PRINT 01, Chicago, Illinois - 6 September 2001 - Agfa announced that it has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to acquire 70% of the shares of Image Building bvba, a design and prepress company located in Antwerp, Belgium. Image Building is a co-developer of Agfa Delano with Agfa. Agfa Delano is Web-based, collaborative project management and communication software for the printing industry. Agfa will make an immediate capital investment in Image Building to facilitate the continued development and commercialization of Agfa Delano. It will also provide its significant sales and support organization for distribution and support of the product. Identifying the need for a Web-based project management system that would improve print project implementation, follow-up and completion, Image Building sought the expertise of Agfa, a leading manufacturer of prepress systems and workflow software. Initially, Image Building developed Delano for Agfa print buyers and Agfa's own internal print management requirements. Subsequently, after discussions with Quebecor World, the world's largest commercial printer, it was decided to commercialize Delano. Agfa Delano has since been designed in co-operation with Quebecor World who participated in defining the requirements for the interactions and processes between the publisher and the printer, and is currently testing Agfa Delano. The result of the groundbreaking collaboration is a Web-based project management solution that streamlines the co-ordination of printing and publishing projects. Agfa Delano will offer design, publishing and production teams a common workspace where full-spectrum, real-time project information is posted, tracked, updated, approved, proofed and prepared for print production-while offering automation and improved efficiency. "Recognizing the potential of this new software, Agfa invested in the project from its inception. The investment in Image Building will allow us to develop and sell software that is much needed in the printing industry." said Marc Elsermans, general manager of Agfa's Graphic Systems Business Group, worldwide. "With Agfa Delano we will be able to offer our customers a better way to manage their work." "Image Building has been both a customer and a prepress and digital printing service provider to Agfa for many years - they understand what is involved in managing the flow of work in a print production environment," added Etienne Van Damme, senior vice-president of new business development and strategic marketing. "Delano is a product for prepress and printing companies designed by experts in prepress and printing. This in itself adds a lot to the credibility of Agfa Delano. The participation of Quebecor World has resulted in further enhancements to the product feature set and provides us with immediate feedback from Quebecor World specialists." Agfa Delano represents a new product category for the web-based management of jobs in printing plants. Agfa Delano is an open system, can be integrated with existing design, publishing, prepress and pressroom workflows, and can communicate with emerging e-commerce solutions. Whether or not the members of a project team use Agfa digital imaging solutions, Agfa Delano will bring a common set of job management tools and automation to a print production environment. The web-based application will be available in multiple languages. Agfa will be selling, integrating and supporting the product worldwide. The intended investment is subject to satisfactory due diligence and the signing of a definitive agreement, including approval of the competent antitrust authorities.