First Insight to Acquire Toronto-Based Vision Alliance Network

Author by Anonymous

For Immediate Release

Contacts:

Krista Smith

New Venture Communications

503-944-5507

kristas@newventurecom.com



Sonia Rai

First Insight

503-533-4555 x229

srai@first-insight.com

David Pietrobon

VAN Vision Alliance Network, Inc.

905-690-1435

van@optometry.net



First Insight to Acquire Toronto-Based Vision Alliance Network

Web-based service strengthens online optometry community, helps

practitioners reach new audiences



PORTLAND, Ore./TORONTO, Canada, February 24, 2000 – First Insight ® Corporation,

the leading provider of technology-based solutions for eye-care practitioners, today

announced that it will acquire the Toronto-based VAN Vision Alliance Network, Inc.,

(VAN) a provider of web-based services for optometric practices and associations.



The acquisition provides First Insight with access to VAN’ s Optometry.net, a web-based

service that allows eye-care practitioners to easily create and manage their own

professional web sites. VAN partners with the Canadian Association of Optometrists and

numerous Canadian provincial optometric associations, and is endorsed by the New

York State Optometric Association.



“Eye-care practitioners are looking for ways to promote their presence to new audiences and to build stronger relationships with existing patients,”said Nitin Rai, president and

CEO of First Insight. “Our customers have come to rely on our business-to-business

solutions, and now, with the addition of VAN’ s services, we will be able to help them connect with the consumer market as well. VAN’ s proven technology and strong existing customer base will help solidify First Insight’ s leading position in the online eye-care services market.”



“By joining forces with an organization of First Insight’ s caliber, we will be able to reach a wider audience and provide our clients with a broader range of technology services,”said David Pietrobon, president of VAN. “We are confident that together we will provide eye-care practices the most complete solution, enabling them to compete at a higherlevel.”



According to the terms of the acquisition, VAN will be renamed First Insight Canada and

Optometry.net will become part of the First Insight network. The acquisition will

encourage the growth and development of online optometric communities through

shared services and communication.



About Vision Alliance Network Inc. (VAN)

VAN’ s mission is to optimize patient care through information integration among primary eye-care professionals, the eye-care industry and the public. VAN creates value by providing strategically integrated Internet solutions for eye-care professionals and theircommunities.



VAN’ s Optometry.net offering enables optometric practices to easily create and manage professional web sites. Optometry.net helps eye-care practitioners build stronger relationships with patients by facilitating easier communication and providing valuable eye health information.



VAN is the developer and joint operator of CAO.Optometry.NET, a unique extranet for

members of the Canadian Association of Optometrists, which integrates content and

functionality for eye doctors and vision industry suppliers.



About First Insight

First Insight Corporation is the leading provider of technology-based solutions for the $20B eye-care industry. First Insight’ s comprehensive practice management software

and electronic medical records enable optometrists, ophthalmologists and opticians to be more competitive.





Since its introduction in 1994, First Insight's Practice Management solution, Maximeyes, has been installed in more than 550 eye care practices throughout the U.S. and Canada. MaximEyes was the first practice management solution for eye care on the Microsoft Windows platform, and was also the first to successfully integrate with Vision Serives Plan's Internet Doctor Communication System (IDC), enabling verification of patient eligibility, claims submission and prescription orders via the web.



Based in Hillsboro, Ore., First Insight is a pre-public company backed by an investment team that includes Richland Ventures, HLM Partners, Validus (the investment arm of United Healthcare), and Moss Forest Ventures. For more information call 1-800-920-1940 or visit the First Insight web site at www.first-insight.com.