Beam signs International deals for its 'Languages' series

Smarty Pants Publishing, the educational multimedia division of Beam International Limited (ASX: BEM), today announced that it has entered into exclusive distribution agreements for its Languages For Kids range of CD-ROM titles for both the North American and European markets. Two separate agreements were signed. An agreement with Infogrames Entertainment, Europe's leading producer and publisher of consumer software, covers distribution and marketing in 49 European countries for a 4 year term. A separate agreement with Transparent Language Inc., a world leader in the field of computer-aided language learning, reference and translation products, covers distribution and marketing in the United States and Canada for a 3 year term. Languages For Kids is the world's first comprehensive range of language tutors designed specifically for children. The series has won numerous awards, including ATOM awards in Australia and the New York Festivals International Multimedia Awards. "We are extremely pleased to have established distribution agreements with two such strong partners in the North American and European markets," commented Rebecca Chapman, General Manager Smarty Pants. "We are looking forward to working with them." Infogrames is the only non-US company among the top 10 international multimedia publishers. In 1997, Infogrames took over both Ocean and Philips Media's multimedia software publishing and distribution operations. Manager of Infogrames' German subsidiary, Wilhelm Hamrozi, anticipates a successful partnership: "With the Languages For Kids series of language tutors we are equipped to supply Europe with its first and best range of children's language learning software. We are very excited to have discovered a product of this quality that can fill this educational niche in the world market."

Transparent Languages Inc., is a privately held corporation, specialising in Language Learning. A recent report by PC Data confirmed Transparent Languages as the second-fastest growing company in sales of PC educational software and the 11th largest Educational Software Publisher in the American market. "Transparent Language is focused on developing and publishing the best available language software," says Michael Quinlan, President of Transparent Language, Inc. "That is why we are so thrilled to enter the children's software market with a series of the standard of Languages For Kids." A distribution agreement for the series with Scholastic for the Australia and New Zealand territories was announced in November 1997. "The response to the series in Australia has been absolutely phenomenal, both at the retail level and in schools," continued Rebecca Chapman, "and we are looking forward to similar results internationally now that we will be working with such strong partners." Languages For Kids was developed in Australia by Smarty Pants Publishing, with financial assistance from Australian Multimedia Enterprise Ltd. With a budget of $2 million, it is one of the biggest educational multimedia projects undertaken in Australia. The 11 Win/Mac compatible titles deliver the highest educational content, in line with school curriculum guidelines, through hilarious animations and fun, entertaining characters and games guaranteed to keep students' attention. The programs feature native language speakers and educate in both written and spoken language, whilst also improving mathematical techniques, computer literacy and problem solving skills. The 11 titles in the series are Mike Teaches English, Pip Teaches German, Michio Teaches Japanese, Budi Teaches Indonesian, Fiore Teaches Italian, Pepa Teaches Spanish, Lin Lin Teaches Mandarin, Insu Teaches Korean, Claudine Teaches French, Miguel Teaches Portuguese and Rivka Teaches Hebrew.

Infogrames Entertainment has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1993. The group carries a catalogue of over 500 titles with an international presence in all the major international markets through the use of two brand names, Infogrames and Ocean. The range of titles covers games, educational and personal productivity software for all the key interactive markets. More information about Infogrames can be found at their site at www.infogrames.com.
Transparent Language, Inc., is a leader in computer-aided foreign language learning in the United States. It creates and markets a broad range of language learning, foreign language reference and language translation tools which are employed by 200,000 users worldwide. Their products are sold for use in consumer, education, government and corporate markets in the US, Europe and Asia. More information about their products is available at www.transparent.com.
Beam International is Australia's only multimedia development company listed on the Stock Exchange (under the symbol BEM). More information about Beam can be found at www.beam.com.au. Smarty Pants Publishing is a developer and producer of educational and multimedia titles, and can be visited at www.smartypantsco.com.
For further information about the Languages for Kids series, Smarty Pants Publishing or Beam International Limited, please contact:
Jenny Davidson,
Beam International Limited
Tel.: +61 (0)3 9866.8300, ext, 210,
Fax on +61 (0)3 9866.8674
or by email at jennyd@beam.com.au.
Press release:- Monday May 11, 1998