Clear2Pay acquires MaXware Benelux.

Clear2Pay signs partnership with EDB Business Partner for the Scandinavian market.

Brussels, 1 October 2003 - Clear2Pay, the Brussels-based software vendor of next generation payment solutions for financial institutions, has announced the acquisition of MaXware Benelux. The Amsterdam-based e-finance solution provider specializes in Financial Services and technologies for the so-called Fundamentals of Digital Business. MaXware's Financial Services products focus on providing software solutions for working capital and cash management, geared towards large corporations and financial institutions. The Fundamentals product offering delivers customized technologies for Directories, Security (Identity Management) and Messaging and Reporting.

Michel Akkermans, Chairman & CEO of Clear2Pay, states, "The acquisition of MaXware Benelux is a stepping stone towards becoming a European player in the payment and financial value chain management market. By combining our product offerings, we are now much better equipped to service financial institutions and large corporations across Europe, helping them to reduce transaction processing costs and to deliver new, compelling electronic payments services in a competitive way. Via the partnership with MaXware Benelux's former owner, EDB Business Partner, we are able to provide our solutions in the Scandinavian market too. The outsourcing and hosting capabilities of EDB, together with the advanced payment and payment-related solutions of Clear2Pay form a powerful combination."

Peter Kwakernaak, Managing Director MaXware Benelux, comments, "The two companies are truly complementary; apart from the chemistry with the Clear2Pay team, we see distinct synergy between the innovative payment enabling products of Clear2Pay and the professional payment and system integration skills of the MaXware Benelux team."

MaXware Benelux was previously owned by EDB Business Partner, a leading IT group in the Nordic region, offering industry-leading total solutions in the areas of bank & finance, telecommunications and IT operating services for the telecommunications and banking & finance market throughout Europe. "Restructuring its Banking & Finance business area, EDB Bank & Finance no longer wishes to own and operate companies outside the Nordic region, but will instead work through strategic partnerships with selected European leaders in the market. Clear2Pay offers very attractive technology and solutions packages for payment environments, and will be supplied with the payments competence and messaging and reporting solutions from MaXware Benelux. Its product range complements the solutions we offer. EDB and Clear2Pay therefore intend to build a partnership relationship for payments processing components and infrastructures" explains EDB Executive Vice-President, Bank & Finance, Ole Urdahl.

MaXware Benelux BV will change its name to Clear2Pay Nederland BV effective immediately. Peter Kwakernaak will continue to manage the Dutch operation.

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About Clear2Pay

Clear2Pay is an innovative e-finance company focused on delivering globally applicable solutions for secure, timely electronic payments. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, the company's focus is to facilitate banks and financial organizations in their provision of electronic payments services. Clear2Pay's technology helps to reduce transactions processing costs, and to deliver new, compelling e-payment services in a competitive way. Clear2Pay's payment solutions offer organizations easy, branded ways for their customers to pay online: from complex trade-supporting business-to-business environments, through e-commerce applications, to retail payments and micropayments. Functions embrace payments origination, reporting, linkage with back-office processing systems, clearing, netting and settlement. In September 2002, the company announced a strategic contract with Visa EU for the development of its new cross-border money transfer service, Visa Direct.
More information is available on www.clear2pay.com.


About MaXware

MaXware Benelux BV, located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, was part of the largest independent Norwegian ICT company, EDB Business Partner, in particular the division Bank & Finance. In cooperation with a number of highly qualified partners MaXware offers solutions and services in the areas of E-commerce, messaging, intra/internet-applications, identity management and financial transaction processing. MaXware customers are mainly found in the financial, telecom, ISP and governmental sectors. More information is available on MaXware's website at www.maxware.nl. MaXware Benelux will change its name into Clear2Pay Nederland.


About EDB

EDB Business Partner is one of the leading providers of IT services and software in the Nordic region, providing industry-leading total solutions in the areas of bank & finance, telecommunications and IT operating services. The company's objective is to contribute to our customers' value creation by delivering productivity enhancing software solutions combined with flexible and reliable operating solutions offering unique economies of scale. EDB Business Partner has 2,700 employees and turnover in 2002 was EUR 565 million. The company is represented in Norway, Sweden, USA, England, France, Poland, Spain, and Switzerland. EDB Business Partner is listed on the Oslo stock exchange with the ticker: EDBASA.
More information is available on EDB's website at www.edb.com.


Contacts for more information about Clear2Pay and Clear2Pay Services

Kimball Felix
Marketing and Communications
Clear2Pay NV/SA
Zikkelstraat 64
1970 Brussels (Wezembeek Oppem)
Belgium
E:
T: +32 2 759 94 96

Peter Kwakernaak
Managing Director
MaXware Benelux BV
Burgemeester Stramanweg 105F
1101 AA Amsterdam
The Netherlands
E:
T: +31 20 452 96 50

Ole Urdahl
EVP
EDB Business Partner, Bank & Finance
Nedre Sköyen vei 26
Postal address: P.O. Box 248 Sköyen
E:
T: +47 22 52 80 80