VALU-NET - CITIBANK - INEX - NET MERCHANT PRESS RELEASE
Bulletin # FEB99-03
ONCE YOU'VE READ THE HEADLINES, COME TO AGORA FOR THE NEWS
Good morning to you all. Please find enclosed the latest press release with respect to Valu-net and three E-Commerce partners that have formed
The eMerge Alliance. The Alliance will enable Internet Service Providers (ISPs) around the world to deliver complete e-commerce capabilities to merchants.
As stated in our earlier bulletins, AGORA will be in attendance at today's National Press Conference scheduled for 2:30 PM. Valu-net advises that financial figures with respect to the Alliance should be announced during the media Q&A session.
As such, we will be filing a report shortly thereafter.
In the meantime, we are pleased to see that Valu-net has lived up to it's Globe & Mail billing as "one of Canada's most promising e-commerce companies" and has now become a significant participant within the Canadian and global e-commerce industry. Given the company's recent $14 Million financing announcement with a New York firm, we are looking forward to the continued success, growth and achievement of Valu-net and all it's new partners.
Regards,
Agora Internet Relations Corp.
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n e w s r e l e a s e
for immediate release
Canadian Companies form The eMerge Alliance
Global e-commerce solution makes business
on the Internet easy
TORONTO, Ontario (Internet World Canada) - February 3, 1999 - Four Canadian
e-commerce leaders join forces today to launch the eMerge Alliance enabling Internet Service Providers (ISPs) around the world to deliver complete e-commerce capabilities to merchants. The eMerge solution removes the difficulty and expense from developing and marketing transactional Web sites, and simplifies banking arrangements.
Alliance partners include: NetMerchant, the e-commerce division of Lasso Communications Inc.; INEX Corporation; Valu-net International Ltd.; and Citibank Canada Payment Services. Each partner brings unique value to this results-focused solution.
"The Alliance offers a definitive and working solution for electronic retailing in Canada, and around the world," says David Lucatch, President and CEO, Valu-net Corporation. "We are focussing on the complete solution, enabling online merchants to conduct business around the corner and around the globe."
This four-way partnership of e-commerce leaders sets the eMerge Alliance apart from any other solution available on the market. INEX provides the backbone technology with its new browser-based storefront creation and management application. NetMerchant brings expertise in electronic retail management, branding and marketing. Valu-net brings secure electronic commerce payment software solutions through its proprietary CPAC technology, as well as experience managing traffic-generating portals and ISP relationships. Citibank provides the financial infrastructure necessary for enabling merchants to offer online credit card transactions in multiple currencies, easily, quickly and securely.
"The eMerge Alliance represents Canada's innovation when it comes to e-commerce," says Marsha Scharf, Director of NetMerchant, Lasso Communications Inc. "eMerge combines our strengths to deliver industry-leading technology, content, marketing and financial service expertise to the forefront."
The Alliance offers a new Web-based Electronic Store application which is an integral part of the eMerge suite of solutions. Developed by INEX Corporation, the eMerge Store provides a completely scaleable and secure e-commerce environment integrating an online shopping cart, electronic catalogue, extensive e-store management features, and credit card authorization and settlement. The eMerge Store enables ISPs to extend their service offering with an easy and cost-effective online store application.
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"This strategic partnership between industry-leading solution providers serves as a model for delivering a total e-commerce solution," says Alex Barrotti, founder and CEO of INEX. "The eMerge Alliance also demonstrates the trend toward greater 'co-opetition', which we believe will further the growth of electronic business on a global scale."
In the e-commerce marketplace, strategic alliances provide greater access to markets and customers, and develop higher-value products and services through the combined synergies of different companies. The eMerge Alliance leads the market with a combined but simple solution.
"Research amongst retailers showed that more work needed to be done to simplify the process of establishing an online retail presence," explains Bruce Poore, Vice President of Payment Services, Citibank Canada. "Citibank's global expertise in credit card transaction processing has proved invaluable to the eMerge Alliance's offering, enabling web-based purchases to be processed online in any of 29 different currencies."
