SoftQuad Software, Ltd. announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held Advanced Data Engineering, Inc. (ADEi) of Petaluma, California. ADEi is a provider of content transformation solutions that enable organizations to convert large volumes of existing data from multiple sources into XML. The ability to convert existing content directly into XML is a fundamental requirement for companies as they migrate their enterprise content infrastructures to XML. With the ability to transform large volumes of existing documents in formats such as Word, Quark, Pagemaker and PDF, ADEi’s systems solve the content transformation challenges that many organizations face. Additionally, ADEi’s XML-it Document Markup System, now part of the SoftQuad content services offering, provides an easy way to transition existing Word content into XML. This gives customers total control over their migration to an XML content infrastructure. ADEi’s management team and engineering staff are all expected to join SoftQuad. SoftQuad plans to maintain ADEi’s facilities in Petaluma as a strategic services, sales, and business development center in close proximity to Silicon Valley. Under the terms of the transaction, SoftQuad will acquire all of the outstanding shares of ADEi for approximately 750,000 shares in newly issued SoftQuad common stock, subject to minor post closing working capital adjustments. Further terms and conditions were not disclosed. The transaction, which is immediately accretive to SoftQuad earnings, has been approved by the Board of Directors of each company and is expected to close in November 2000. www.softquad.com, www.adei.com