ABRY Announces Acquisitions of Billing Concepts, Enhanced Services Billing, and Avery Communications

BOSTON (December 15, 2003) - ABRY Partners has closed on the simultaneous acquisitions of Billing Concepts, Inc. ("BCI"), Enhanced Services Billing, Inc. ("ESBI"), and Avery Communications, Inc. ("Avery").

The new company will be one of the country's dominant players in the telecommunications billing and collections industry, offering a comprehensive billing solution for collecting communication service charges through more than 1,300 local exchange carriers. The new company expects that it will process over $1 billion in annual billings.

The company will be led by a seasoned management team with extensive telecommunications experience. Patrick J. Haynes, III, currently the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Avery, will continue to serve in both these positions at the new company. Mr. Haynes said, "This combination makes us the undisputed market leader. The combined resources and management talent will enable us to greatly enhance our customer service. " Mr. Haynes described the new company's top priorities to include realizing the benefits of a consolidation and leveraging the company's scale and core competencies to create additional growth opportunities. Mr. Haynes further stated, "We are very fortunate to have a strong equity partner in ABRY that not only shares our vision but has the resources and reputation of building highly successful businesses.

ABRY partner, Jay Grossman, commented, "We are delighted with the opportunity to acquire BCI and ESBI, and simultaneously combine these entities with Avery's billing and collection operations. The management team brings a wealth of experience and a depth of knowledge that will be invaluable as we operate and grow these properties."

ABRY Partners, based in Boston, is one of the oldest and largest private equity funds in North America investing exclusively in media and communications companies. ABRY has over $2.0 billion of capital under management and since 1989 has completed over $7.0 billion of leveraged transactions in the media and communications industries.