ARI Names Experienced Software Financial Executive as CFO.

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2001

Tim Sherlock Brings Extensive Background in both

Hardware and Software Industries to ARI 

ARI Network Services, Inc. (NASDAQ/NMS:ARIS), a leading provider of Partner Relationship Management (PRM) and business-to-business (B2B) Internet e-Commerce solutions for equipment manufacturers with shared service and distribution networks, announced that Timothy Sherlock, an experienced hardware and software industry financial executive, has joined the company as vice president-finance and chief financial officer.

"We are extremely pleased to add Tim Sherlock to our management team," said Brian E. Dearing, chairman and chief executive officer of ARI. "Tim brings a rich blend of experience from the hardware, software and service segments of the Information Technology (IT) industry to ARI. He has worked in rapidly growing environments with expansion generated both through acquisition and internally. He also has considerable experience with public IT companies and with the private and public capital markets. I believe he will bring top quality leadership to our accounting and financial functions that will assist us as we continue to grow the business."

Prior to joining ARI, Sherlock, age 48, was vice president of finance and administration and CFO for Catalyst International, Inc., a Milwaukee-based warehouse management software specialist, since 1999. Before joining Catalyst, he held a series of progressively more responsible finance positions at Advantage Learning Systems, Inc. (ALS), a leading educational software firm based in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. culminating in his appointment as vice president, secretary and CFO. His early career included a variety of financial management positions at Cray Research, Inc., Eagan, Minn., from 1983 to 1995.

Sherlock, a Certified Public Accountant, received a BA in business administration from the College of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn., in 1980. "ARI is an exciting, growth-oriented Internet e-Commerce business that has already achieved break-even cash flow and has strong, stable recurring revenues," commented Sherlock. "I look forward to helping improve the processes and capital plan to support continued growth and acquisitions."

"Since May, 2000, Thomas G. Hickinbotham has served as a senior financial consultant, who acted as our Vice President of Finance," said Dearing. "Tom has brought a lot to our company, including software industry experience, improved cash management techniques and helped generate revenue out of areas we had previously overlooked. We respect his personal wishes to reduce his workload, wish him well in his future endeavors, and offer our heartfelt thanks for a job well done."

ARI Network Services, Inc. is a leading provider of PRM/e-Commerce solutions for sales, service and life-cycle product support in the manufactured equipment market. ARI currently serves over 100 manufacturers and 20,000 dealers in more than 100 countries in 12 segments of the worldwide manufactured equipment market including outdoor power, recreation vehicle, floor maintenance, auto and truck parts aftermarket, marine and construction. The Company builds and supports a full suite of multi-media electronic catalog publishing and viewing software for the Web or CD. ARI communications systems provide a global electronic pathway for parts orders, product registrations, warranty claims and other transactions between manufacturers and their networks of sales and service points. ARI currently operates three offices in the United States and one in Europe and has sales and service agents in Australia, England and France providing marketing and support of its electronic catalog and dealer communications products.