Bell Canada to Merge Electronic Business Unit With MPACT Immedia.MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 4, 1998--BCE INC. (ME:BCE) (TSE See Tokyo Stock Exchange. TSE 1. See Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE). 2. See Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE). :BCE) (VSE See DOS/VSE. VSE - Virtual Storage Extended :BCE) (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :BCE) MPACT MPACT Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Plan IMMEDIA(TSE:IFM) (ME:IFM) Bell Canada and MPACT Immedia announced today they have agreed to merge the Electronic Business Solutions (EBS See Swiss Electronic Bourse. EBS See electronic blue sheet (EBS). ) unit of Bell Emergis with MPACT Immedia. The resulting company will constitute a major player in electronic commerce, showing combined annual revenue of approximately $75 million in the last 12 months. The new entity will rank among the top tier firms in the world in terms of market reach, product capability and financial resources. Following the transaction, Bell Canada will assume a 65 percent controlling interest in MPACT Immedia, in exchange for Bell Emergis' EBS unit and a cash investment of $54 million. The transaction is subject to shareholder and regulatory approval and is aiming to close around August 31, 1998. "The new company will offer customers in Canada and beyond a uniquely comprehensive suite of electronic marketplace services", remarked Jim Tobin, Executive Vice-President of Bell Canada and President of Bell Emergis, who will be the Chairman of the combined group. "This is a large, tangible step in demonstrating Bell Canada's commitment to win through innovation. It will add value to Bell Canada's recently announced national broadband Internet Protocol (IP) network deployment. It unlocks the value creation potential in Bell Emergis' rapidly growing EBS unit, and applies Bell Canada's resources and market scope to MPACT Immedia's distinguished record of product and market successes." The merging entities bring complementary offerings and market positions, with a common direction embracing the vital and burgeoning role of the Internet in the global economy. The new company's mission will be to offer network-centric electronic business solutions that enable and improve customer processes by digitizing information and transactions. "With this transaction, we will become one of the largest electronic commerce companies in Canada and around the world, "stated Brian Edwards, President and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of the new entity. "With the support of Bell Canada, we are now extremely well equipped to pursue growth opportunities." Mr. Edwards added that "industry experts estimate the electronic commerce sector will grow at an annual rate of 100 percent in the next few years." The new company also announced that Christian Trudeau, Vice- President of the Bell Emergis EBS unit, will become Executive Vice- President and Chief Operating Officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. . The new entity will be headquartered in Montreal, with major offices in Toronto and Ottawa, as well as Livonia, Michigan. Bell Canada, the largest Canadian telecommunications operating company, markets a full range of state-of-the-art products and services to more than seven million business and residential customers in Ontario and Quebec. Bell is a member of Stentor - the alliance of Canada's major telecommunications companies. Bell Canada's Web site is located at: www.bell.ca. Bell Emergis is a division of Bell Canada. Its mission is to create leading-edge communications and network applications, next- generation multimedia and internetworking platforms as well as information applications and solutions. Bell Emergis' Web site is located at www.emergis.com. MPACT Immedia, a worldwide leader in electronic commerce, offers EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) The electronic communication of business transactions, such as orders, confirmations and invoices, between organizations. Third parties provide EDI services that enable organizations with different equipment to connect. Commerce, payment solutions and Internet commerce products and services. Its advanced electronic commerce solutions enable organizations to better compete in the global marketplace. MPACT Immedia's Web site is located at www.mpactimmedia.com. Bell Emergis Bell Emergis is a division launched in July 1997 by Bell Canada. Its mission is to create leading-edge communications and network applications, next-generation multimedia and internetworking platforms as well as information applications and solutions. Bell Emergis also initiates and nurtures rapid co-development ventures with global networking companies and Canadian entrepreneurs regardless of their location and size. Bell Emergis is building a fully-enabled software development and networking environment. It is ready to contribute the power of its unique technology and market knowledge to help create and test the most advanced business and consumer communications services in the world. Electronic Business Solutions EBS is a unit of Bell Emergis, which is focussed on developing Electronic Business solutions and applications. EBS, one of the leaders in electronic business in Canada, offers a complete portfolio of electronic business solutions, including Internet, intranet, and extranet solutions, and IP network infrastructure. With customers such as Quebec Workmen's Compensation Board (CSST), Quebec Health Insurance Board (RAMQ), Automotive Network Exchange The ANX Network (ANX) is the private network or extranet that was initially setup and maintained by the big three automakers through the Automotive Industry Action Group [1], General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. (Ford, Chrysler, GM), Toronto Stock Exchange Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE) Canada's largest stock exchange, trading approximately 1,200 company stocks and 33 options. (TSE), to name a few, EBS is linking entire industries within electronic communities of interest. In order to offer end-to-end solutions, EBS created joint ventures and alliances with leading players in the internetworking, hardware and software industries such as Netscape, Open Market, CGI, Intellia, Entrust, Lotus, to name a few. It also developed business relationship with universities (University of Waterloo The University of Waterloo (also referred to as UW, UWaterloo, or Waterloo) is a medium-sized research-intensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957. and Toronto, Quebec University Consortium (NCM2)), innovators and research facilities (CIRANO CIRANO Centre Interuniversitaire de Recherche en Analyse des Organisations (French: Centre for Interuniversity Research and Analysis on Organizations, Canada) ). MPACT Immedia MPACT Immedia, a worldwide leader in electronic commerce with offices in Montreal, Livonia (Michigan), and Toronto, offers EDI Commerce, payment solutions and Internet commerce products and services. By working with strategic partners, MPACT Immedia has developed a client list which includes many Fortune 1000 companies, as Royal Bank of Canada Bank of Canada Canada's central bank, established under the Bank of Canada Act (1934). It was founded during the Great Depression to regulate credit and currency. The Bank acts as the Canadian government's fiscal agent and has the sole right to issue paper money. , Dell Computers, Bank of America
Bank of America (NYSE: BAC TYO: 8648 ) is the largest commercial bank in the United States in terms of deposits, and the largest company of its kind in the world. , Mercedes- Benz and British Aerospace. Its advanced electronic commerce solutions enable organizations to better compete in the global marketplace. The firm has established business relationships with a number of leading global integration companies which market MPACT Immedia products and services to potential users. Companies such as Logica in Europe, KCI in Korea and Transaction Systems Architects (TSA TSA See tax-sheltered annuity (TSA). ) in the United States have installed MPACT systems worldwide. In March 1998, MPACT Immedia announced marketing alliances with Compaq Computer Corporation (company) Compaq Computer Corporation - The largest US manufacturer and vendor of IBM PC compatible personal computers and servers. Compaq was started in 1982 by three ex-Texas Instruments employees. Quarterly sales $2499M, profits $210M (Aug 1994). http://compaq.com/. of Houston, Tex., and Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash.
CONTACT: BCE Inc.
Jean-Charles Robillard, 514/397-7192
http://www.bce.ca
or
MPACT Immedia
John Davidson, 514/397-9747, ext. 210
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