Pricer and IBM signed OEM agreement

PRESS RELEASE from Pricer AB (publ) March 22, 1999 PRICER AND IBM SIGNED OEM AGREEMENT Pricer AB and IBM have signed an OEM agreement in Europe to co-operate in the area of Electronic Shelf Label (ESL) Systems. Pricer AB is one of the market leaders in the market for electronic display systems for the retail market. The Pricer System enables the retailer to centrally manage pricing and other information at the shelf edge through a wireless communication network. IBM is the leading IT-supplier in the global - and European - retailing market. It developed the bar-code and launched the first Point of Sale (POS) systems 25 years ago. IBM has the world's largest installed base of POS systems world-wide, supported by sales, marketing and service organisations. IBM will, on a non-exclusive basis, sell, install, support and integrate Pricer's ESL System into IBM's total solutions for the retailer. Initially the main geographical focus of the agreement is Europe but it allows the co- operation to extend into a world-wide relationship. Pricer will supply IBM with hardware and software developed and produced by Pricer. IBM will integrate the Pricer System into its POS system thus providing the client with a much wider and complete offer. IBM has a strong focus to be a total solution provider in the retail market. "The agreement with Pricer adds a very important component to our solutions portfolio for retail customers, says Mr Kevin McEvoy, Business Manager of IBM Retail Store Solutions EMEA. "The market for Electronic Shelf Labels is now ready to take off. Many of our customers are asking us to provide them with an ESL solution and this agreement with Pricer will increase our strengths in the retail market", continues Mr Kevin McEvoy. "The Pricer System is an excellent tool to implement more effective business solutions and processes for the retailer in order to improve margins and customer service", ends Mr Kevin McEvoy. "This agreement with IBM is a very important additional step in our strategy to co-operate with major players in the world-wide retail market and make ESL's a standard component in solutions for the retail market", says Mr Thomas Landberg, President and CEO of Pricer AB. "IBM´s large sales and marketing organisation will dramatically increase our presence in the market. IBM´s focus on assisting the retailer to improve their business processes and provide a total integrated solution to its customers will certainly add much value to the users of our systems", says Ms Britt Sandberg, President of Pricer Communication AB. For further information, please contact: Pricer AB (publ): Thomas Landberg, President and CEO, Pricer AB, +46 (0)18- 18 81 00 IBM: Caroline Chapman, IBM Global Distribution, Tel: +44 (0)171-202 3553 Pricer AB was founded in 1991 in the city of Uppsala, Sweden. In only a few years, it has built a leading position in the growing market of electronic price and information systems for the retail trade. Through the co-operation with Intactix International Inc., the world leader in Space Management, Pricer has built a strong platform for future growth. Pricer offers integrated IT solutions such as electronic price and information systems, application software and consulting services to substantially improve consumer value and satisfaction and increase the profitability of retailers and their suppliers. Pricer AB is listed on the O-list of the Stockholm Stock Exchange. Pricer Communication AB is a fully owned subsidiary of Pricer AB and covers the entire ESL (Electronic Shelf Edge labels) business within Pricer. Please visit Pricer's web site at www.pricer.se. IBM Distribution Industry IBM's Distribution Industry provides retailers, wholesalers and consumer goods manufacturers with technology solutions, consulting (focused on business transformation, IT strategy and planning, store operations improvement, and supply chain optimization) and services (such as outsourcing, managed operations, systems integration, and application development and design). ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/03/22/19990323BIT00200/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/03/22/19990323BIT00200/bit0002.pdf