MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- 10/18/07 --
Emergis Inc. (TSX: EME), a leading Canadian IT company, today announced the launch of its Interac Online transaction processing service, which allows merchants and organizations including HMV, Lespac.com?Quebec's largest classifieds web site, University of British Columbia and Wilfrid Laurier University to offer a new payment option that allows consumers to pay for goods and services on the internet directly from their bank account.
"Emergis is proud to participate in yet another cutting-edge technological development that touches Canadians in their everyday lives," said Keith Nugara, Senior Vice-President, Financial Services Market of Emergis. "We are also pleased that such reputable organizations have chosen our solution to power their e-commerce activities," he added.
Emergis offers this Interac Online service through third-party resellers, such as PSiGate, Beanstream, InternetSecure and Admeris. These resellers facilitate the relationship with merchants and organizations and offer them the service at a competitive price.
"Thanks to our collaboration with Emergis, we are able to offer a very flexible, high quality payment solution to small and medium sized businesses at an affordable price," says Craig Thompson, CEO of Beanstream.
Customers who wish to use Interac Online must be registered for online banking services with a participating financial institution. After selecting Interac Online as their payment method on a merchant's web site, they are prompted to select their financial institution and are redirected to their regular online banking web site where they can select their account and confirm payment. Once this step is completed, they are sent back to the merchant's web site for the confirmation page, and the merchant will proceed to fulfill the order.
Emergis' Interac Online transaction processing service is part of the Company's suite of point-of-sale services, which include traditional debit and credit transaction processing. As is the case for traditional transaction types, Emergis is responsible for authorizing and settling Interac Online transactions.
About Emergis
Emergis is an IT leader in Canada that focuses on the health and financial services sectors. It develops and manages solutions that automate transactions and the secure exchange of information to increase the process efficiency and quality of service of its customers. Emergis has expertise in electronic health-related claims processing, health record systems, pharmacy management solutions, cash management and loan document processing and registration. In Canada, Emergis delivers solutions to major insurance companies, top financial institutions, government agencies, hospitals, large corporations, real estate lawyers and notaries and 3,100 pharmacies. Its electronic health record solutions are also delivered in the U.S. and Australia. The Company's shares (TSX: EME) are included in the S&P/TSX Composite Index.
Certain information in this news release is forward-looking within the meaning of certain securities laws and is subject to important risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The results or events predicted in such forward-looking information may differ materially from actual results or events. The words "may", "could", "should", "would" and similar words and expressions are used to identify forward-looking information. Material factors which could cause actual results or events to differ materially include, among others: general economic factors, adverse industry events, the adoption rate of the Company's solutions, its ability to deliver development and implementation projects in a timely manner, the non-renewal of major contracts which expire in the near term, complexities and timing of signing large customer contracts, exposure under contract indemnities, defects in software or failures in the processing of transactions and security and privacy breaches. In making the forward-looking information contained in this news release, the Company has assumed that these and other material factors will not result in such forward-looking information differing materially from actual results or events, and has assumed the renewal and signing of certain customer contracts and the realization of certain projects. It has not assumed any significant acquisitions, dispositions or one-time items. When relying on the Company's forward-looking information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. For additional information with respect to certain of these and other factors, refer to the risks and uncertainties section of the Company's 2006 MD&A and to its 2006 Annual Information Form (risks and uncertainties) filed with Canadian securities regulators and available at sedar.com.
THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF EMERGIS AS OF OCTOBER 18, 2007 AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. HOWEVER, EMERGIS EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY INTENTION OR OBLIGATION TO UPDATE OR REVISE ANY FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION, WHETHER AS A RESULT OF NEW INFORMATION, FUTURE EVENTS OR OTHERWISE, EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
INTERAC is a registered trademark of Interac Inc. used under license by Emergis Inc.
Contacts:
Investors:
John Gutpell
450-928-6856
Media:
Jessica McEachern
450-928-6884
