MindBox Inc Emerges From Partial Buy Out of Brightware

In a leveraged buy out, MindBox announced that it has emerged from Brightware, a leading supplier of eCustomer Assistance software for the Internet, as a newly created company. Through its expertise in artificial intelligence and extensive knowledge of financial services concentrating on the mortgage industry, the former Brightware custom solutions division, will focus on developing and providing software and services to financial services organizations. MindBox will be led by three former Brightware executives: former Executive vice president and General Manager of the Solutions Division, Richard Barfus, former consulting vice president Bill Richer, and former Sales vice president Patrick Mahaffey.

MindBox's technology automates complex, knowledge-intensive business processes such as mortgage loan origination. With hundreds of clients already deploying its intelligent technology, MindBox improves an organization's operational efficiency, allowing for faster, accurate responses to customer needs. Their intelligent applications within the areas of mortgage underwriting, origination and deal structuring systems are currently used in leading companies including Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Upland Mortgage, Countrywide Home Loans and Homeside Lending. Other financial services companies have benefited from MindBox's intelligent applications in such areas as credit authorization and auto loan authorization automation.

"MindBox is poised for success as a powerful technology company focused on delivering intelligent applications to help our clients deal with complex business-critical issues," said Richard Barfus, the new president and CEO of MindBox, Inc. "By operating as our own separate entity and leveraging our knowledge and experience in artificial intelligence within the financial services industry, MindBox will further strengthen its commitment to supporting our clients."

"Brightware was comprised of two distinct business units -- one focused on eCustomer Assistance Internet applications, the other on customer solutions," said Chris Erickson, CEO of Brightware. "By selling the customer solutions division to MindBox, we made the strategic decision that each business unit would be stronger if run as independent companies. Now Brightware will be able to focus solely on the eCustomer Assistance market, and provide applications that help eBusinesses service, sell and create strong relationships with their eCustomers, while MindBox will continue to develop our former solutions business."

By focusing its energies on the ART Tools and Solutions business, which includes ART, ART-IM, ART*Enterprise and consulting support for intelligent applications, MindBox expects revenues to exceed $20 million for fiscal year 2000.

About MindBox Inc

Based in Novato, Calif., MindBox Inc is a worldwide leader in providing artificial intelligence applications to automate complex business and operations processes for the financial services industry. The company develops and markets innovative software and consulting solutions that leverage industry and internal best practices to deliver multi-channel, intelligent solutions designed to optimize client interactions. For more information, please visit MindBox's Website at www.MindBox.com or call 877-650-MIND(6463).

About Brightware

Brightware is a leading supplier of eCustomer Assistance software for the Internet. Brightware email and Web applications help companies dramatically increase their eService levels and eSales revenues while reducing costs. Brightware's products, which can be deployed within a week, leverage proven automation technology to deliver unparalleled scalability and performance, ROI and an exceptional eCustomer experience. Brightware is the 1998 worldwide market leader in Internet commerce customer service and support software as measured by International Data Corporation. Brightware is also the 1998 worldwide market leader in email management systems as measured by Frost & Sullivan. For more information, please visit Brightware's Website at www.brightware.com or call 800-532-2890.