TSSW NEWS: Ragula Investment Announced
TouchStone Software Corp. Makes Equity Investment in Ragula Systems Development Co.
Expanded Business Strategy Includes Equity Investment in Mission Critical Internet Access Products
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 12, 2000-- TouchStone Software Corp. (OTCBB: TSSW), a developer of innovative utility software, Monday announced that through its wholly owned subsidiary, TouchStone Capital Group, it has made an equity investment in Ragula Systems Development Co. (manufacturers of FatPipe products), a leading provider of mission critical Internet access products.
Through its private investment of $250,000 made in Feb. of 2000, TouchStone owns 50,000 shares of Ragula Systems Development Co. This investment was made as part of TouchStone's expanded business strategy of making equity investments and providing incubator services for business-to-business e-commerce and technology companies.
Ragula Systems specializes in mission critical Internet access applications and in high-speed networking and dial-up software. Among the company's innovative products and services is FatPipe Internet Accelerator Home Edition and Office Edition software. It is a dial-up software that combines multiple analog and/or digital ISDN lines into a single, high-speed Internet access connection that can be shared by all users on a LAN.
It manages the lines, keeping all available "pipes" or connections flowing steadily during downloads, which can greatly increase access speeds with no need for channel bonding or other sophisticated support at the other end of the pipes. FatPipe Internet turns any PC into a high-speed gateway to the Internet, offering small businesses and home markets frustrated by slow Internet access an affordable way to download Web pages at ISDN speeds using multiple analogs.
"We are very excited about our investment which will allow TouchStone to participate in the explosive growth in the business-to-business Internet technology marketplace. With an average of 30,000 new users signing up for the Internet each day, small businesses who do not have the benefit of expensive ISDN or T1 lines get frustrated with Internet highway traffic jams," said Pierre Narath, president, chairman and chief executive officer of TouchStone Software Corp. "This proprietary Internet sharing software with advanced features will be conducive to the positive experience home users and small businesses have when networking their computers. TouchStone looks forward to being a facilitator of the development and proliferation of cost-efficient software which provides fast remote access solutions for the small businesses of today."
Founded in 1989, Ragula Systems Inc., based in Salt Lake City, is a privately held venture capital-funded company specializing in high-speed networking and Internet access software.
FatPipe's patent pending technology, Redundant Array of Inexpensive Lines, transmits data over multiple lines either with direct point-to-point connections or over the Internet using the Internet as the company's backbone. It enables companies to achieve higher bandwidth and high levels of redundancy, by utilizing multiple ISP's and backbones. The company markets its products worldwide through a network of authorized distributors and dealers.
In keeping with the company's two-pronged business focus, TouchStone Software Corp., through its subsidiary eSupport.com Inc., is a leading developer of innovative software designed to help people use complex technologies. The company's products, which include WinCheckIt 6.5, CheckIt NetOptimizer, CardWare and FastMove!2000, are distributed worldwide through the retail, VAR, distributor, direct and OEM sales channels.
Through strategic minority interests, TouchStone Capital Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of TouchStone Software Corp., manages a portfolio comprised of well-managed, late stage technology companies with market presence in e-commerce, content and community and enabling technologies. As a B2B incubator, TouchStone Capital Group provides management guidance, promotes financing, and lends necessary business support such as legal counsel, accounting assistance, and marketing advice, enhancing the survival odds for new businesses.
TouchStone's targeted strategic focus on unique and successful business models creates both short-term growth potential for investors and long-term value for shareholders. TouchStone's corporate headquarters are located at 1538 Turnpike Street, North Andover, MA 01845 with a branch office in Europe located at Sonnenstrasse 26B, 85622 Feldkirchen, Germany. Additional information about TouchStone Software is available at www.touchstonesoftware.com.
CheckIT is a registered trademark and NetOptimizer is a trademark of TouchStone Software Corp.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors including the ability of the company to successfully commercialize its new technologies as well as risk factors set forth under "Factors Affecting Future Operating Results" in the company's annual report on Form 10-K and such other risks detailed from time to time in the company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements, which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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Contact:
TouchStone Software, Corp., North Andover
Rich West, 978/686-6468
rich_west@unicore.com
or
Market Pathways
Shannon T. Squyres, 949/955-1860 |
