Sylvan/Identix Joint Venture To Provide Fingerprinting Services to Screen Prospective Coaches for Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 3, 1998--Sylvan/Identix Fingerprinting Centers LLC, a joint venture between Baltimore-based Sylvan Learning Systems Inc. (Nasdaq NM: SLVN) and Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Identix Inc. (ASE: IDX), Tuesday announced that it will provide fingerprinting services for Chicago-based SportsChek Ltd. for random background checks of prospective Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI) coaches.

Prospective and current AHAI coaches will be fingerprinted at Sylvan/Identix locations throughout the state using Identix TouchPrint 600(TM) live-scan systems. The electronic fingerprints will be transferred to the Illinois State Police for a background check of a prospective coach. Once electronically registered, AHAI reported, the coach's fingerprints need not be retaken, resulting in cost savings. According to AHAI board member Rich Becker, the AHAI evaluated several options for a thorough and timely screening of organized youth team sport coaches to provide both parents and participating children with an added feeling of security.

"The Identix live-scan systems will provide us the opportunity for a rapid and easily transferable fingerprint image, enabling us to process background checks efficiently and in accordance with FBI and State Police standards," Becker said. "This will get our coaches in the rink, while giving parents a greater sense of comfort.

"Our program is a pilot," Becker continued, "and we plan to present our findings to USA Hockey, the national governing body, for their review as an example of a system that, importantly, involves updating of an individual's record.

"Eventually, we envision a screening process, including a thorough background check, for all adults involved in amateur hockey who have direct contact with children," he said.

Sylvan/Identix President Ron Wadsworth said, "We are excited about playing a role in helping to improve the safety of all children participating in the Illinois youth hockey program. Our agreement with the AHAI is a further illustration of the many and varied situations in which Sylvan/Identix's services can provide timely solutions."

Sylvan/Identix Fingerprinting Centers LLC is a joint venture between Baltimore-based Sylvan Learning Systems Inc. (Nasdaq NM: SLVN) and Sunnyvale-based Identix Inc. Sylvan/Identix is a supplier of contract services for employee and applicant screening and other personal verification applications.

The statements in this release that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with uncertainties pertaining to customer orders, orders from and contracts with government entities, availability of government funds, demand for products and service and development of markets for Sylvan/Identix's services. Actual results, events and performance may differ materially. Sylvan/Identix undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.