AIT: The-Profitable.com, Again.

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 29, 2001

Defying the trend that has plagued so many Web based companies, Advanced Internet Technologies ( http://ait.com ), has proven itself to be the profitable dot com.

The hosting and ecommerce provider extended its unblemished record for financial growth last year, continuing a trend that dates back to the company's inception in 1996. AIT generated nearly 20-million dollars in revenue for 2000; annualized revenue of nearly 27-million dollars reflects the firm's ongoing growth. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) for the year topped 5-million dollars. "As other dotcoms experience cash burn or flameout altogether, our business model proves itself over and over," said Clarence Briggs, AIT's Chief Executive Officer. "We've reinvested profits into growing the company, and despite the volatility in the industry, our customers can be assured we'll not only survive, but thrive."

From a single company, AIT has spawned several subsidiaries, including a marketing consultancy, ISP, and a computer training school, and is in the process of building a fiber optics network in its headquarters community of Fayetteville, North Carolina. However, the company has never strayed from its core competency. "All roads lead to hosting," said Chief Operating Officer Ed McDaries. "That's the hub of the Internet wheel, and the grease that makes it turn is customer service. Even with more than 160,000 hosted domains, we strive to treat each customer as though they're the only one."

The earnings statement comes as the privately-held company moves toward the public arena. Briggs says a restructuring will revolve around a parent company, AIT Group, which will remain private. The three subsidiaries that would take outside investment or hit Wall Street include a hosting provider and domain name registrar; an ASP company that will also oversee a data center and telco, and a technical training arm. "It's an approach that gives us the best of both worlds," according to Briggs. "The private core can stay entrepreneurial, quickly moving to market with new products and services. And, the public component would help finance that."

Incorporated in 1996, AIT currently hosts more than 160,000 domains and is one of the largest and fastest-growing web presence and ecommerce providers in the United States. Founded in North Carolina, AIT has built a reputation as the-profitable.com with 35% EBITDA. The AIT umbrella also covers a domain name registrar, technical training center, ASP, ISP, and digital certificates provider. AIT has a subsidiary in Asia, with further expansion plans targeted at the European and Latin American marketplaces.