@Link Networks Receive Equity Investment from GE Capital.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

LOUISVILLE, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 5, 2000

Integrated communications provider @Link Networks, Inc. today announced that it has received equity funding from two businesses within GE Capital -- GE Equity and GE Americom.

The investment reflects both GE Capital's confidence in the strength of @Link's business plan and in the strong fundamentals of the secure, private broadband communications market. @Link is a leading provider of broadband data-communications and telecommunications services, primarily high-speed private network solutions, to small- and medium-sized businesses.

@Link's broadband services include customized applications for industry-specific verticals, such as streaming video for distance learning in the legal and medical sectors. By offering such services on a "next-generation" network with a secure, private backbone, @Link is able to bypass the public Internet and guarantee bandwidth performance.

"This investment from GE Capital is a significant step toward expanding our channels of distribution, and it further drives execution of @Link's business plan," said @Link Chairman and CEO, Alex Good. "As one of the world's premier innovators, GE Capital recognizes that secure, broadband data and telecommunications are altering the business landscape -- enabling work locations and employees, suppliers and customers, to securely exchange data and applications, and more efficiently work together."

"We were impressed by @Link's management expertise and ability to execute its business strategy, vision and service offerings," said Emmett Hume, Senior Vice President, GE Americom. "We look forward to a cooperative relationship with @Link which complements our media distribution services focusing on the very large market of small- and medium-sized businesses."

GE Capital's financial investment expands @Link's funding for the continued build-out of the company's "next-generation", business-class private network. With this network, @Link is delivering broadband connectivity solutions to small- and medium-sized businesses with the critical combination of customized performance, choice in technology, geographic availability and cost-effectiveness.

"In addition, GE Capital joins a core group of @Link investors that are among the best equity partners in this industry. These investors have demonstrated a belief in @Link's strategy and, most importantly, in our ability to execute," said Good.

Today's news closely follows @Link's recent announcement (Aug. 12) of a second round of funding resulting in $101.2 million from eight leading private equity firms, four of which were repeat investors from @Link's first round of funding. The original investors include Madison Dearborn Partners, Columbia Capitol, Telesoft Partners and Telcom Ventures. The additional four include Incepta LLC (a subsidiary of Bechtel Enterprises); Arlington Capital Partners, LP; Morgan Stanley Dean Witter and an affiliate of Merrill Lynch. @Link has also raised $6.5 million from a combination of high net worth individuals, bringing the total second round funding to $120 million. In addition to its $45 million first round of funding and a credit facility from Nortel Networks, @Link has raised nearly $400 million over the last 12 months.

About GE Capital

GE Capital, with assets of more than US$345 billion, is a global, diversified financial services company with 28 specialized businesses. A wholly owned subsidiary of General Electric Company, GE Capital, based in Stamford, CT, provides equipment management, mid-market and specialized financing, specialty insurance and a variety of consumer services, such as car leasing, home mortgages and credit cards, to businesses and individuals around the world. GE is a diversified services, technology and manufacturing company with operations worldwide.

About @Link Networks

Founded in 1997, @Link Networks is an integrated provider of high-end data-communications and telecommunications services. Specifically, @Link customizes secure, broadband private network solutions and other value-added applications services for small/medium businesses. @Link delivers these solutions by linking customers' locations into @Link's next-generation, packet-switched Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) backbone via a range of broadband access technologies. @Link's private network solutions offers business customers extensive Quality of Service and Class of Service capabilities, which means @Link can manage customers' network traffic, desktop to desktop, and guarantee the industrial-strength performance of their network solution, based on the highly specific, application-based needs of their business. @Link reaches business customers through a high-end retail sales force, combined with a wholesale and strategic distribution channel. @Link currently offers services in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas and Wisconsin.