Here is the press release on the partnership with Teck:
Teck Corporation and Gemcom Software Announce Joint Venture
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--Teck Corporation and Gemcom Software
International Inc. today announced the signing of a letter of
intent to form a joint venture to further the marketing, sales,
support and development of Teck Corporation's EQWin Environmental
Data Management System. EQWin is a Windows-based software system
designed for environmental data management and reporting for large
industrial operations.
Teck developed EQWin for its own use and began selling it to
others in 1993. Approximately 100 external systems are now in
place with an estimated value of $750,000. "There is tremendous
market potential for this product and it's largely untapped," says
Peter Franklin, president and CEO of Gemcom. "As a mining
company, Teck naturally concentrated on its peers as potential
customers. But EQWin can be used in any industry where
environmental considerations are a factor. The City of Vancouver
purchased the software to monitor activities at the Burns Bog
landfill. As concern for environmental protection grows, so does
the market for EQWin."
The joint venture combines Teck's understanding of environmental
data management requirements and Gemcom's earth resources software
development and marketing skills to further enhance and distribute
the EQWin system. Together, the companies plan to capitalize on
the rapidly growing market for environmental products. "Software
development and sales are outside the parameters of our core
business activities," says Mike Filion, Teck's vice president,
Environment. "As customers of Gemcom, we had first-hand
experience of their commitment to quality in both their products
and services."
For Gemcom, the joint venture fits perfectly into its strategy to
offer customers fully-integrated, modular software systems for all
aspects of the earth resources industry. "In partnering with Teck
on EQWin, we are able to offer existing and future clients the
opportunity to streamline their processes by providing software
solutions that work together seamlessly," Franklin explains.
"Both Gemcom products and EQWin are totally-Windows compatible, so
users can bring information and graphics from them into other
Windows programs, like Word or PowerPoint."
Teck and Gemcom will have an equal share in the joint venture,
which is responsible for ongoing product development. Under the
terms of the agreement, Teck will provide the joint venture with a
license for use of the EQWin software; exclusive worldwide
marketing rights; existing sales and the professional services of
EQWin developer, Jim Melsom on a seconded full-time basis. Gemcom
will provide global marketing and related services; programming,
training and support services, and administration. A manager will
be appointed to head sales and marketing for the EQWin product.
Teck Corporation is a mine development and operation company based
in Vancouver B.C. It produces gold, copper, zinc, lead,
molybdenum, niobium, silver and metallurgical coal from 11 mines
in Canada, Australia and Chile.
Gemcom develops, markets, sells and supports Windows 95/NT
software for the mineral exploration and mining industry. It is a
Vancouver-based Company with offices in eastern Canada, the USA,
England, Peru, Australia, Chile and Brazil.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Teck Corporation
Peter Dunsford
Corporate Communications
(604) 687-1117
(604) 640-5393 (FAX)
E-mail: dunsford@teckcorp.ca
or
Gemcom Software International Inc.
Karen McCluskey
Investor Relations/Corporate Communications
(604) 684-6550
(604) 684-3541 (FAX)
E-mail: karenm@gemcom.bc.ca |
