CCH System Streamlines Stock Option, Stock Purchase Plan Administration

(RIVERWOODS, ILL., November 30, 2000) – U.S. employers see stock options and stock purchase plans as essential parts of their compensation systems, but keeping track of the many bits of information on plans and participants can be a heavy administrative burden, according to CCH INCORPORATED (CCH), a leading provider of securities and business law information and software.

To help those who administer option and stock purchase plans do their jobs more quickly and accurately, CCH is releasing powerful new software – SEC Compliance Desktop: Stock Options and SEC Compliance Desktop: Employee Stock Purchase Plans – that help assures accurate plan administration with a minimum of effort. (To order or for more information, contact your CCH Sales Representative at 1-888-224-7377, call 1-800-449-6435 or visit http://business.cch.com.)

According to CCH Associate Publisher for Securities Peter Berkery, the new modules are designed to accommodate a maximum of flexibility in administering plans, while at the same time eliminating unnecessary, duplicative effort.

"The end result is a system that’s extremely adaptable and powerful. It makes use of good design to minimize drudgery but ensure accurate administration that complies with legal requirements and can provide useful information about plans to many interested parties inside and outside of the company," said Berkery.

The new modules are the most recent addition to CCH’s innovative SEC Compliance Desktop. The SEC Desktop also offers a Section 16 compliance module that significantly eases the burden of filings by allowing for fast and efficient creation of forms 3, 4 and 5.

Powerful Capabilities

The Stock Options module allows administrators to create multiple plans with multiple grant types, multiple vesting schedules, exercise types and dispositions. Several valuation models are built into the module. Tax rates can be entered for each participant, and taxes are automatically calculated.

Similarly, the Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESSP) module makes it easy for administrators to create and administer multiple plans of differing offering types.

The system recognizes the $100,000 ISO limitation when adding new grants or editing existing ones. It also tracks the $25,000 limit in ESSPs, even when a participant is concurrently enrolled in multiple plans.

The SEC Desktop modules readily import spreadsheet or payroll data. A spreadsheet-style display facilitates data manipulation during the import process.

The modules can produce over 100 distinct reports, including information for participants, internal reports for treasury and human resources, broker and transfer agent correspondence, tax, proxy, FAS 123 and valuation reports.

In addition, the Stock Option and ESPP modules:

Provide an intuitive data entry process that is easy to learn and use.

Limit access to authorized users through built-in security features.

Allow users to meet filing requirements and deadlines with an EDGAR conversion capability.

Automatically flow required Section 16 information to Forms 3, 4 and 5 (if separate Section 16 module is purchased.)

Accommodate all types of exercises, including cash, same-day sales, stock swaps and SARs.

Accommodate the creation and calculation of any type of vesting schedule, including vesting for restricted stock.

Provide global automatic grant repricing – with an "undo" feature to permit easy error correction.

Automatically perform all transactions relating to termination, including reversal of termination transactions if needed.

Allow designation of a captive broker.

Store subsidiary information and permit filtering by subsidiary.

Store actual and forecasted dividend amounts.

Report dividends due on restricted stock.

Protect against "effective repricings."

Permit creation of hypothetical, "what if" transactions, including multiple valuation calculations.

Track restricted stock issued from exercise of unvested options and project release from escrow.

Features Save Time, Assure Consistency

According to Ted Trautmann, JD, CCH securities law analyst, the software becomes "smarter" the more it is used.

"Once a piece of information is entered, it doesn’t have to be entered again when a new plan or transaction has to be recorded," Trautmann noted. "Instead, the data already in the system is called up instantly and entered on new reporting forms. We also designed picklists into the system wherever possible to speed data entry whenever possible, and provide extensive error-checking to minimize the possibility of an incorrect entry. "

System Requirements

The SEC Compliance Desktop runs under MicrosoftÒ WindowsÒ 95, 98 or NT on a Pentium 166 or better microprocessor and 32-bit technology for optimal performance. The program requires 28 MB of free disk space exclusive of data files, a CD-ROM compatible with MSCDEX and SVGA monitor or better.

Availability and Pricing

Modules are priced individually to allow maximum flexibility and discounts apply when multiple modules are purchased. Pricing starts at $9,500 for the Stock Options module and $3,495 for the Employee Stock Purchase Plan module. Special pricing is available for certain start-up companies that have not yet made an Initial Public Offering.

In addition to an online tutorial and extensive, context-sensitive help, the subscription price includes on-site or telephone training, all customer service calls and all updates.

For complete pricing information, contact your CCH Sales Representative at 888 CCH REPS (1-888-224-7377), call 1-800-449-6435 or visit http://business.cch.com.

About CCH INCORPORATED

CCH INCORPORATED, founded in 1913, has served four generations of business professionals and their clients. The company produces approximately 700 print and electronic products for securities, tax, legal, banking, securities, human resources, health care and small business markets. CCH is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wolters Kluwer North America. The CCH web site can be accessed at www.cch.com. The CCH Business and Finance Group web site can be accessed at http://business.cch.com.

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