January 25, 1999 - Lewtan Technologies, Inc.® (Lewtan) announced today that it has reached an agreement with Reuters to distribute news articles related to asset-backed securities (ABS) and mortgage-backed securities (MBS) on ABSNet™ – a web site dedicated to securitization information.  Reuters articles will be added to those currently provided by two other leading industry publications, Asset-Backed Alert and Asset Sales Report.  Content from these news services will complement the high volume of performance data and related information on asset-backed securities available on ABSNet™, currently in beta testing.

"The addition of Reuters news to ABSNet™ is a significant benefit to our subscribers," said Brad McNamee, senior product manager for ABSNet™.   "Focus groups have told us that the industry needs a single source for information on asset backed securities.  Furthermore, that information needs to be as timely as possible.  Adding Reuters news goes a long way to fulfilling these requirements."

ABS/MBS-related Reuters news will be available for viewing on ABSNet™ within the next few weeks.  News updates will be posted three times daily.  Archives going back six months will also be maintained, and will be fully searchable, enabling subscribers to quickly locate news on virtually any subject relevant to the asset-backed market.  ABSNet™ is currently in final beta testing by hundreds of registrants.   Those wishing to participate in the ABSNet™ beta program may register on-line at www.absnet.net, or may contact Lewtan directly at 781-895-9800, x NET (638).  ABSNet™, developed by Lewtan Technologies with a consortium of leading organizations from the securitization industry, is expected to complete beta testing and go live later this quarter.

About Reuters

Reuters supplies the global financial markets and the news media with the widest range of information and news products, including real-time financial data, collective investment data, numerical, textual, historical, and graphical databases, plus news, graphics, news video, and news pictures, reaching 457,000 users located in 57,200 organizations.  Reuters designs and installs enterprise-wide information management and risk management systems for the financial markets as well as providing equity and foreign exchange transaction systems.  It extensively uses internet technologies for wider distribution of information and news.  The Group employed 16,699 staff in 215 cities in 91 countries at 30 June 1998.  Reuters is the world's largest news and television agency with 2,035 journalists, photographers, and camera operators in 169 bureaus serving 163 countries. News is published in 25 languages.