FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please contact: Sitra Enterprises, Inc. Investor Relations (512) 453-3817; Fax (512) 453-7553 E-Mail: bany@sitra.com
Internet: sitra.com
BANYAN ACQUIRES MINORITY INTEREST IN INTERNET RETAILER
Banyan's Board of Directors Authorizes Dividend Distribution
Colorado Springs, Colorado - September 2, 1998 -- Banyan Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board -- BANY) announces that it has acquired a 33% minority interest in Internet retailer Anything Internet Corporation ("Anything"), formerly Anything, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, Banyan will receive 1,000,000 shares of Anything Common Stock in exchange for 200,000 shares of restricted Banyan Common Stock plus three stock options, each for 100,000 shares of Common Stock at exercise prices of $0.50, $1.00, and $2.00, respectively. Banyan will also appoint two members to Anything's four seat Board of Directors.
Anything is currently a privately held company selling over 42,000 computer hardware, software, and peripheral products, including Banyan's own DoubleCase line of hard-sided protective carrying cases, through its Internet storefronts -- www.anythingpc.com, www.anythingmac.com, and www.anythingunix.com. Since commencing sales in December 1997, Anything's sales volume has grown to over $300,000 a month with Anything showing a profit for the first six-months of 1998.
Anything intends to commence public trading of its Common Stock sometime during the Fall of 1998. In conjunction with Anything becoming a publicly traded company, Banyan's Board of Directors has authorized the distribution of 200,000 shares of Anything's Common Stock to Banyan shareholders in the form of a stock dividend; Banyan will retain 800,000 shares of Anything's Common Stock. Record and payable dates will be set prior to Anything's first day of trading.
Cameron Yost, Banyan's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are very excited by this latest development. Anything Internet and the rapid growth of the Internet is proving to be an excellent avenue for sales of Banyan's products to the end consumer. This agreement capitalizes on the synergies between the two companies and is expected to result in higher sales, better access to distribution outlets and technologies, and enhanced shareholder values."
Banyan Corporation is a publicly traded holding company with operating subsidiaries engaged in designing, manufacturing and marketing a variety of personal computer accessory products with a focus on the notebook computer market - the fastest growing segment of the personal computer industry. Through its wholly-owned DoubleCase Corporation subsidiary, Banyan is a leading manufacturer of notebook computer hard-sided protective carrying cases. Banyan's products are currently available through distribution from Ingram Micro and sold through a wide variety of computer mail order catalogs, several of the largest U.S. computer retailers, Value Added Resellers (VARs), a number of overseas vendors, and to the U.S. government.
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. Certain information included in this press release (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by Banyan Corporation) contains statements that are forward-looking, such as statements relating to the future anticipated direction of the high technology industry, plans for future expansion, various business development activities, planed capital expenditures, future funding sources, anticipated sales growth and potential contracts. Such forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any forward- looking statements made by or on behalf of Banyan Corporation. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those relating to development and expansion activities, dependence on existing management, financing activities, domestic and global economic conditions, changes in federal or state tax laws, and market competition factors.
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