@Link Recruits Seasoned WorldCom Executive to Serve as Chief Financial Officer.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

LOUISVILLE, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 10, 2000

Integrated communications provider, @Link Networks, Inc., today announced that it has appointed Gary G. Brandt, former Vice President of Investor Relations for WorldCom, to the position of Chief Financial Officer -- signifying @Link's ongoing commitment to attract the data and telecommunications industry's greatest talent to the company's leadership team.

Gary Brandt brings 20 years of financial experience, the past 15 years in telecommunications, to his new position. Prior to his work at WorldCom, Brandt held senior finance positions with MFS Communications, Nortel Networks and Coopers & Lybrand. At WorldCom and MFS Communications, Brandt was involved in high-profile equity and debt financings, as well as several industry-transforming mergers, including, but not limited to, MFS Communications and UUNET, MFS Communications and WorldCom, and MCI and WorldCom. At Nortel, Brandt held controllership positions in the sales and marketing organizations as well as research and development entities within Nortel. Prior to Nortel, Brandt was an audit senior at the public accounting firm of Coopers & Lybrand.

@Link customizes secure, broadband private network solutions and other connectivity services for small- and medium-sized businesses. In his new role, Brandt will be responsible for all aspects of @Link's financial operations as the company continues to execute its aggressive business plan and growth strategy. His specific responsibilities will include investor relations, accounting, financial reporting, billing, tax, financial planning and analysis, treasury and internal audit.

"@Link prides itself on depth of experience in its leadership team, and Gary will be a great addition," said @Link's Chairman & CEO, Alex Good. "In addition to having a solid finance and public accounting background, Gary has strong ties with Wall Street. He will be instrumental in developing and expanding our relationship with analysts, investors, and key telecom partners as the company continues its successful capital raising and expands that to raising capital in the public markets."

@Link has raised nearly $400 million over the last 12 months. @Link recently announced 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 Capital, 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 received $12.5 million in equity funding from two businesses within GE Capital -- GE Equity and GE Americom. Additionally, @Link has raised $6.5 million from a combination of high net worth individuals, bringing the total second round funding to $120 million. The first round of funding included $45 million, and a $225 million credit facility from Nortel Networks.

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 offer 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.