Char Baxter, CEO
Char Baxter Communications
770.934.0563 ext. 221
email: cbaxter@charbaxter.com
web: www.charbaxter.com

Agency of Record for Covast

ATLANTA—July 26, 2001—Covast Corporation, a successful European applications integration company that is launching its U.S. business here this quarter, has announced it has hired Atlanta-based charbaxter.communications as its agency of record. The agency will coordinate local media relations for the company, which recently set up its U.S. headquarters in Atlanta.

“We’re very impressed with charbaxter.communications, and we’re pleased to be working with them as our partner in growth,” said Jim Norton, executive vice president for the Americas at Covast. “In addition to serving as our agency of record, they are working with us to develop a new brand identity for the company, which will be rolled out next week beginning with a new Web site.”

Billings were not disclosed, but the agreement makes Covast one of the agency’s largest accounts.

Founded in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Covast (formerly Esperanto) provides Web-based software that integrates existing business applications with dynamic e-commerce tools, enabling enterprises to build seamless relationships with trading partners. The company is embarking on a rapid growth trajectory across Europe and the U.S. It introduced the first version of its product in 1999 and now has more than 70 customers worldwide.

C. Jean Barnes, Covast’s vice president of marketing, said the agency’s expertise in technology was the most important reason Covast selected it, plus the experience in working with international companies that charbaxter.communications brings to the table. “They thoroughly understand the issues an international technology company faces, especially one that is working to develop a strong U.S. presence,” she said. “This clearly came through in the work they have done on our integrated marketing initiative, and it will serve us well as we build our brand not only here in the U.S., but around the world.”

About Covast

Covast Corporation, formerly Esperanto Software, Inc., is an integration broker vendor specializing in complex data transformation, document exchange and trading partner challenges. Covast provides mid-market enterprises a fast and effective way to take advantage of the world of B2B trading communities, Web markets and collaborative commerce. Covast’s speed of deployment and competitive pricing enable companies to reduce total project costs by more than 50%. The company introduced eCommunity Builder in 1999 and now has more than 70 customers worldwide including ABN AMRO Bank, ING and DaimlerChrysler. Covast received a first round investment from Gilde IT Fund of $4.5 million in February 2001. For more information, contact Covast at 404.812.7150 or visit www.covast.com.

About charbaxter.communications

With over $4 million in billings for 2000, charbaxter.communications traces its roots back to 1991. Early clients included SAP America, Deloitte Consulting and Imlay Investments. The agency continued its high technology focus by developing award-winning branding strategies for technology leaders across North America. These included Sequent Computer Systems, Portland, OR; i-Cube, a Cambridge, MA-based company that was acquired by Razorfish; Clarkston-Potomac, Raleigh; and Atlanta-based companies such as SQL Financials (now Clarus), SynQuest, Inc., Optio Software, Manhattan Associates and o2wireless Solutions, whose integrated rebranding launch won a 2000 ADDY award for the agency. Other clients range from startups to established players including Atlanta’s Spectrum Software, Magnet Communications and The Complex Sale. The agency is a sponsor of the Technology Association of Georgia. For more information, contact Char Baxter at 770.934.0563 ext. 221, or visit www.charbaxter.com.