moin, moin, this is the merger Jean meantioned. I shoulda dropped it in earlier this morning. Sleeping on the job... :) ciao, der.hans -- # der.hans@LuftHans.com home.pages.de/~lufthans/ www.OpNIX.com # Help Jerry Lewis stamp out M$...oops that's MDA - der.hans ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 24 May 2000 10:41:11 -0700 From: francine hardaway To: azipa@listbot.com Subject: [azipa] EBIZ to merge with LinuxMall AZIPA Discussion List - http://www.azipa.org BW0017 MAY 24,2000 2:51 PACIFIC 05:51 EASTERN ( BW)(AZ-EBIZ)(EBIZ) EBIZ Enterprises to Merge with LinuxMall.com; Move Positions Companies as Largest Linux Destination, Adds Financial Resources, Strengthens Management Team Business Editors/High-Tech Writers SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 24, 2000--EBIZ Enterprises Inc. (OTCBB:EBIZ), Wednesday announced it has executed a letter of intent to merge with LinuxMall.com Inc. The merger of TheLinuxStore.com, a division of EBIZ Enterprises, and LinuxMall.com will position the combined entity as the largest "vendor-neutral" Internet Linux shopping mall and destination site in the world. The combination of companies offers the most comprehensive selection of Linux products and solutions, information and services. The companies' combined sales for the prior fiscal year should exceed $25 million per year and its employee base doubles to 112. Under the terms of the agreement, EBIZ will acquire LinuxMall.com, the No. 1 e-commerce site for the Linux community, in a stock for stock agreement. LinuxMall.com was recently listed No. 1 shopping destination in Linux Magazine's "Top 100 Linux Sites." The rise of the Linux operating system has been one of the top technology stories of the year as companies are adopting this system to run their e-commerce and Web servers. The merger combines the management teams of both companies: Mark Bolzern is named chairman, Dave Shaw is named as chief executive officer, Jeffrey Rassas is named as president, Ray Goshorn is named as chief financial officer, Frank Kasper is named as chief operations officer, and Stephen Herman is named as CMO. The combined companies' name will become LinuxMall.com. Upon successful completion of the proposed acquisition and meeting NASD requirements, the new company will immediately file for Nasdaq listing. Chase H & Q has been engaged to act as a placement agent and financial advisor for the company. Both Chase H&Q and Santa Cruz Operation Inc. (Nasdaq NM: SCOC) have made investments in LinuxMall.com and will have board seats with the new company when the acquisition is completed. Said Rassas, EBIZ chief executive officer and founder, "With the merger of our organizations, we are in a perfect position to emerge as a premier Linux company bringing Linux and the vision of the Linux community to the world. We have the management infrastructure and financial resources to successfully execute our business plan." Said Shaw, chief executive officer of LinuxMall.com, "Before the merger, our Company was in the process of filing an IPO. When the opportunity of aligning the two largest Linux companies was presented by Chase H & Q, the strategic value greatly outweighed the IPO route. It also allows us to reach our market more quickly than if we had remained a standalone company." Located in Aurora, Colo., LinuxMall.com is the No. 1 Linux e-commerce site and Internet gathering place for the Linux community. LinuxMall.com, one of the busiest sites on the World Wide Web, has been serving the Linux community since 1993 with news, information and the best selection of Linux-related products and services. LinuxMall.com is a leader in the Linux community and actively supports the growth and development of the Linux operating system. EBIZ Enterprises Inc. is a leading "vendor-neutral" source for Linux products, technical support and community services for the B2B market. Linux is noted for its extremely low maintenance cost and stability. The Linux platform is known as a "non-crashing" operating system. The company's Web destinations include: www.TheLinuxStore.com, a destination providing a complete line of Linux-based product solutions; www.LinuxLab.com, an interactive exchange providing technical support and a product compatibility database and www.LinuxWired.net, a Linux-based affinity and community services portal and ISP. The new company will have offices in Minneapolis, Denver, Phoenix, Kansas City, Kan., and an international distribution center in Amsterdam. This press release contains statements that are forward-looking as that term is defined by the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results will differ due to factors such as shifts in customer demand, product shipment schedules, product mix, competitive products and pricing, technological shifts and other variables. -0- *T NOTE TO MEDIA: Media Advisory Date: May 24, 2000 To: EBIZ Enterprises Inc., shareholders and interested parties From: Jeffrey Rassas - CEO Re: May 24 Media Teleconference - Major Business Announcement, Q & A *T EBIZ Enterprises Inc., (OTCBB: EBIZ) and LinuxMall.com invite the media to participate in a teleconference regarding a major business announcement on Wednesday, May 24, 2000 at 10 a.m. ET (Eastern Time). Please call in at least five minutes before the teleconference begins using the following toll free number: 1-800-633-8137. A postview of this teleconference will be replayed on May 25, 2000 at 3 p.m. ET. To access the replay call: 1-800-633-8284 and enter No. 15317884. Thank you. I look forward to your participation. --30--jae/ix* CONTACT: EBIZ Enterprises Inc., Scottsdale Victoria Welch, 480/778-1014 Victoria.Welch@thelinuxstore.com KEYWORD: ARIZONA COLORADO KANSAS MINNESOTA INTERNATIONAL EUROPE INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS INTERNET NETWORKING SOFTWARE TELECOMMUNICATIONS MERGERS/ACQ ADVISORY Francine Hardaway, Ph.D. francine@stealthmode.com www.stealthmode.com 602.331.0997 "It's not what happens to you; it's how you come to it."