Braintree, MA, December 6, 2000 - EquipNet Direct, the only online asset management company offering complete internal/external, on/offline services, added to its growing roster of clients with the announcement today of a significant contract with Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation.  Novartis, one of the world's largest healthcare companies, will participate in EquipNet Direct's successful Asset Redeployment Management System (ARMS).

Novartis joins such major companies as BASF, Louisiana-Pacific, and Nestle’ Canada, in the successful implementation of EquipNet Direct's ARMS.

 "The addition of Novartis as a client is another indication that there is a real need for innovative, proven internal redeployment services within the major manufacturing sector," said Dr. Michael Raymont, chairman of EquipNet Direct.  "We're looking forward to helping Novartis add to their bottom line by efficiently and methodically redeploying their idle assets."

With ARMS, manufacturers have for the first time a centralized, online tracking solution for idle and surplus assets.  Those assets may be redistributed internally or moved seamlessly to EquipNet Direct's MarketPlace (www.EquipNetDirect.com) for external sale.

Novartis has been selling idle equipment through EquipNet Direct's MarketPlace since January of 2000.  The manufacturer has seen excellent fair market returns selling through EquipNet Direct and will now build on that success with significant savings from redeploying idle assets internally.

"With the implementation of ARMS, we will now be able to realize the successes we have enjoyed through MarketPlace by maximizing our internal resources through equipment redeployment," said Michael Brueckner, Associate Director, Purchasing at Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation. "We anticipate these tools to be significant factors in reaching our overall business objectives."

When using ARMS, one manager in each plant has overall responsibility for administration of the program in that plant.  The on-site manager will have access to customized reports that track the status of redeployment efforts of each piece of equipment.

About EquipNet Direct

EquipNet Direct, Inc. provides Fortune 1000 global manufacturers and small- and medium- sized enterprises with both internal and external asset redeployment solutions.  EquipNet Direct offers innovative on- and off-line solutions as well as comprehensive end-to-end service that administer buying and selling services across various industries. Industries include chemical, food & beverage, forest products, packaging, pharmaceutical, plastics and warehousing.  The management team includes seasoned pioneers in the industrial equipment and investment recovery arena, as well as eCommerce veterans.  Visit EquipNet Direct's Web site at www.EquipNetDirect.com.

About Novartis

Novartis (NYSE: NVS) is a world leader in healthcare with core businesses in pharmaceuticals, consumer health, generics, eye-care, and animal health. In 1999, the Group (including Agribusiness) achieved sales of CHF 32.5 billion (USD 21.6 billion) and invested more than CHF 4.2 billion (USD 2.8 billion) in R&D. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis employs about 82 500 people and operates in over 140 countries around the world. The Group plans to spin off its Crop Protection and Seeds sectors and to merge them with the agrochemicals business of AstraZeneca in the fourth quarter of 2000.

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