At press time

Office World News, Jun 2000

ECI2 ACQUIRES TWO LEADING BACK OFFICE INFORMATION SYSTEMS SUPPLIERS

VIENNA, VA-eCommerce Industries, Inc. (ECI2), an innovator in e-commerce solutions for the office products industry and parent comapny of Internet Office Solutions and Services, Inc. (IOS2), have annnounced an agreement to acquire Distribution Data Management Systems, Inc. (DDMS) and its affiliated companies as well as acquiring United Business Computers, Inc. (UBC).

The acquisitions will enable office product dealers to compete more effectively in the business-to-business (B2B) arena by combining the back-office functionality and expertise of DDMS and UBC with the front office e-commerce expertise of IOS2.

Through these acquisitions, ECI2 will be able to lead the office produccts industry with highly integrated Internet (Web) based, business-tobusiness technology solutions. ECI2 will operate each company as a subsidiary and will continue to make DDMS, Silver Plus, O/PUS, and UBC products and services available to the office products industry. ECI2, through all of its subsidiaries will continue to provide independent office products dealers with new products, services, and features.

THE FUTURE OF 20-20 LOOKS CLEAR

LAVAL, QUEBEC, CANADA-In an exclusive interview with 20-20 Technologies, creator of design software for the office furniture and residential interiors industries, 20-20's vice president, Kevin Bidner announced an agreement to acquire Intellicon. "Intellicon is one of five major companies, including 20-20, that is involved in this business," said Bidner. "We are very excited about the acquisition."

BLI ANNOUNCES WINNERS

HACKENSACK, NJ-In keeping with its longstanding tradition, Buyers Laboratory Inc. (BLI), the nation's leading independent office products testing laboratory, once a year honors the outstanding performers among products tested in its lab.

The 1999/2000 "Pick of the Year" awards were given in the following categories: multifunctional imaging systems, full-color multifunctional imaging systems, digital duplicators, analog copiers, fax-based multifunctional products, and standalong fax machines. "Each year, there are a number of good performers among the many products evaluated by Buyers Lab in its extensive in-house testing. However, only the products that stand out int he crowd and give an extraordinary performance are selected as BLI's "Picks of the Year." To obtain a list of the award winners, contact Buyers Laboratory at 201/488-0404 or check out www.buyers-lab.com.

MARTIN YALE PURCHASES ATRATEX

MARGATE, FL-Martin Yale Industries, a manufacturer of Graphic Arts and Business Equipment, is pleased to announce an agreement to purchase Texasbased Atratex. Atratex is a manufacturer of tabletop business card slitters. The acquisition will enhance and expand Martin Yale's current offering and allow far a merge of existing technologies to develop the next generation of tabletop business card slitters.