Brazilian Hardware Association Adopts Sensormatic's Acousto-Magnetic Technology as Standard for Electronic Anti-theft Protection.

BOCA RATON, Fla., and SAO PAULO, Brazil--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 4, 1999--

With ANAMACO's decision, UltraMax(R) continues as the leading

anti-theft technology for home center retailers worldwide

ANAMACO - the National Association of Construction Materials Retailers in Brazil, a trade group representing all construction materials resellers such as home center, hardware, construction materials and lumber in Brazil, announced today its decision to adopt Sensormatic Electronics Corporation's (NYSE:SRM) acousto-magnetic technology - tradenamed UltraMax(R) -- as the standard for electronic anti-theft protection for source tagging in Brazil.

Source tagging is the process of placing small anti-theft tags inside a product or a product's packaging by the manufacturer.

Following ANAMACO's decision, several of the largest home center chains in Brazil, including A Madeirense, Telhanorte, Conibra and Uemura, initiated chainwide installations of Sensormatic's anti-theft systems. In addition, several home center goods manufacturers will soon begin to ship source tagged merchandise to stores.

ANAMACO's decision was made after a nearly 12-month period of extensive field tests in stores of its associated members. During the test period, several technologies including acousto-magnetic, electromagnetic and radio frequency were utilized and evaluated. In addition to the store testing, ANAMACO installed the UltraMax technology in its store-of-the-future exhibition, receiving an overwhelmingly favorable response from its members.

All of these factors contributed to the association's decision to choose UltraMax as the single technological standard that meets the needs and objectives of local construction materials retailers and manufacturers. Since 90 percent of the retailers are traditional hardware stores with merchandise displayed behind the counter, this decision should greatly contribute to the advancement of the self-service format in this industry, as well as the electronic anti-theft source tagging process.

"We chose the UltraMax technology after extensive testing at several stores of our members because it showed the best cost-benefit relationship and fit adequately into retail environments," said Mr. Claudio Elias Conz, ANAMACO's president. "Sensormatic do Brasil also proved to have the best technical and service structure to serve the needs of our associated members throughout Brazil."

"ANAMACO's decision follows those of other retail associations in the United States, Canada, Netherlands and Europe, making acousto-magnetic technology the leading anti-theft technology for construction materials stores," said Mr. Ricardo Noda, managing director of Sensormatic do Brasil Electronica LTDA. "The adoption of this technology should contribute to the acceleration of our source tagging program, as well as the development of the self-service format in the construction material retail industry in Brazil."

Ron Premuroso, president of International Operations at Sensormatic and a senior vice president of the Company, said the benefits of acousto-magnetic technology have lead to its widespread use in home centers around the world.

"UltraMax has proven to fit the source tagging needs of home center retailers due to its superior wide exit coverage and ability to work in close proximity to metal including shopping carts and hardware tools," Premuroso said. "The recommendation of ANAMACO moves source tagging one step closer to becoming a retail standard throughout South America."

Sensormatic Electronics Corporation is a leading supplier of electronic security systems to the retail, commercial and industrial marketplaces. Sensormatic is also a leader in integrated source tagging - a process where consumer goods manufacturers insert anti-theft tags at the point of packaging or manufacturing.

For more information on Sensormatic, visit its homepage on the World Wide Web at www.sensormatic.com.