Bell Emergis/MPACT Immedia Successfully Closes Its Acquisition of the e-Finance Division of Newstar Technologies.

MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 15, 1998--Bell Emergis/MPACT Immedia, a leading global provider of electronic commerce solutions, today announced the completion of the purchase of the assets of Newstar Technologies' e-Finance division.

Bell Emergis/MPACT Immedia paid $32.5 million in cash, and issued 1,620,370 common shares and 150,000 options. In addition, there is consideration of cash and shares to be paid over the period ending October 1, 2000, such consideration conditional upon performance. The acquisition has closed on schedule.

"This transaction has positioned Bell Emergis/MPACT Immedia among the top providers of electronic commerce solutions to Canadian banks", said Rory Olson, Executive Vice President, Business Development, Bell Emergis/MPACT Immedia. "Bell Emergis/MPACT Immedia will further benefit from Newstar e-Finance division's tremendous knowledge and innovations related to electronic commercial processes, bill payment, Internet banking, personalized marketing, and electronic bill presentment products and services."

The Company's mission is to deliver network-centric business solutions that improve and become an integral part of customer processes. Bell Emergis/MPACT Immedia e-commerce solutions enable organizations to better compete in the global marketplace. Following its recently concluded merger with the Electronic Business Solutions (EBS) unit of Bell Emergis, the combined entity is one of the top tier electronic commerce providers in the world. Bell Emergis/MPACT Immedia is a subsidiary of Bell Canada, the largest Canadian telecommunications operating company, and a member of BCE Inc., Canada's global telecommunications company with 122,000 employees worldwide, revenues of $33 billion and assets exceeding $40 billion. For more information, please refer to www.mpactimmedia.com or www.bell.ca/netcommerce.