Washington, DC (September, 2004) – FOCUS Enterprises, Inc., a national Investment Banking firm providing merger, acquisition and corporate finance services, today announced that it has completed four security sector transactions. FOCUS was retained by Lanex, LLC; March Networks Corporation; Protect Emergency Response Systems, Inc. and Newell Communications, Inc. to initiate transactions, act as financial advisor and assist with negotiations to complete each transaction. On two occasions, FOCUS was involved with engagements that led to transactions with the same buyer, Lifeline Systems, Inc.

“Our track record of four closed transactions in the security industry has provided us with a current, broad and deep knowledge of this sector,” said Marshall Graham, Chairman of FOCUS. “We look forward to continued involvement via our security team of three senior investment bankers.” Joining Graham on the FOCUS security team are Doug Rodgers, Managing Partner of the firm, and Brad Fleisher, Principal. All are based in the firm’s Washington, DC headquarters office.

FOCUS currently has 26 investment banking assignments underway through its national team. They include buy-side assignments, sell-side assignments and corporate finance and capital raising engagements. These projects are for clients located throughout the United States and Canada. FOCUS opened a San Francisco office in February 2004 and recently opened offices in Chicago and Atlanta. FOCUS is a rapidly growing firm headquartered in Washington, DC that has closed six merger and acquisition transactions in calendar-year 2004. The firm has 16 investment banking professionals.

Summary of the Four Transactions (Company details below)

• The principal shareholders of Lanex, LLC retained FOCUS to sell the company. Lanex, a manufacturer of digital video security and surveillance products, was sold to Loronix Information Systems, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Verint Systems Inc. (Verint is wholly owned by Comverse Technology Inc.(NASDAQ:CMVT). Verint Systems Inc. is a leading provider of analytic software-based solutions for communications interception, networked video security and business intelligence.
• FOCUS represented March Networks Corporation to sell its Healthcare Business Unit, a provider of emergency response solutions for the senior living housing market. The Healthcare Business Unit’s product line includes mobile and fixed wireless monitors and sensors and an automated response station supporting a variety of automated caregiver dispatch applications. March’s Healthcare Business Unit was sold to Lifeline Systems, Inc. (NYSE:LIFE) that provides 24-hour personal response monitoring systems and services for elderly and disabled individuals in the United States and Canada.
• Protect Emergency Response Systems, Inc. engaged FOCUS to facilitate its sale to Lifeline Systems, Inc. Protect has sold, installed and serviced more than 800 wireless emergency call systems specifically designed for the senior living housing industry. Lifeline System, Inc (NYSE:LIFE) is the leading provider of personal response services and emergency call systems in the United States and Canada.
• Newell Communications, Inc. (NCI) engaged Focus to sell the company. NCI is the leading building security integrator in the Richmond, VA marketplace that provides a full spectrum of building security, life safety and communications products. FOCUS assisted with the negotiations during its merger with Diebold Inc., (NYSE:DBD) a global leader in providing integrated self-service delivery systems and services.

About Lanex

Lanex entered the digital video security and surveillance market in 1999 and is a leading provider of digital video recording solutions for headquarters and branch locations of banking institutions. The company’s products utilize Lanex proprietary software and an embedded system structure and integrate with typical banking systems such as ATMs and teller operations.

About Loronix

Loronix Information Systems is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Verint Systems (a Comverse Technology company, (NASDAQ: CMVT), and a global leader in enterprise-level digital video management solutions. Loronix products include digital video recorders, servers, video server applications, digital video motion detectors, and storage devices for enterprise-wide as well as scalable surveillance applications. In addition, Loronix offers the software tools to integrate, add intelligence and add immediacy to decision-making and deployment by security management or local law enforcement.

About The Healthcare Business Unit of March Networks

The Healthcare Business Unit developed, manufactured, marketed and distributed emergency response systems targeting primarily the independent and assisted living markets in the United States and Canada. March’s emergency response solutions for senior living are resident and facility emergency management systems centered on the concept of personal safety and security systems that allow residents to call for assistance with a personal wireless call button. The Healthcare business unit’s product line included mobile and fixed wireless monitors and sensors and an automated response station supporting a variety of automated caregiver dispatch applications.

About Lifeline Systems, Inc.

Established in 1974, Lifeline Systems is the leading provider of personal response services and emergency call systems in the United States and Canada. It currently supports more than 400,000 subscribers from response centers in Massachusetts, Ontario and Quebec. Lifeline also supplies emergency response equipment and services to owners and developers of independent living, assisted living and continuing care retirement communities across North America. To people who live alone or in senior living communities, the Company provides reassurance and peace of mind with dedicated, well-trained people, advanced technology and a nationwide support structure to achieve service excellence. The Company is committed to affording its subscribers and residents the dignity, privacy and respect to which they are entitled.

About Protect Emergency Response Systems, Inc.

Established in 1983, Protect introduced wireless emergency call systems specifically designed for the senior living industry. Since then, Protect has sold, installed and serviced more than 800 systems, protecting tens of thousands of residents in senior apartments, independent living, assisted living and Alzheimer’s communities.

About FOCUS Enterprises, Inc.

FOCUS Enterprises, Inc., founded in 1982 in Washington, DC, provides a range of investment banking services tailored to the needs of middle-market and small businesses. FOCUS is a national firm serving clients from offices in major cities across the United States. FOCUS specializes in transactions for entities with $5-100 million in revenues, serving entrepreneurs, corporate owners and various types of investors. To find out more about the specialized services of Washington, D.C.-based FOCUS Enterprises, visit www.focusbankers.com.