Amicus Networks Continues Strong Growth Trend With Three New Broker/Dealers; AAG Securities, Sigma Financial Corporation and Sky Investments Go Online With Amicus Extranets.

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 6, 1999--With the recent deployment of three new broker/dealer extranets by Amicus Networks, Inc., more than 45,000 registered reps throughout the country now have access to an Amicus extranet. Since signing its first two financial services customers in late 1996, Amicus' customer base has grown more than 1000% and now includes 22 independent and insurance-based broker/dealers, ranging in size from 200 to more than 5,400 reps.

The three newest additions to the Amicus customer roster are AAG Securities, Inc. (Cincinnati); Sigma Financial Corporation (Ann Arbor); and Sky Investments, Inc. (Bryan, OH).

"Clearly, the Internet has emerged as the fastest, most economical way to communicate and interact with a diverse and widespread distribution force," says Jim Henderson, president of AAG Securities. "Developing an extranet that is easy to use and provides quick access to valuable content is the best way to capitalize on this technology in order to increase the impact we have on our representatives' businesses."

Dennis Passovoy, president and CEO of Amicus, says there has been a significant increase in the use of intranets and extranets among financial planners in the past two years.

"According to a survey we conduct annually among members of the International Association of Financial Planners (IAFP), use of the Internet has grown from 57% in 1996 to 96.6% in 1998," says Passovoy. "In addition, the use of intranets and extranets is on the rise. In 1997, only 37.5% of respondents told us they were currently using or planning to implement an intranet/extranet. In 1998, that number had risen to 83.4%."

"We are seeing this phenomenal growth reflected in our own customer base, with more than one-third of our growth occurring in the last six months," continues Passovoy. "Increasingly, B/Ds are finding that an extranet is a cost-effective way to give their reps 24-hour access to the tools and information they need to get business done."

According to Tony Bacarella, investment coordinator for Sigma Financial Corporation, his company saw deployment of an extranet as a means of taking their communications efforts "to the next level."

"We at Sigma provide superior service and keep ahead of the competition by keeping in touch with our representatives in every way possible," says Bacarella. "When we decided to redesign our web site, one of our key goals was to increase communication. We feel we've been able to do that by offering features such as email, bulletin boards, and conferencing through our new Amicus extranet."

"The nature of the independent financial planning business is changing, and the majority of this change is being influenced by advancing technology and the availability of web-based financial service information," says Passovoy. "Internet trading grew by 40% between the third and fourth quarters last year. By the end of 1998, an estimated one-quarter of the daily trades were done over the Internet. To compete in this environment, B/Ds and registered reps must learn to use the Internet to its fullest so they can continue to add value for their clients."

"The objective of a successful independent broker/dealer like Sky Investments is to leverage our talents and maximize our economies," says Robert Gioia, president of Sky Investments. "Working with a company like Amicus allows us to be a small broker/dealer that provides personal service, one-on-one relationships and the competitive edge of `big-firm' technology."

About AAG Securities

AAG Securities (www.aagsecurities.com) is a full-service, independent broker/dealer providing retail brokerage services. With approximately 450 registered reps and 200 branch offices, the company manages client accounts throughout the country. AAG Securities is a Registered Investment Advisor with the SEC, and a member of the NASD, SIPC and the SIA. AAG Securities is also a member of the American Annuity Group (NYSE:AAG), a financial holding company with over $7 billion in assets.

About Sigma Financial Corporation

Founded in 1983, Sigma Financial Corporation (www.sigmafinancial.com), member NASD/SIPC, has grown to be Michigan's premier independent broker/dealer. With more than 450 representatives concentrated primarily in the midwest and Florida, Sigma doubled its business between 1991 and 1992, and doubled its volume again in the three years between 1993 and 1996.

About Sky Investments

Sky Investments (www.skyinvest.com), member NASD/SIPC, is a full-service broker/dealer that works with more than 175 registered representatives nationwide. Additionally, Sky Investments is the broker/dealer affiliate of Sky Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SKYF), a diversified financial services holding company headquartered in Bowling Green, Ohio.

About Amicus Networks

Amicus Networks (http://www.amicus.com) is the leading provider of online communication solutions to the financial services industry, delivering extranets and the complementary management and support services needed to operate an extranet. Amicus' award-winning ToolBelt(R) software enables complex extranet deployment in only eight to 10 weeks, and its publishing tool simplifies the creation and management of extranet web pages. ToolBelt products also provide database management, group-level security, collaborative tools (conferencing, bulletin boards, messaging), delivery of online commission statements, trading and order entry. Amicus' latest product -- ToolBelt 98-11 -- provides a technology solution for compliance with new NASD notice 98-11 requiring broker-dealers to monitor e-mail between registered reps and their clients.

Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Amicus is a privately held corporation.