Cognicase Announces the Creation of Cognicase Internet
Innovations (CII) - Launch of Shipahead.Com, E-Frontcaseand Careercase.Com
DECEMBER 21, 1999
MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA--COGNICASE Inc. (Nasdaq: COGI) announces
the creation of COGNICASE INTERNET INNOVATIONS (CII), a new
business unit designed to accelerate the creation, start-up and
development of on-line companies offering state-of-the-art solutions.
"The creation of COGNICASE INTERNET INNOVATIONS (CII) is in line
with our company's business plan and our growth objectives for
sales and profitability. On-line companies represent the future
of our economy. With CII, we are bringing together the unique
knowledge and expertise of our professionals, and capitalizing on
COGNICASE's many e-business accomplishments. Our new business
unit will focus on creating and promoting new internet companies
(.com) as well as on-line solutions and services, and will provide
a fertile environment for new ideas-to the benefit of our
customers, employees, partners and shareholders," said Ronald
Brisebois, president and CEO of COGNICASE.
Companies that want to remain competitive have to rethink their
business plans and learn to make quick, efficient use of the
potential offered by new information technologies (IT) to market
their products and services.
Backed by the power of the Internet, and the most reliable,
flexible and advanced technologies and functionalities, COGNICASE
INTERNET INNOVATIONS (CII) allows optimal development of
integrated business solutions that are adapted to the specific
needs of each industry. COGNICASE INTERNET INNOVATIONS (CII)
CII will take advantage of opportunities offered by the new
electronic economy, by creating or accelerating the start-up of
business initiatives by vertical markets.
The COGNICASE INTERNET INNOVATIONS (CII) team will be led by Tony
Marinelli, Chief Internet Innovations, and will benefit from the
financial resources of COGNICASE and know-how of the company.
From the start, COGNICASE INTERNET INNOVATIONS (CII) will bring
together a number of initiatives in which COGNICASE has an interest, including:
* SHIPAHEAD.COM, a joint venture between COGNICASE and ShipAhead
Inc., the first e-business-enabled Internet portal that brings
together cargo carriers, shippers, seaports and all other related
businesses in the maritime shipping industry.
* E-FRONTCASE provides companies with a virtual office that
integrates advanced functionalities, document management and sales
force follow-up. It also offers integrated customer relationship
management tools. Specifically designed to facilitate distance
work, E-FRONTCASE securely and effectively delivers corporate
organizational and information resources via the Internet to all
employees, regardless of geographical location.
* CAREERCASE.COM is a new virtual meeting place, developed by
COGNICASE and recruiting experts, that allows employers and
job-seekers to exchange high-quality information efficiently.
Combining leading-edge IT and Internet technologies, this
value-added service provides the full range of expertise and
services of a professional, international-calibre recruiting firm.
Tony Marinelli, Chief Internet Innovations, says: "COGNICASE
INTERNET INNOVATIONS (CII) will creatively explore all the growth
opportunities that meet the needs of our diverse customer base.
We are prepared to invest in new, dynamic and creative companies
that are developing or offering advanced solutions for e-business,
or to work with influential investors to speed up the growth of
new business initiatives on the Internet. Our original approach
will also include "a la carte" functionalities and leading edge
e-applications that will be billed on a per-use basis, thereby
saving our customers from having to invest in costly
infrastructures or complicated IT projects."
COGNICASE is among the North American leaders in the
implementation of business solutions that leverage information
technology, with offices in several major North American and
European business centres. Based on its pragmatic approach,
productivity tools, international IT engineering and hosting
centre and critical mass of business and technology expertise,
COGNICASE offers innovative solutions that contribute to the
success of its customers. Its solutions include: implementation
of turnkey e-business solutions, ASP services, re-engineering of
existing applications for e-business, technology configuration
management, as well as project management and business process
improvement consulting services.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
(US), which involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of a
number of factors, including factors that the Company may not
currently foresee, the Company's actual results could differ
materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
Certain other factors that might cause the Company's actual
results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements
include the Company's ability to (i) successfully develop
additional products and services and new applications for its
existing products and services and otherwise respond to rapid
changes in technology, (ii) successfully compete in its industry
for customers and developers and other personnel with expertise in
information technology, (iii) successfully identify and consummate
acquisitions on favorable terms and integrate acquired businesses,
and (iv) successfully manage its growth and changing business, as
well as those factors set forth under the heading "Risk Factors"
in its 1998 annual report. |