Visit the eMerge Alliance Booth (#828) at Internet World Canada between Wednesday, February 3, 1999 and Friday, February 5, 1999 and online at emergealliance.org.
About INEX
Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, INEX provides a suite of Internet Commerce applications that extends Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) technologies into complete Internet Commerce solutions. Together with a Microsoft platform, the INEX software applications enable small and medium businesses around the world to create and manage a Web store with an online electronic catalog for marketing and selling products over the Internet. Based on Microsoft Site Server 3.0, Commerce Edition, for self hosting, or Microsoft Commercial Internet System (MCIS) for remote hosting at an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or a Commerce Service Provider (CSP), INEX Commerce Court applications deliver complete, affordable, and easy-to-use Internet Commerce solutions. In addition, the INEX applications interoperate with a host of industry standards and environments, allowing merchants to maximize their investment in existing business systems and processes. In April 1998, Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE:CPQ) announced a minority equity investment in INEX to help bring affordable electronic commerce solutions to the small and medium business marketplace. Web site www.inex.com or call 1-888-487-INEX.
About Lasso Communications
Lasso Communications Inc. (www.lasso.net) is the communications company of the future. It develops interactive business, marketing and customer service solutions that help organizations work smart in real time. By developing global solutions that operate across computing and telephony networks, Lasso allows businesses to manage and utilize data effectively and efficiently. Lasso Communications is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario and is an international affiliate of the Grey Worldwide Network of Companies which has 278 offices in 76 countries.
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About Valu-net
Valu-net Corporation, a publicly traded corporation on the Alberta Stock Exchange, (symbol "VNE") is a leading marketing and technology company providing a complete range of services designed to meet the growing demand for Internet marketing and electronic commerce. Valu-net's proprietary credit card payment solution (CPAC) provides full functionality for online credit card transactions. Valu-net's Enhanced Service Program provides ISP's and online businesses with integrated Internet marketing programs, proprietary electronic commerce and transactions technologies in order to advance their business and marketing goals.
About Citibank Canada
Citibank Canada is a Chartered Canadian Bank and regulated by the Bank Act of Canada. Citibank Canada has been operating in Canada since 1974, and as a subsidiary of Citigroup has over 7,500 employees in Canada. Citigroup serves consumer and corporate customers from locations in 100 countries around the world. Citigroup is the world's undisputed leader in the credit card and charge card business with more than 95 million cards worldwide. With a reputation for innovation and excellence, Citibank creates the global products, platforms and services to meet the expanding banking needs of today' s digital society. Citibank provides simple e-commerce solutions.
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For more information, please contact:
Marsha Scharf
NetMerchant
(416) 486-7237 or marsha_scharf@lasso.net
Melisa Burman
INEX Corporation (c/o Weber Group)
(617) 441-4000 ext. 253 or mburman@webergroup.com
Brad Friesen
Valu-Net Corporation (c/o GENERATORIDEAWORKS)
(416) 413-8917 or brad.friesen@generator.ca
Edward Moffat
Citibank Canada
(416) 217-4026 or edward.moffat@citicorp.com
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
AGORA INTERNET RELATIONS CORP. receives a monthly monetary fee from Valu-net Corporation. for the purposes of communicating with Internet shareholders - both current and prospective - to increase awareness of and interest in Valu-net Corporation. AGORA INTERNET RELATIONS CORP activities are aimed purely at keeping their clients' shareholders and prospective shareholders informed about their company. These activities consist of providing investors with previously disclosed factual information concerning the company, comments from company principals, copies of material that has been filed with regulatory authorities, comments prepared by registered brokers or investment dealers and material published in newspapers, magazines or journals.
AGORA INTERNET RELATIONS CORP does not participate in the maintenance of an orderly market in their client's securities, nor is required, or receives an incentive for, the maintenance or achievement of a price or trading volume for their client's securities at a certain level, for a specified period of time or by a certain date. AGORA INTERNET RELATIONS CORP. may, at any time, own shares in the company. |
