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EXHIBIT 99.1
For Immediate Release
Contacts:
European Inquiries U.S. Inquiries
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Richard Tinkler Jenna Lane
Burson-Marsteller London Burson-Marsteller Chicago
011-44-20-7300-6247 1-312-596-3466
[email protected] [email protected]
WORLDPORT COMMUNICATIONS ACQUIRES VIS-ABLE INTERNATIONAL AB
Purchase Extends WorldPort's Professional Services and Hosting Operations
BUFFALO GROVE, IL - September 15, 2000 - Internet solutions provider
WorldPort Communications Inc. (OTCBB: WRDP) today announced the acquisition of
Sweden based VIS-Able International AB for approximately US$ 18 million in cash.
VIS-Able is a leading professional services firm, specializing in complex
systems development, consulting, WAP integration and Web hosting.
With 61 professionals located in eight offices throughout Sweden, the U.S.
and the UK, the VIS-Able acquisition gives WorldPort access to more than 3,500
customers, an additional fully operational data centre, expanded European reach
and added Internet consulting and application design and development expertise.
"We are excited by what the addition of VIS-Able means to WorldPort's
growing business," said Michael E. Heisley, Chief Executive Officer for
WorldPort. "VIS-Able significantly expands our geographic reach within Europe,
provides us with a strong customer base, a pool of talented consultants, and an
important sales channel for developing the complex Internet solutions market
throughout Europe. Together this strengthens our position and gives us a
greater range of services, which in turn will enable us to meet the growing
needs of U.S. and European companies. Most importantly, it brings us one step
closer to realizing our goal of becoming the leading provider of Internet
solutions in Europe."
VIS-Able's professional service customers include European leaders such as
Ericsson, Volvo, ABB and IBM. Among the company's hosting clients, which
comprise some of Europe's largest and most sophisticated customers, are Bonnier,
Sweden's leading media group, E-Trade and Skanska, one the world's largest
construction companies.
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"VIS-Able is thrilled to join WorldPort's expanding team," said Gunnar
Nilsson, Managing Director of Vis-Able International. "The combination of
professional services and hosting established by the acquisition is
unprecedented in Europe and creates an expanded and scalable product mix
designed to meet and exceed the evolving market needs of today's customers. We
are looking forward to helping WorldPort become a leading Internet solutions
provider."
In addition to customer access, the acquisition provides WorldPort with an
operational data centre in Sweden. This strategically located centre will be
fully integrated with WorldPort's flagship Dublin SuperCentre, which is
scheduled to open in early October. This extends WorldPort's reach across
Europe and gives them an early foothold in the Swedish market, identified
recently by Newsweek as one of Europe's most developed and savvy Internet
markets. Internet penetration currently reaches 55 percent of Swedish
households, the highest in Europe (Source: Eurostat). In addition, Forrester
predicts that Scandinavia will have the highest broadband penetration levels in
Europe by 2005, creating a demand for complex Internet content. The acquisition
of VIS-Able means that WorldPort is poised to take advantage of this emerging
opportunity.
VIS-Able offers customers a complete portfolio of services ranging from
consulting and complex systems development to web hosting. VIS-Able has
developed a suite of data warehousing, e-commerce, and intranet/extranet
applications, which are delivered using a standardized consulting approach. By
packaging its software applications with well-defined consulting practices, VIS-
Able is able to offer customers complete solutions faster and more cost-
effectively than traditional consulting firms. Additionally, VIS-Able is a
certified Microsoft Solution Provider and will bring a team of certified
Microsoft and Oracle professionals to WorldPort.
Arthur Andersen Corporate Finance served as advisor to the transaction for
WorldPort and Booz Allen Hamilton and Catella Corporate Finance for VIS-Able.
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About WorldPort
WorldPort is a full-service Internet Solutions Provider delivering market-
defining Internet technologies, products and services for the European
marketplace. In addition to Web-enabled solutions, WorldPort intends to provide
a complete managed Web hosting services portfolio -- including network
management, colocation services, internet connectivity, backups and disaster
recovery -- providing end-to-end service to those who want to take full
advantage of the new economy. WorldPort simplifies technology and enables
companies to outsource their mission-critical Internet operations so they can
grow their businesses efficiently and focus on what they do best.
Cautionary note: This press release may contain certain statements of a forward-
looking nature relating to future events or business performance. Any such
statements that refer to WorldPort's future business, operating results or other
non-historical facts are forward looking and reflect WorldPort's current
perspective of existing trends and information. These statements involve risks
and uncertainties that cannot be predicted or quantified, and consequently,
actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among other
things, the factors detailed in WorldPort's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. These statements speak as of the date of this release, and
WorldPort undertakes no obligation to update these statements in light of future
events or otherwise.
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