Xanté Corp. Acquiring RIPit and Exxtra

MOBILE, Ala.—Xanté announced that it is in the process of acquiring, in separate transactions, RIPit Imaging Systems, Inc. (CITRUS HEIGHTS, Calif.) and Exxtra Imaging Systems, Inc. (HAUPPAUGE, N.Y.). The companies have agreed on financial terms of both acquisitions, funds from Xanté are in escrow and the transactions should be completed on or about March 9, 2007.

The acquisition will allow Xanté to better serve the similar customer base of all three companies by providing a more comprehensive range of products and software solutions to the professional imaging markets. These acquisitions allow Xanté to expand its product offerings to professional printers in over 100 countries, making it one of the most complete lines of prepress products in the industry.

“Xanté is constantly developing new technologies for future expansion and growth. Once we determined Xanté could accelerate its entry into the Violet CTP market by adding the people and products of RIPit and Exxtra to the Xanté family, we did not hesitate. Both companies have solid reputations and significant technology portfolios,” said Robert Ross, president and CEO of Xanté Corporation. “Xanté now has one of the strongest lines of CTP products in the industry as a result of the combined product offering of the three companies. The collective design resources will lead to even more innovative CTP solutions, software RIPs and professional imaging systems.”

The combination of intellectual property, technology assets and people with decades of industry experience will allow Xanté to expand its market reach to printing professionals around the world looking for process color workflow solutions. The assets of Xanté, RIPit, and Exxtra create a synergy that will result in a larger, more diverse offering capable of spawning new business opportunities via a large base of worldwide distributors and dealers. Xanté has both the resources and financial strength to enable the newly combined companies to rapidly expand its market presence and increase the speed it brings innovative products to market.

The Xanté product line now encompasses chemical and process-free solutions such as the Impressia Metal PlateSetter and PlateMaker 5 which deliver metal and polyester plates for short to medium run lengths as well as larger format violet metal plate and polyester imaging devices driven by OpenRIP Symphony. Its Adobe PostScript 3 RIP features a multi-device, multi-task workflow designed to automate prepress production and eliminate human error. Symphony’s multi-device functionality allows every device in the print shop including platesetters, imagesetters, laser printers, digital copiers, inkjet printers and plotters to be controlled from a single RIP for true workflow consistency.

“I’m excited about the opportunities to advance the technologies designed by RIPit with Xante’s resources and commitment to growth and innovation,” said Wayne Wasulko, president of RIPit Imaging Systems, Inc. “I will now have the time to follow my passion and focus my energies on the development of leading edge software RIP solutions as well as expanding our presence and product offering in the pre-press market.”

“These newly combined companies are poised to significantly influence the future direction of the CTP industry,” said Michael Sterflinger, president of Exxtra Imaging Systems, Inc. “I am very excited to be joining forces with Xante who has a well established and successful world-wide sales and marketing organization and distribution channel.”

Management of the company includes executives from both organizations. Robert C. Ross, Jr. continues as president and CEO. Wayne G. Wasulko of RIPit has joined Xanté as vice president of RIP Development. Michael R. Sterflinger of Exxtra has joined Xanté as VP of Technology.