Affinity Corp. signs $115 million dollar, five-year contract with MCI; Exclusive agreement includes networkMCI BUSINESS

Business Wire, Feb 1, 1995

WAUKESHA, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 1, 1995--In one of MCI's largest deals during the past year, Affinity Corporation has signed a five-year, $115 million agreement with MCI for communications services.

"We are delighted to further solidify our relationship with MCI," said Maurie Daigneau, Affinity's president and chief executive officer. "We believe them to be the best telecommunications service provider in the industry and as such, they greatly enhance our business performance."

Affinity is a niche marketer of telecommunications products and services, focusing on revenue generation for non-profit, employee benefit and school funding programs nationwide through the use of telecommunications services.

Affinity has been doing business with MCI for four years. Under the new agreement, MCI, as Affinity's exclusive telecommunications provider, will provide services including Vnet, MCI's virtual private network service; MCI 800 Service; MCI Mail; MCI Fax; MCI Forum, a conference calling product; MCI Fax Broadcast; and MCI's new communications software, networkMCI BUSINESS.

"MCI has allied with Affinity to find solutions to its information processing needs. Using MCI special features such as automated software and network configuration management, Affinity is able to enhance and expand its customer base," said Tom Ballance, regional vice president for MCI Business Markets.

In addition to more efficient database management using MCI's software-driven network, Affinity is using the new networkMCI BUSINESS product to keep up-to-date on industry news and trends. infoMCI, a tailored news retrieval system that is one component of networkMCI BUSINESS, gives Affinity timely updates on the telecommunications industry as well as information on its competitors.

Affinity's corporate headquarters and central region offices are in Waukesha, Wis. The company's eastern regional office is in Jacksonville, Fla. and western regional office is in Sandpoint, Idaho. Affinity has representative offices in all 50 states serving the needs of its nationwide customer base. 1994 revenues exceeded $18 million.

MCI, headquartered in Washington, D.C., has expanded from its core long distance business to become the world's third largest carrier of international calling and a premiere provider of data communications over the vast Internet computer network. With annual revenue of more than $13.3 billion, the company today provides a wide array of consumer and business long distance and local services, data and video communications, on-line information, electronic mail, network management services and communications software.

CONTACT: MCI Business Markets, Chicago

Barbara Brabec, 312/819-6741

800/644-NEWS

or

Affinity Corp., Waukesha

Sean Kearns, 800/765-8919