Canada NewsWire, Monday, April 23rd, 2001.

Toronto, Ontario - April 23, 2001 - J. L. Albright Venture Partners today announced that Rick Segal has joined as a partner. Mr. Segal brings more than 20 years of operating experience and technical expertise to one of Canada's premier venture capital firms known for its high-profile investments such as The Descartes Systems Group (TSE: DSG, Nasdaq:DSGX), Pixstream Inc., recently acquired by Cisco Systems (Nasdaq:CSCO), Servicesoft Technologies Inc., recently acquired by Broadbase Software (Nasdaq:BBSW), Isolation Systems, acquired by Intel Corporation (Nasdaq:INTC), Chrysalis-ITS, and Grocery Gateway.

Most recently, Mr. Segal was President and Chief Executive Officer of Microforum (TSE:MCF), a leader in providing integrated e-business solutions in a wide array of industry verticals. During his tenure at Microforum, Mr. Segal led the company successfully through the beginnings of a very aggressive change agenda and realignment process that focused the business on Internet solutions; divesting the company of any business which was not core to that strategy. Mr. Segal joined Microforum in July 2000 from Chapters Online Inc. (TSE:COL), a leading Canadian e-commerce company, where he held the position of President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Segal began working with Chapters Inc., in 1997, as a consultant on the technical development of www.ChaptersGlobe.com, the company's first e-commerce venture. Based on this successful collaboration, he was named the President of Chapters Online in August 1998. In this role, Mr. Segal was responsible for the entire e-commerce operations of Chapters Online. After his appointment, Mr. Segal led the company through the development of www.chapters.ca its second web site. This site was taken from a concept to a bulletproof online operation faster than any e-commerce project in Canadian history. Today www.chapters.ca continues to attract millions of Canadian shoppers.

Prior to joining Chapters Online, Mr. Segal worked at Microsoft Corporation in Redmond, Washington from 1991 until 1997. His most recent position at the company was the Director of technical services for the Internet Customer Unit, managing a group of 40 technical specialists. He was responsible for the 1st generation development of such notable websites as MarthaStewart.com and Barnes&Noble.com, among others. As the Director of Educational Initiatives for Microsoft, Mr. Segal created regional and national educational software and web site programs.

"The Albright Ventures team is thrilled and excited that Rick is joining us. Rick's operating experience, technical expertise, and proven leadership provides Albright Ventures with additional operating skills to assist entrepreneurs build their business and accelerate their growth. The addition of another operating partner offers the entrepreneur an opportunity to tap into a wealth of operating experience at our firm when making key operating decisions" said John Albright, partner, J. L. Albright Venture Partners.