YVILAND, Pa.--March 4, 2004-- Since its December 2003 acquisition by Montreal-based Transcontinental Inc., the direct marketing services provider formerly known as CC3 today announced a formal identity change to 'Transcontinental CC3.' The new entity's combined operations, which now include Transcontinental's U.S. litho printing capabilities and a fully operational 95,000-square-foot facility in Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX, make Transcontinental CC3 one of the largest direct marketing services providers/printers in North America, capable of producing more than 11 million litho printed forms and laser personalized letters per day. In addition, the company's West Coast facility was named a "Best Workplace in America" by the Printing Industries of America for the third consecutive year. The award is due, in part, to the investments made by the company over the past four years in equipment, technology and personnel. Award criteria included financial security, culture, training and development opportunities and health and well-being programs. "We are proud to have consistently met the criteria for this award, year after year," said Transcontinental CC3 Executive Vice President Jay Garner, who leads West Coast operations. "It is a testament to our dedicated team, and to our commitment to creating a strong, viable workplace while serving clients exceptionally well." With full-service operations in the East, West and Central United States, Transcontinental CC3 is now the only provider in the industry to offer a U.S.-based three-facility production solution that allows for more accurate prediction of in-home delivery dates and anticipated response times, and enables better management of back-office processes such as call centers and Web-based marketing. The company reports that nearly 50% of its personalized mail volume for clients, which include many of the nation's leading financial services, mortgage and insurance companies, is now produced and mailed using this unique client solution. "The integration of Transcontinental and CC3 has yielded several improvements throughout our operations that make the new organization one of the strongest players in the industry, offering clients greater capacities and efficiency on a nationwide basis," said Transcontinental CC3 President Don McKenzie. Such improvements, outlined in the company's "100-Day Plan," include optimization of facilities and equipment, as well as strongly defined roles and responsibilities among the company's key management to ensure a smooth integration process for clients. Expanded Capabilities Serve Clients' Evolving Direct Marketing Needs Significant additions to Transcontinental CC3's range of equipment have expanded the company's equipment and technology services. For example: -- Transcontinental CC3 now offers litho printing capabilities from its East, West and Central locations, including 12 continuous form web presses and two sheetfed presses. -- The company's Web-based workflow tools and e-mail marketing capabilities make it the only direct marketing services provider to offer clients end-to-end land-based and electronic capabilities in a single campaign. -- Transcontinental CC3 now offers expanded database modeling and in-house analytics capabilities. In 2003, Forrester Research said it considered the company as one with emerging database capabilities. Key Management Roles and Responsibilities As part of Transcontinental CC3's 100-Day Plan, nine teams are responsible for executing the integration process and leveraging all the synergies afforded by both companies, while enabling Transcontinental CC3 clients to access the company's expanded capabilities as quickly as possible. Transcontinental CC3's workforce now includes many of the most experienced professionals in the direct marketing industry today, including more than 30 sales representatives, 80 client relations account managers and 70 experienced programmers nationwide. Transcontinental CC3's senior managers will report to President Don McKenzie. Company Identity Change "The change to Transcontinental CC3 is designed to maintain the brand equity that CC3 had built in the U.S. marketplace," said Luc Desjardins, President and COO of Transcontinental Inc. "As part of the Transcontinental family, Transcontinental CC3 will continue to be a company that listens to its customers and finds ways to satisfy their existing and emerging needs." Transcontinental Inc. maintains fully integrated direct marketing plants in Montreal and Toronto with more than 500 personnel, combined. Transcontinental CC3 augments those operations significantly, providing the company the geographic platform to serve the entire North American market. "Transcontinental has a reputation for having a culture based on teamwork and respect for others, and of being an efficient and flexible printer," said McKenzie. "CC3 has been a fast-growing company; annual revenues increased an average of 17% over the past three years and 25% in 2003 despite difficult market conditions. What's more, that growth was organic. As capabilities are now combined and integrated, we want to make sure that the industry continues to follow our growth and recognizes us for the high levels of quality and service we worked hard to build. "The positive steps we've taken since the acquisition have enabled us to serve our clients even better," concluded McKenzie.