LexisNexis

Interface Software Helps Major Private Equity Firm Maintain Client Intimacy, Grow Business with Relationship Intelligence

CHICAGO and OAK BROOK (IL), 25 September, 2001: Adams Street Partners, LLC, one of the nation's largest and most experienced managers of private equity investments, with over $5.5 billion in assets under management, has implemented Interface Software Inc.'s InterAction®, a unique customer relationship management (CRM) solution for the professional services industry. The system delivers Relationship Intelligence to Adams Street Partners on their platform of choice, which they can then use to enhance client service, identify new business opportunities and differentiate the company from the competition. Adams Street Partners, based in Chicago, completed a spin-out from its parent in January 2001, and this highlighted the need for a new CRM solution.

The investment management business, like the balance of the $500 billion professional services industry, hinges upon business relationships. As an investment firm grows, personalized, one-to-one service can often suffer, resulting in client defections, lost opportunities and ultimately, declining profits.

"We have been successful because we have met our investment objectives and remained dedicated to delivering superior client service," said Adams Street partner Miguel Gonzalo. "As we grow, we want to maintain the same level of client intimacy we achieved when the firm was smaller. InterAction will help us to do that while effectively growing our business."

Interface Software is the industry leader in Relationship Intelligence solutions for the professional services industry. Its InterAction software dominates the client relationship management (CRM) market for professional services and is used by more than 280 firms worldwide. InterAction aggregates and manages a firm's internal competitive information about people, companies, relationships, experience and expertise and transforms this scattered data into Relationship Intelligence.

"We're unique in the marketplace," says Randy Littleson, Interface Software's vice president of marketing and product management. "We don't try to be all things to all companies. We've incorporated our tremendous knowledge of how professional services firms function into InterAction."

InterAction is designed to complement any firm's knowledge management strategy and operates on Adams Street Partners' platform of choice, via web browser, firm intranet or portal, wireless devices such as Blackberry or Palm Pilot or any other e-platform. Firm members can then conveniently use InterAction to enhance client service, uncover new business opportunities and differentiate themselves from the competition.

"We scoured the marketplace," Gonzalo recalled. "Every solution we saw was designed for companies with large sales teams and call centers and focused on sales force automation, pipeline-management and a host of other functions that aren't as relevant to our business." InterAction, he adds, is tailored to how professional services firms do business. "We're focused on relationships," he explains.

Molly Meng, an Adams Street partner, explains how she uses InterAction: "When I meet a general partner or a plan sponsor at an industry conference, I want to cultivate that relationship. I need to know more about this individual, his or her company and any other contact Adams Street has had with this person. For instance, someone in my firm could know a contact that might be important to this relationship, but I'm unaware that this relationship exists. With ready access to InterAction's Relationship Intelligence, I can quickly gather this information."

About Interface Software
Interface Software is a leading provider of client relationship management software and services for the professional services industry. Its flagship product, InterAction®, enables firms to transform internal information about people, companies, relationships, experience and expertise into Relationship Intelligence. Relationship Intelligence is internal competitive content that offers a complete, 360° view of client and contact relationships. Firms use Relationship Intelligence to enhance client service, source new revenue opportunities and differentiate their services from the competition. InterAction is internet-enabled, allowing professionals to view information however they choose-through knowledge management platforms, corporate portals, intranets, extranets and wireless devices. For more information contact Interface Software, Inc. at 1420 Kensington Road, Suite 320, Oak Brook, IL 60523, Telephone: +1.630.572.1400, Website: www.interaction.com. In Europe and Australia, contact Dan Von Weihe, National Sales Manager, at 38 New Oxford Street, Suite 204 London, WC1A 1EP, United Kingdom, Telephone: +44.(0)78.7057.1234, Email: Dan.VonWeihe@lexisnexis.com.

About Adams Street Partners
Together with its predecessor organizations, Adams Street Partners, LLC has been managing investments in private equity since 1972, and has been investing in private equity partnerships since 1979. Adams Street currently manages investments in 200-plus private equity partnerships, representing over 150 general partner groups. Total private equity program sizes of assets under management as of June 30, 2001 were $5.5 billion of which $4.0 billion had been committed to investments. For more information about Adams Street Partners, contact Molly Meng, Partner, at 209 S. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL 60604 Telephone (312) 553-7890.

InterAction is a registered trademark of Interface Software, Inc. All other product names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.