To: JakeStraw who wrote (31 ) 4/11/2002 8:32:33 AM From: JakeStraw Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 72 International Retailer Laura Ashley Signs Agreement to Utilize National Processing Company's Virtual PAYSM Productbiz.yahoo.com LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- National Processing Company (NPC®), a leading provider of merchant credit card processing and a wholly owned subsidiary of National Processing, Inc. (NYSE: NAP), announced the signing of a multi-year agreement to process e-commerce transactions for Laura Ashley, Inc. (LAI). Under the terms of the agreement, LAI will utilize NPC's VirtualPAY(SM) product to process e-commerce credit card transactions conveniently and securely over the Internet. NPC currently processes Visa® and MasterCard® transactions for Laura Ashley retail locations across the United States. Laura Ashley is an internationally recognized specialty retailer of home furnishings and updated women's and children's clothing, and accessories in the classic English country style. Customers can conveniently shop for a distinctive collection of goods bearing the Laura Ashley label through retail outlets and on-line at www.laura-ashleyusa.com . ``On-line retailing has revolutionized changes that will forever shape the way consumers shop and pay for goods,'' said Tim Munto, senior vice president of Retail Sales for NPC. ``Successful companies like Laura Ashley have recognized and embraced this phenomenon and look to companies like NPC to provide a secure payment engine to make it work.'' ``The NPC VirtualPAY product has many features that minimize fraud and maximize the benefits of accepting on-line Internet-based transactions, said Mark D. Pyke, chief operating officer for NPC. ''We have been delighted to be Laura Ashley's merchant credit card processor and are honored to be selected to process their e-commerce transactions as well.`` ``We needed a processor that could deliver processing capabilities for whatever environment our customers choose to shop in,'' said Jaime Dearing, website administrator for Laura Ashley, Inc. ``The NPC VirtualPAY product delivers a merchant processing solution that supports on-line Internet-based financial transactions. NPC also backs this product up with superior customer service and technical support from industry experts that are available 24 X 7.''