Activant Buys The Systems House, Inc.

Acquisition Provides Activant With Next Generation Technology for Automotive Aftermarket and Office Products Customers

AUSTIN, Texas, May 17 -- Activant Solutions Inc.(TM), a leading provider of vertical ERP solutions, today announced that effective May 13, 2005, it has acquired substantially all of the assets of The Systems House Inc., a technology solutions provider for distributors primarily in the automotive aftermarket and office products industries. The acquisition provides next-generation technology for Activant's customers in the automotive aftermarket and wholesale distribution industries, key vertical segments in Activant's vision for growth.

"Activant is committed to empowering the automotive parts and service industry by investing in leading-edge technology," said Larry Jones, CEO of Activant Solutions. "The acquisition of The Systems House gives our automotive aftermarket customers access to new visually-rich distribution technology. It also establishes a best-of-breed, proven office products solution within Activant's wholesale distribution group."

The Systems House's Vision warehouse distribution and store management system offers a sleek and simple Windows-based GUI built on Microsoft .NET(TM) technology. The Vision product line includes inventory and order management, price and performance analysis, financial management, integrated CRM, e-commerce, paperless delivery, wireless capabilities, and catalog integration.

As part of the integration process, The Systems House Vision product line will be renamed Activant Vision(TM), and will be offered as an alternative solution for large two-stepper aftermarket distributors and customers who prefer a modern GUI interface.

In addition, Activant Vision will continue to address the needs of independent office products dealers who require sales and service-centric innovation to compete more effectively with their big-box competitors. The Activant Vision product line bolsters Activant's expansion into wholesale distribution, another key growth segment for the company. Activant will continue to market, support, and enhance the Vision product line for office products distributors.

"The Systems House has had a long-standing reputation for providing powerful, flexible, and information-rich vertical solutions which mesh well with Activant's strategy for its products," Sue Adelmann, director, Activant's Vision Products Group. "The combination of Activant's leadership and resources with The Systems House's innovative technologies gives customers a best-of-breed source for their current and future business management software needs."

Activant has identified four key vertical segments for the company's growth, which are automotive aftermarket, hardware and home center retailing, lumber and building materials and wholesale distribution. Activant's ongoing acquisition strategy is a critical component of its growth initiatives, and propels the company further towards its goal of being the premier provider of vertical ERP solutions.

About Activant Solutions

Activant Solutions Inc. ("Activant") is a leading technology provider of vertical ERP solutions servicing the automotive aftermarket, hardware and home center, wholesale trade, and lumber and building materials industry segments. Over 20,000 wholesale, retail and manufacturing customer locations use Activant to help drive new levels of business performance. With proven experience and success, Activant is fast becoming an industry standard for companies seeking competitive advantage through stronger customer integration. The company's solutions include advanced software, professional services, content, supply chain connectivity, and analytics. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Activant has operations in California, Connecticut, Colorado, South Carolina, Utah, Canada, France, Ireland and the United Kingdom. For more information, please visit www.activant.com.

The statements contained in this document which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including statements as to industry trends, future products or services, and products or service line growth or performance. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and subject to risks. Actual results may differ materially from the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include but are not limited to unrealized market demand for our services, the ability to retain the people performing services, and those risks and uncertainties identified in Activant's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K which has been filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Activant assumes no duty to update information contained in this document at any time.

     Press Contacts:
     Jane Gideon
     Incendio International for Activant Solutions
     Tel: 1-415-682-9292
     jane@incendiopr.com