Stac acquires Novell network backup and disaster recovery product; purchase of Rememory and Crossware backup business adds data protection to Stac family of software products for managing and accessing information

Business Wire, March 27, 1995

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 27, 1995--Stac Electronics (NASDAQ:STAC) Monday announced the acquisition of REMSERVE, the popular Novell network backup, archiving and data recovery software, developed by Crossware Development and marketed by Rememory Corp.

As part of the purchase, Michael W. Harris, president of Costa Mesa, Calif.-based Rememory, will serve as director of Stac's new Backup Product Group, and John Matze, founder of San Diego-based Crossware, will serve as principal architect for the new Stac product group.

Harris, Matze and their combined team have relocated to Stac's San Diego corporate headquarters from which the new operation will be based. The amount and terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Gary Clow, Stac chairman and chief executive officer, said acquiring the assets of the two companies' backup software business adds crucial data protection software to Stac's plan for building a diversified family of products for managing, accessing and protecting information assets.

Stac is best known for its award-winning ReachOut remote access program, and its line of Stacker data compression products that can significantly increase the storage capacity of Windows, DOS, Macintosh and OS/2 computers.

"Stac's new REMSERVE product was one of the first backup NLMs to be NetWare 4.1-certified and is now ideally positioned to service the growing number of companies and departmental groups that are utilizing the power of our newly released version of NetWare," said Toby Corey, vice president of marketing for Novell's NetWare Products Division.

REMSERVE is a Novell-certified backup and data recovery NetWare Loadable Module (NLM). Fully compliant with Novell Storage Management Services (SMS) and System Independent Data Format (SIDF), REMSERVE provides unattended, scheduled backups of NetWare 3.x and 4.x servers and workstations.

In addition, REMSERVE is one of the only software applications that can recover data from Novell SBACKUP-generated tapes. Originally introduced in July 1993, REMSERVE is designed to support any User License version of NetWare, which allows a single version of REMSERVE to backup an unlimited number of servers and workstations. The result is lower cost and fewer configuration problems.

"Rememory has been successful in developing their NLM in full compliance with Novell's SIDF and SMS standards," said Stan Corker, director of Removable Storage Research at International Data Corp., which forecasts the total market for backup and disaster recovery software in the networked PC and workstation segment will grow from $667 million in 1994 to $1.01 billion in 1999.

"The acquisition of REMSERVE software technology provides Stac with the resources required to become a serious competitor in the backup software industry."

Added Rememory's Harris, who also serves as chairman of the storage industry's standards association, SIDF: "Because of its standards-based architecture, REMSERVE has been quickly gaining a strong following as an upgrade to Novell's SBACKUP utility. Now, with Stac financial and marketing strength behind us, we can become a real market share leader as well."

Stac Electronics

Stac Electronics makes software products for managing, accessing and protecting the information assets of companies and individuals. Founded in 1983, Stac's products are sold through retail, VAR, corporate and OEM sales distribution channels worldwide. -0-

NOTE: Stac, Stacker and ReachOut are trademarks or registered trademarks of Stac Electronics. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. At NetWorld Interop.

CONTACT: Stac Electronics

Lois Leslie, 619/794-4316

or

GCI Jennings

Greg Peverill-Conti, 415/974-6200