AVT Corporation Establishes Technology Venture Fund; Strategic Move Designed to Strengthen AVT's Market Leadership Position Roger Fukai Named to Manage New Venture.

Business Editors, High-Tech Writers

KIRKLAND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 19, 2000

AVT Corporation (Nasdaq:AVTC), the leading developer of managed communications solutions, today announced the formation of AVT Capital LLC, a venture capital subsidiary of AVT Corporation.

The new group is being formed with the mission of investing in companies owning technologies that will accelerate the growth of AVT's core products and markets -- all included in the dynamic B2B communications sector. AVT Capital has been chartered to invest up to $25 million over the next two years. Roger Fukai, AVT's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will manage AVT Capital.

"Forming AVT Capital provides us with an opportunity to invest in emerging technologies that are strategic to accelerating the growth of AVT's core businesses," said Richard J. LaPorte, AVT's Chairman and CEO. "Our main interest will be to invest in and work with companies developing products and services in the B2B communications arena, with a particular focus on Internet-related e-commerce and message management technologies. In addition to helping these companies succeed through investment, we can bring a wealth of operating management expertise to these companies to help them grow."

Roger Fukai, named to manage AVT Capital, will also continue as AVT's Chief Financial Officer, retaining primary responsibility for investor relations and corporate treasury. Reporting to Roger is Jeff deCillia, who in conjunction with this announcement is being promoted to Senior Vice President of Corporate Finance and Administration. Jeff will manage the day-to-day activities of the Company's finance, accounting, legal, human resources, and MIS functions. Jeff deCillia has over 18 years experience in corporate finance and accounting. He joined AVT Corporation in April 1999 from Cartia, Inc., an enterprise software company, where he served as the company's Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Cartia, Jeff served as Chief Financial Officer at Teltone Corporation and Director of Finance at AccessLine Technologies. Jeff started his finance career in public accounting, working up to Audit Manager with Deloitte & Touche. Jeff is a graduate of the University of Washington with a B.A. Degree in Business Administration and Accounting.

Commenting on the appointment of Roger Fukai to head up AVT Capital and the promotion of Jeff deCillia, LaPorte said, "We are fortunate to have a person of the caliber and integrity of Roger Fukai to lead our venture capital efforts, and an executive with the experience and drive of Jeff deCillia to step up and take over these key internal functions. Roger has been with AVT for over eleven years, ten of which he has served as our Chief Financial Officer. During that time AVT has experienced unprecedented growth and financial success, much to the credit of Roger's leadership, operating experience and business acumen. Not only am I pleased that Roger has agreed to establish and manage AVT Capital, but that he has prepared our Company for this opportunity through the recruitment of Jeff deCillia to take over key operational responsibilities."

AVT Corporation is a world leader in Managed Communications(TM) solutions, helping organizations control and meet the high demands of their communication workflow. The company specializes in developing and marketing its CallXpress unified messaging solution, its RightFAX and CommercePath fax and communications servers, and its MediaLinq electronic document delivery services. AVT has over 50,000 systems installed worldwide, with 80% of the Fortune 100 using the company's award winning products and services.

AVT is headquartered in Kirkland, Washington and has main offices in Tucson, AZ, Portland, OR, and San Francisco, CA. In addition, AVT has sales and support offices in the United Kingdom, Germany, Hong Kong, Dubai, and Tokyo. Founded in 1982, AVT is publicly traded under the symbol "AVTC" on the NASDAQ National Market. AVT maintains a site on the World Wide Web at www.avtc.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including technical and competitive factors, which could cause the Company's results and the timing of certain events to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Such risks are detailed in AVT's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

NOTE TO EDITORS: News releases are available from AVT's Newsroom fax server. Call 425/820-4089 and follow the prompts. This is document number 77133. News releases can also be found on AVT's World Wide Web site at www.avtc.com.