether the prospective 2000 Secure insured has developed an achievable Year 2000 remedial plan which can form the basis for the 2000 Secure underwriters to properly evaluate the insurance underwriting risk."

LeBoeuf Computing Technologies, L.L.C. (LCT), is a business subsidiary of the law firm of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, L.L.P. (LLG&M). LCT has developed a risk management methodology for 2000 Secure Audit Company, L.L.C., which has been expanded to include the Ascent Logic Corporation Year2000Plus software and related methodology as the heart of the audit process.

Ascent Logic Corporation (ALC), founded in 1987, is the premier supplier of systems engineering and information systems re-engineering (ISR) software products and related consulting and training services. ALC develops, markets and supports the RDD-100(TM) product family for requirements analysis, traceability, and the modeling of complex systems.

Since 1995 ALC has focused on the ISR methodology, process, and tool-suite to address the special problems associated with large legacy systems and the Year 2000 computer problem. Customers have realized additional value from use of the ALC product to support ongoing and future IS process definition and improvement.

Headquartered in San Jose, Ascent Logic Corporation is a privately held, venture-capital funded company with sales and support offices and affiliates in the United States, Europe and Asia. More information about ALC can be obtained on the Internet, by accessing: http://www.alc.com .

CONTACT: Ascent Logic Corporation

Dan Kummet, 408/325-8138

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Rourke & Company

Lisa Downey, 408/453-9194

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