July 22, 1999, Waltham, MA — Lewtan Technologies today announced a major new release of ABSNet™, the Internet service for the asset-backed securities (ABS) industry. Building on an established base of more than 1000 users, ABSNet™ provides the ABS industry with an internet channel exclusively devoted to ABS information. Released in March, ABSNet™ users include leading investment banks, investors, rating agencies, law firms, and issuers of asset-backed securities. Industry participants may explore the new release by visiting ABSNet™ at http://www.absnet.net.

The new release of ABSNet offers enhancements that make it accessible to a wider audience while increasing the breadth and depth of ABS content provided on the service. The new version supports Netscape Navigator along with Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. Users will also find an expanded database of ABS deal performance data along with research from an ever-widening group of contributors, now including Credit Suisse First Boston, Banc One Capital Markets, First Union Capital Markets, and Bank of America Securities.

ABSNet delivers performance data, news and research directly to the desktops of asset-backed professionals. Through its partnerships with many of the top names in the industry, Lewtan Technologies gathers data and information on asset-backed securities and presents it through ABSNet’s easy-to-use, browser-based environment. ABSNet partners and contributors currently include Standard & Poor’s, Fitch IBCA, Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co., Credit Suisse First Boston, Banc One Capital Markets, First Union Capital Markets, Mayer, Brown & Platt, O’Melveny & Myers, and others.

One of the major benefits consistently cited by ABSNet users is the "one stop shopping" aspect of the service. "ABSNet is a great resource not only for comparing deal-specific information, but for obtaining ABS market data as well," states John Kern, a Capital Markets Analyst in the Asset Securitization group at KeyCorp, a major financial services company based in Cleveland, Ohio. "I use the spread quotes and ABS market updates on a daily basis. The search functionality within the news & research database allows for efficient, paperless access to current market information."

Following are highlights of the new release of ABSNet.

• Expanded Coverage of Asset-Backed Deals

ABSNet provides deal performance data on an even wider range of asset classes, including autos, credit cards, equipment leases, dealer floorplans, home equity, marine & RV deals, and more. This release provides deeper deal coverage: the ABS deal database contains more than 100 performance variables, with years of history (often inception to date), plus deal notes and prospectuses. The optional paid subscription service provides built-in tools for graphing deal data and monitoring deal performance.

• User-friendly Internet Delivery

ABSNet now supports Microsoft IE v4.0 and higher and Netscape v4.5 and higher. Usability enhancements include easy-to-use navigation tabs, saved passwords (so that users do not need to re-enter their name and password each time they use the service), and a "firewall friendly" implementation.

• An Expanded Collection of ABS News and Research

ABSNet is the most comprehensive source of ABS news and research available on the internet. The service provides breaking ABS and MBS news from Reuters as well as the latest SEC registrations from Edgar. Users can also view research, ratings criteria, and deal analyses from S&P, Fitch, and DCR, or read cutting-edge research from leading sell-side firms: CS First Boston, Banc One Capital Markets, First Union Capital Markets, Bank of America Securities, and others. The paid service features electronic access to breaking editions of Asset-Backed Alert and Asset Sales Report, the industry’s leading weekly trade journals.

• A Wealth of ABS Information Organized by Topic

ABSNet provides specific pages dedicated to credit cards, home equities, investment banking, international news, and more. Users from the legal community can access the expanding legal content area featuring a new Law Firm Index. Other content areas include an ABS Industry Calendar, which lists ABS industry events, and the ABS Spread Center where users can track the movement in spreads.

"It’s exciting to see the synergy that’s being created through our partnerships, our growing user base, and our continued efforts to enhance the product," states Stuart Lewtan, president of Lewtan Technologies, Inc. "We’re confident that this release will strengthen ABSNet’s position as the premier resource for ABS performance data, news and research, and analytical tools."

Registered users can log in and explore the broad array of ABS information available through the free service. A Premium service, which offers in-depth performance data, analytical tools, and additional sources of news and information, is also available. For pricing and information, send email to ABSNetSales@lewtan.com.

About Lewtan Technologies

Founded in 1986, Lewtan Technologies, Inc. ® is the leading provider of technology to the securitization industry. Lewtan offers software and consulting services to investors, issuers, underwriters, rating agencies, credit enhancers, and conduit sponsors. In addition to ABSNet™, Lewtan develops and markets a variety of securitization products including The ABS System™, VST (Visual Structuring Tool), CA (Collateral Analysis)™, and CM (Conduit Management)™. Across 5 continents and 13 countries, over $55 billion in transactions are tracked with Lewtan software.