Best Software, CCH Tax and Accounting Announce Alliance Delivering New Solutions to Accounting Marketplace

CPAPractice Manager integrates with ProSystem fx Tax for added convenience, better functionality and more efficient practice management

(Irvine, CA, May 13, 2004) – Best Software and CCH Tax and Accounting announced that they have entered into an agreement to provide complementary products and services to both companies’ accountant customers. The new alliance is designed to leverage opportunities for the two market leaders to work together to best serve the needs of their customers in the accounting market. As a first step, the companies have announced new integration between CPAPractice Manager (formerly Visual Practice Management) and ProSystem fx Tax, offering a seamless practice management and tax compliance solution for accountants.

"CPAPractice Manager is already regarded as a market leader in practice management. By partnering with CCH Tax and Accounting, which has the leading tax compliance solution in the industry, we’re offering our customers the best of both worlds," said Ray Jimison, general manager, CPASoftware. "We’re excited to integrate ProSystem fx Tax with CPAPractice Manager to deliver the best possible solution to our customers now, and to open the door for possible future opportunities for our customers."

As a result of this partnership, CPASoftware will no longer be developing its tax product, and will instead offer its customers tight integration with the market-leading tax solution from CCH Tax and Accounting - ProSystem fx Tax. To ensure an easy transition, existing CPASoftware tax customers will have access to free conversion services, web-based training and other benefits, so that they can get up and running smoothly as soon as possible.

"CCH Tax and Accounting already offers the industry’s premier tax compliance system. Building on the strength of integration, we’re very pleased to now be partnering with Best to integrate ProSystem fx Tax with CPAPractice Manager," said Mike Sabbatis, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for CCH Tax and Accounting. "As part of this alliance, we will also continue to explore other areas where we can offer accounting professionals new and innovative integrated solutions that are unmatched in the market."

With ProSystem fx Tax, CPASoftware customers will now have access to over 300 federal, state, city, and county modules to handle all processing requirements. They also will benefit from an extensive array of federal and state features, as well as more forms, automatic calculations and options than on any other system available.

In addition, CPASoftware tax customers will enjoy sophisticated expatriate and non-resident alien computations and forms for individuals, as well as extensive partner allocation capabilities and K-1 options for partnerships. For both S and regular corporations, ProSystem fx Tax offers powerful consolidated programs, as well as the 709 and 709A for Estate and Gift returns. ProSystem fx Tax provides unmatched electronic filing capabilities for Individual, Partnership, Corporation, S Corporation, Fiduciary and Deferred Compensation returns. And catering to staff who work remotely, CCH offers Global fx, a dynamic platform that provides professionals with remote access to ProSystem fx Tax via the Internet through an advanced ASP and thin client technology.

The integration between CPAPractice Manager and ProSystem fx Tax will be similar to the integration that already exists between ProSystem fx Tax and ProSystem fx Practice, CCH’s practice management system. This new integration offers several time-saving features and benefits for accountants, including:

Client Information Link: Links client name, number and address data between the two products, eliminating the need for re-keying data and allowing users to keep their client changes in sync, whether the update is made in their tax or practice management software.

Invoice Link: Using ProSystem fx Tax, users can create invoices and electronically update CPAPractice Manager’s invoicing and AR systems.

Project Tracking Link: Users can update CPASoftware’s Project Management tracking system while working on tax returns in ProSystem fx Tax.

About CCH Tax and Accounting

CCH Tax and Accounting (Tax.CCHGroup.com) is the nation’s leading provider of tax and accounting information, software and services. Based in Riverwoods, Ill., it has served four generations of tax, accounting and business professionals and their clients since 1913. Among its market leading brands is The ProSystem fx Office, providing a comprehensive suite of integrated software products for accountants. CCH Tax and Accounting is a Wolters Kluwer company (www.wolterskluwer.com). Wolters Kluwer NV is a leading multinational publisher and information services company, with annual revenues (2003) of EUR 3.4 billion and approximately 19,500 employees worldwide (www.wolterskluwer.com).

About Best Software

Best Software offers leading business management products and services that give more than 2.3 million small and mid-sized customers in North America the insight for success throughout the lives of their businesses. Its parent company, The Sage Group plc (London: SGE.L), supports more than 4.3 million customers worldwide. Its first half revenue run rate was the equivalent of over $1 billion on annual revenues. For more than 25 years, Best Software has delivered easy-to-use, scalable and customizable applications through its portfolio of leading brands, including Abra, ACCPAC, ACT!, BusinessVision, CPASoftware, FAS, MAS 90, MAS 200, MIP, Peachtree, SalesLogix, Timberline, among many others. For more information, please visit the Web site at www.bestsoftware.com/moreinfo or call (866) 308-BEST.

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