Corel Corporation and SoftQuad Software, Ltd. announced that they have signed a definitive agreement whereby Corel will acquire SoftQuad in a stock-for-stock transaction to be accounted for as a purchase transaction. This acquisition will enable Corel to enrich the existing XML capabilities within its WordPerfect product line. The company does not expect any significant negative impact on cash flow as a result of this acquisition. Over the next several weeks, Corel and SoftQuad will work together on a comprehensive plan outlining how best to integrate the two companies. Following the closing of the deal, expected in the fourth quarter of Corel’s fiscal 2001, the companies will announce further details related to the integration plan. The transaction will be a stock-for-stock transaction. Each common share, or equivalent, of SoftQuad will be exchanged for .4152 of a Corel common share on closing, being the ratio of $1.50 to $3.6129. The $1.50 value for each SoftQuad share equals an approximate 34 per cent premium over the closing price of SoftQuad on August 6, 2001. The $3.6129 value for Corel common shares represents the prior 10 day volume weighted average share price of Corel common stock. At current values, Corel would issue approximately 9.85 million shares if all in-the-money options and warrants of SoftQuad are exercised prior to closing. All figures are expressed in US currency. www.corel.com, www.softquad.com