3M standardizes on Adobe Acrobat 2.0 software for global document management and distribution

Business Wire, March 28, 1995

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 28, 1995--Adobe Systems Incorporated (NASDAQ:ADBE) announced today that 3M Company has licensed Acrobat 2.0 software.

The agreement is part of 3M's global document management and distribution strategy, which is designed to promote more effective and efficient communications. Acrobat software will also make it easier for 3M customers to access and use information on products and services.

3M, a $15 billion company serving the consumer, commercial, professional and industrial markets in nearly 200 countries, will electronically publish information on its more than 60,000 products in the Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), an open, cross-platform file format created by Acrobat software that preserves the fidelity of electronic documents across virtually all printers and computer platforms.

"3M is committed to providing its customers around the world with superior service," said Allen Messerli, manager, advanced technologies at 3M Company. "With Acrobat software, we can improve the quality of communications by electronically providing them with more timely and accurate materials that can be easily searched without compromising the professional quality. Acrobat software will also improve our internal communications by providing us with the ability to bridge our diverse platforms, allowing us to more efficiently communicate and share information."

Using Acrobat software, 3M will be able to distribute product information, up-to-date pricing and other critical data to its worldwide network of distributors, retailers and corporate customers in a compact, universal electronic format. 3M plans to distribute the information using a variety of electronic distribution channels including CD-ROM, the Internet and Lotus Notes. 3M customers will be able to use Acrobat software features, including full-text search and hypertext linking, to instantly find exactly the information they need.

"Corporations such as 3M are continually updating product and pricing materials," said John Warnock, chairman and chief executive officer of Adobe Systems Incorporated. "Acrobat software provides the ability to electronically publish materials to their customers around the world, who reside on a variety of platforms. Acrobat software will allow 3M to better service their customers by providing them with the ability to quickly and easily access information."

3M will initially deploy Acrobat software on 5,000 seats throughout the company to allow more effective distribution of information internally. Using Acrobat software, 3M employees can continue to use their existing software and hardware to create, share and print documents.

3M is a diversified manufacturer serving commercial, industrial and consumer markets worldwide with over 60,000 products. 1994 sales exceeded $15 billion. 3M has operations in 61 countries and 85,000 employees. In 1995, 3M ranks 8th on Fortune's Most Admired Corporations list.

Adobe Systems Incorporated, founded in 1982, is headquartered in Mountain View, California. Adobe develops, markets and supports computer software products and technologies that enable users to create, display, print and communicate electronic documents. The company licenses its technology to major computer, printing, and publishing suppliers, and markets a line of applications software and type products for authoring visually rich documents. Additionally, the company markets a line of powerful, but easy to use, products for home and small business users. Adobe has subsidiaries in Europe and the Pacific Rim serving a worldwide network of dealers and distributors. Adobe's 1994 revenue was approximately $598 million.

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Note to Editors: Adobe and Acrobat are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated or its subsidiaries and may be registered in certain jurisdictions. Lotus and Lotus Notes are registered trademarks of Lotus Development Corp.

CONTACT: Adobe Systems Incorporated

Rick Brown, 415/962-6060

http://www.adobe.com/

or

3M Company

Stephen Sanchez, 612/737-5967