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Ford Awards AppNet Exclusive Contract for Global Internet Support; AppNet's Support Part of Ford's e-Business Initiatives

13 December 1999

Ford Awards AppNet Exclusive Contract for Global Internet Support; AppNet's Support Part of Ford's e-Business Initiatives

    BETHESDA, Md.--(Dec. 13, 1999--Ford Motor Company has awarded an exclusive contract for Enterprise Intranet Support to AppNet , a premier provider of end-to-end e-business solutions. Under the direction of Ford President and CEO Jac Nasser, the Intranet has become the primary driver of mission-critical information across the automaker's vast global organization.
    Supporting more than 100,000 employees worldwide, Ford's Intranet comprises more than 600 internal and external Web sites, which accommodate more than 340 million hits per month. AppNet has developed technologies to provide consistency and expandability to this Intranet environment. It also provides the services to support Ford's rapidly growing Intranet, whose servers publish content from every department within Ford's global organization.
    "The demands on Ford's Intranet soar daily," said Jack Reinelt, divisional president at AppNet. "They use it to streamline and improve internal communications and business processes, from Finance to Human Resources. The environment must be seamless, responsive and expandable, and AppNet has been engaged to ensure that it is."
    The Financial Information Network, a one-stop hub for financial information, is among the most frequently used of Ford's Intranet sites. Commissioned by Nasser, it offers primary financial matrices by vehicle, plant, division and other indices. Launched in July, it has accommodated 40,000 employees and more than six million hits.
    "Ford is AppNet's largest customer and this contract is the latest in a number of Ford e-business initiatives that we're proud to be a part of," said Ken Bajaj, chairman and chief executive officer of AppNet. "It is gratifying to know that AppNet is one of only a handful of companies designated by Ford as key providers in the Web space."
    Ford's engagement of AppNet is part of Ford's comprehensive and coordinated e-business strategy. This follows Ford's creation of the world's first automotive online supply chain and the establishment of a dedicated e-business unit within the Company.
    AppNet is a premier provider of end-to-end e-business solutions, from interactive marketing to back-office integration. For companies transforming themselves for the new Internet economy, the firm offers a unique mix of Internet strategy, marketing, and technology services. AppNet is the fourth largest interactive marketing agency according to Ad Age and one of the 50 largest pure Internet companies, according to Internet World. AppNet works with Fortune 1000 and dot.com companies. Our customers include Sprint, Baxter Healthcare, Dial, Ford, Ralston Purina, Hyundai, multex.com, Value America, UNICEF, KB Toys, NEC, and Unilever. Find more information about AppNet at http://www.appnet.com.

This press release may include "forward-looking statements" for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements herein, other than those of historical fact, including statements regarding future contractual arrangements or performance, competitive strengths, and business strategy, are forward-looking. Actual results or events may differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Information regarding the factors that could cause such differences are contained in AppNet's Prospectus dated November 10, 1999 contained in the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed in connection with AppNet's November 1999 offering and on the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1999.