WAYNE, Pa., Nov. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Safeguard Scientifics, Inc.
(www.safeguard.com), the New York Stock Exchange-listed (NYSE:SFE) strategic
information systems company, announced today that its Board of Directors has
authorized the repurchase of up to $20 million of the company's common stock
in the open market when conditions and prices are favorable.
    The company received authority in March 1998 to repurchase up to
$20 million of the company's common stock, of which $17 million has been spent
to date.  This recent Board action resets the company's authority to
repurchase its shares of common stock to $20 million in total.
    Pete Musser, chairman and CEO of Safeguard, commented, "The market's
recent volatility and its impact on Safeguard created an excellent investment
opportunity in recent months, and we were substantial buyers.  With this new
authorization, we should be prepared for any future market opportunities.
Over the last few months, Safeguard also purchased shares in seven of its
public partnership companies -- ChromaVision Medical Systems, CompuCom
Systems, Diamond Technology Partners, DocuCorp International, OAO Technology
Solutions, Sanchez Computer Associates, and USDATA Corporation -- due to what
we believe are very favorable prices in these stocks.  Also, we have been
actively increasing our private portfolio by adding several exciting
technology companies -- Arista Knowledge Systems, Kanbay LLC, Pac-West
Telecomm, and US Interactive."
    Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. is a unique partnership of entrepreneurial
companies focused on information technology markets.  Safeguard has a proven
track record of bringing emerging companies to market through rights offerings
to Safeguard shareholders.  Past Safeguard rights offerings include Novell,
Inc., CompuCom Systems, Inc., Cambridge Technology Partners (Massachusetts),
Inc., Coherent Communications Systems Corporation (merged with Tellabs,
effective August 3, 1998), USDATA Corporation, Integrated Systems Consulting
Group, Sanchez Computer Associates, Diamond Technology Partners, Inc.,
ChromaVision Medical Systems, Inc., OAO Technology Solutions, Inc. and
DocuCorp International.