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Aretech Information Services, Inc. Lands First IT Outsourcing Contract

27 July 2000

Aretech Information Services, Inc. Lands First IT Outsourcing Contract

    MARYSVILLE, Mich. - Aretech Information Services, Inc., an information 
technology company specializing in outsourcing, has been awarded a contract to 
provide IT outsourcing to Michigan-based Simpson Industries, Inc., a global 
market leader in automotive and heavy truck components.  The contract is Aretech's 
first AS/400 service and operations contract since the company launched just two 
months ago.  The monetary value of the contract has not yet been disclosed.  The 
announcement was made by Aretech President and CEO Rudy Cifolelli.

    Simpson's North American-based AS/400 hardware and software will be
serviced by Aretech (http://www.aretech-is.com ), according to Dick Lefebvre, vice
president of information technology at Simpson.  The service contract calls
for 24/365 platform operations management of the company's AS/400 as well as
the operation of J.D. Edwards, Simpson's enterprise system for North America
to include Canada and Mexico.

    "While operating computing hardware is essential to Simpson, it's simply
not value-added work for us.  We selected Aretech as our partner because of
its core competencies in managed operations, as well as the ASP services it
offers," said Dick Lefebvre, vice president of information technology of
Simpson Industries.  "This partnership will allow us to focus on our primary
business."

    Aretech provides four key offerings to mid-sized companies: IT outsourcing
services aimed at mid-sized companies with AS/400 platforms; application
service provider (ASP) services; business-to-business e-commerce through the
creation of a supplier exchange; and, business-to-consumer e-commerce,
including offerings such as electronic bill presentment.

    "Simpson is already considering additional ways to expand its relationship
with Aretech.  We'd like to take full advantage of Aretech's J.D. Edwards
experience as we migrate from JDE World to One World," added Lefebvre.
"Aretech is also a likely candidate to manage our e-commerce infrastructure as
it comes on-line."

    "Aretech's service offerings allow Simpson to focus on its core business,
while we handle managing high-quality IT services and mission-critical
functions in the most cost-effective structure available," said Rudy
Cifolelli, president and chief executive officer of Aretech.

    Aretech (pronounced 'r-eh-tek'), was launched in April 2000 by SEMCO
ENERGY, Inc., a diversified energy and infrastructure services company that
distributes natural gas to more than 357,000 combined customers in Michigan
and Alaska, and also performs engineering and construction services for energy
companies in the United States.  Aretech's goal is to reach annual revenues
between $100 million to $200 million in five years, through both customer
growth and selective acquisitions.

    Aretech Information Services, a provider of information technology-enabled
business solutions, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEMCO ENERGY, Inc.
.  Its mission is to measurably and significantly contribute to
productivity in business by effectively utilizing the potential of information
technology and providing quality commercial information technology services,
which will allow Aretech's customers to focus on their core business and
succeed in their chosen industries.

    Simpson Industries, Inc., with 1999 revenues of $533 million, makes
products related to noise vibration harshness (NVH), wheel-end suspension, and
modular engine components.  Founded in 1933 (producing oil pump covers for
Ford Motor Company), Simpson Industries became a public company in 1972
.  It has 2,500 employees worldwide and is headquartered in
Plymouth, Mich.