Atlas Commerce Named Rising Star by Deloitte & Touche; 4000% Revenue Growth Comes from Industry Leaders Recognizing Atlas Commerce Innovations

Business Wire, Oct 2, 2001

Business/Technology Editors

MALVERN, Penn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 2, 2001

Atlas Commerce, a leading provider of private exchange software for strategic sourcing and multi-enterprise collaboration, has been named one of two Rising Stars selected by Deloitte & Touche. Rising Star rankings are based on revenue growth for the three-year period of 1998-2000 and are part of the Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 50 Program, an annual ranking of the Eastern Pennsylvania region's fastest-growing technology companies. Atlas Commerce achieved more than 4000 percent growth in this three-year period.

"To make the 2001 Rising Star list, companies must have sustained significant revenue growth in 2000, a year that many technology companies were finding it difficult just to stay solvent," said Michael Purcell, Partner, Technology & Communications Practice, Deloitte & Touche. "We at Deloitte & Touche applaud the Atlas Commerce team for having the long-term vision to develop technologies that kept them growing while many competitors faded away."

"Atlas Commerce considers it an honor to be selected as a Rising Star by the Deloitte & Touche Technology experts. Our company has been able to achieve 4000 percent revenue growth from 1998 to 2000 and maintain more than 100 percent annual revenue growth by delivering solutions that enable global companies to build private trading exchanges for strategic sourcing and collaboration," said Bob Bernstock, Atlas Commerce President and CEO. He added, "Our sustainable growth comes from blue chip companies and leaders in their industries who recognize how Atlas' breakthrough technology and innovation deliver value."

The Rising Star category honors technology companies that have posted significant growth and have been in business for at least three years, but less than five years. To qualify for the Rising Star category, companies must have had operating revenues of at least $50,000 in 1998 and $1,000,000 in 2000 and must be public or private companies headquartered in the Eastern Pennsylvania region. For this award, technology companies are defined as businesses that produce technology, manufacture a technology product, or devote a high percentage of effort to research and development of technology. For more information on the Deloitte & Touche Fast 50 or Fast 500 programs, visit www.fast50.com.

This follows recent announcements that Atlas Commerce has secured additional funding from Safeguard Scientifics and has signed new clients. This month's new clients include The Valvoline Company, a division of Ashland, Inc. (NYSE:ASH), who contracted with Atlas to provide the foundation for its online private exchange, and MaterialsXpress a private trading community servicing natural gas utilities formed as the result of discussions between Piedmont Natural Gas (NYSE: PNY) and TECO Energy.

About Atlas Commerce

Atlas Commerce is the pioneer in providing private exchange software for strategic sourcing. Atlas Commerce MetapriseTM PE Platform enables companies to share business processes both inside and outside the corporation in real time through a private exchange, resulting in improved operational efficiencies. Complementing the patent-pending private exchange platform is the MetaSource(TM) Application for strategic sourcing. With MetaSource, companies plan, execute and manage complex supplier relationships, delivering bottom line results in less than 90 days. Atlas Commerce provides solutions to market- leading customers in retail, consumer packaged goods, distribution, high tech, construction/engineering and utilities. Other customers include Hewlett- Packard, TradeMC (a joint venture between IBM and Fluor Corporation), Joy Mining, a global retailer and others. The Atlas technology partners include BEA Systems (Nasdaq: BEAS) and Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT). Consulting partners include Deloitte Consulting. Visit the Atlas Commerce Website at www.atlascommerce.com.

About Deloitte & Touche

Deloitte & Touche LLP, one of the nation's leading professional services firms, provides assurance and advisory, tax, and management consulting services through nearly 30,000 people in more than 100 U.S. cities. The firm is dedicated to helping our clients and our people excel. Known as an employer of choice for innovative human resources programs, Deloitte & Touche has been recognized as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For in America" by Fortune magazine for four consecutive years. Deloitte & Touche is the U.S. national practice of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu is a Swiss Verein, and each of its national practices is a separate and independent legal entity. For more information, please visit Deloitte & Touche's web site at www.us.deloitte.com.