INFUSION (AISoftw@re group) signs an agreement to let enter Sviluppo Italia in Advanced Computer Systems to develop high technology software projects in south italy

A software factory will be opened in Matera with the employment of 90 new human resources

The agreement provides a capital increase of Advanced Computer Systems for 8 billion liras (about 4.3 million euro)

Milan, 26th January 2001

Infusion, the industrial financial accelerator for high technology investments of AISoftw@re Group, signed an agreement to let Sviluppo Italia enter, as new shareholder, in Advanced Computer Systems SpA (ACS) , a company participated for 23% by Infusion.

Sviluppo Italia, national agency for the economic and entrepreneurial development in South Italy and other disadvantaged areas, will subscribe a capital increase in ACS with premium price, completely reserved, for an amount of 8 billion liras (4.3 million Euro). With this subscription, Sviluppo Italia will become a shareholder with a participation from 26.7% to 33.3% and consequently Infusion will have an interest in ACS ranging from 15.34% to 16.86%.

This expansion will assure the necessary capital for the company growth that includes the opening of a new software factory in Matera in co-operation with Italian Space Agency, and the employment in the next 5 years of 90 new specialists in the satellite software sector, area in which ACS is an European leader with over than 25 ground satellite stations already installed.

ACS, with about 100 employees and forecasted 2001 revenues for 20 billion liras, will play a relevant role in all domestic (Cosmo Skymed)and European (Galileo) satellite projects, that are strategic in the next 5 years for the European Space Industry.

"The entrance of Sviluppo Italia" - remarks Francesco Gardin, President and CEO of Infusion and AISoftw@re - "represents an important element to accelerate ACS growth, with the goal to enforce its national and European position inside the satellite industry sector. ACS will become a strategic player in the software area that represents one of the critical factors in functioning, performances and in distribution of services.” 

"The capital increase, assured by the entrance of Sviluppo Italia" - added Gastone Trevisiol, President of ACS - "allows to achieve the ACS project focused to build an high level software development and design centre aimed to be part of International space projects in the next years. The location in Matera allows to move the work into areas where there is a strong potential software engineers competences that aren't used. This choice of ACS follows the concept to move the work to the workers and not viceversa."

“With this new participation in the risk capital Sviluppo Italia show its a strong role in entrepreneurial development of innovative areas in South Italy" - underlines Umberto Di Capua, President of Sviluppo Italia - “More over this investment is interesting also for the expected profitability: ACS is a company with real growth potential and operates in an added value market".

INFUSION 
INFUSION SpA, is the industrial financial accelerator of AISoftw@re Group established to control the minority interests of the Group.
In line with AISoftw@re Group's strategy, the new financial vehicle will invest in advanced technology companies, focused at creating and delivering contents and services via Internet. The companies in which INFUSION will invest, will have the following features:

own proprietary technologies for the creation and delivery of contents and services via Internet; 
make use of technologies, products and resources available within AISoftw@re Group to improve their time-to-market; 
indirectly increasing AISoftw@re's local and international market share; facilitate the creation of corporate alliance networks between AISoftw@re and major European Groups; 
ensuring medium-term financial returns through the listing on Stock Exchanges of the investments; 
maximise returns to the AISoftw@re Group through exploitation of expertise and technologies no longer directly strategic to the three core business units of AISoftw@re; 
AISoftw@re plans to involve other strategic partners in this business, who will contribute with their financing, marketing and technology skills. 
The Company is registered in Milan (Italy), with a 8.500.000 Euros (8.1 million USD) share capital.
Current investment portfolio is represented by: Italia-Invest (Italy) Global EuroNet Inc(USA); ACS(Italy); Geosim System Ltd (Israel) Impression (Italy), Ludonet (Italy).

AISoftw@re
AISoftw@re SpA - founded in 1983 and with a consolidated value of production in 1999 of Euros 11,882 million - is a company specialised in the development of decision-supporting knowledge processing and data intelligence technologically innovative Internet and Intranet solutions. Its technical expertise in proprietary products distributed on reference markets positions AISoftw@re as a leading company in medical imaging, advanced software systems and financial market software solutions. AISoftw@re has been listed on Easdaq since 23rd November 1999 and on Nuovo Mercato since 1st August 2000, and has started a programme of growth based both on international expansion and aggressive recruitment, acquisitions and equity investments in software companies working in the area of Internet applications development. 

ACS
Advanced Computer Systems (ACS) is an Italian software house, created in 1979 out of the initiative of a group of professionals, who can boast accumulated experience in the following:

Design and engineering of ground stations for satellite survey data acquisition 
Digital imaging analyses and processing 
Ground Information Systems 
Extensive data archives management 
Virtual Reality 
Based on such experience ACS has held a key international position, strengthened by competing for and winning some of the most prestigious international contracts for telesurveyed image processing since the early 80s.
In 1994 ACS set up a division dealing with multimedia solutions which is now engaged in developing a system for the complete digital functioning of RAI archives and radiophonic production. 
Since the beginning of 1998 ACS has been active in the field of Virtual Reality applications, with specific reference to mission simulations.

Sviluppo Italia
Sviluppo Italia is the national agency for the economic and entrepreneurial development in South Italy areas and domestic disadvantaged areas.
Sviluppo Italia's roles are:

promotion of industrial activities, support of new employment initiatives and enterprises creation; 
expansion of innovative demands; 
development of local enterprises systems network; 
supply consultancy to local and central public administration financial planning and project development; 
attract capital investors. 
The capital of Sviluppo Italia (1.262 billion Euro) is entirely owned by the Italian Minster of Treasury.
Sviluppo Italia participates in the risk capital of companies with high innovative contents, strong expected growth and heavy impact in the local production. The participation is temporary and could reach the 49% of the global capital.