Arthur Andersen Personnel Gain Access to Instructor-led Courses

Atlanta -- September 19, 2000 -- By forging a new relationship with VerticalNet's eBusiness Training Services, Arthur Andersen Virtual Learning Network broadens its already comprehensive e-learning offerings to include instructor-led courses through a VerticalNet® Training Intelligence Portal, or TIP. VerticalNet, Inc. (Nasdaq: VERT) is the Internet's leading portfolio of business-to-business trading communities.

The new relationship, initially piloted in Chicago, will now be offered to all Arthur Andersen personnel. The arrangement will give Arthur Andersen training managers easy and rapid access to third party classroom training vendors that are not currently part of Virtual Learning Network's online course roster. Arthur Andersen provides cutting edge learning resources to its employees and currently spends more than $500 million annually on training.

The Training Intelligence Portal enables Arthur Andersen personnel worldwide to search by course name or by topic and can even register for courses online. In addition, the new service provides centralized management reporting and uses eProcurement technology to centralize vendor invoicing and internal chargebacks.

"Arthur Andersen's Virtual Learning Network can now help the firm lower its overall costs by outsourcing functions that individual managers had to handle themselves," said Steve Roden, Arthur Andersen partner. "Not only will this service make life easier for managers but we're also providing additional training administration services free to local offices utilizing easy-to-use web-based technology."

"By using VerticalNet's eBusiness Training Services, Arthur Andersen personnel will have access to their own personal training portal," said Walter Rogers, Senior Director and General Manager of VerticalNet eBusiness Training Services. "Our site will provide a central point of contact for third-party vendor management firm-wide, thereby increasing the control that Arthur Andersen managers have over expenditures."

About Arthur Andersen Arthur Andersen's vision is to be the partner for success in the new economy. The firm helps clients find new ways to create, manage and measure value in the rapidly changing global economy. With world-class skills in assurance, tax, consulting and corporate finance, Arthur Andersen has more than 77,000 people in over 84 countries who are united by a single worldwide operating structure that fosters inventiveness, knowledge sharing and a focus on client success. Since its beginning in 1913, Arthur Andersen has realized 86 years of uninterrupted growth, with 1999 revenues over $7 billion. Arthur Andersen is a business unit of Andersen Worldwide.

Arthur Andersen's Virtual Learning Network provides business and industry with comprehensive, flexible learning solutions tailored to performance needs and goals. These solutions combine quality courseware, a leading-edge delivery and learning management system, development of competency frameworks, and support services focused on performance improvement. Virtual Learning Network offers an extensive library of interactive multimedia content from leading courseware developers in four critical areas: Finance and Accounting; IT Skills for Professionals and End Users; Management, Supervisory and Employee Development; and Sales and Marketing. Virtual Learning Network also provides support services to help clients integrate Web-based learning into their overall training objectives. Companies that want to learn more about Arthur Andersen's Virtual Learning Network should visit our website at http://www.aavln.com, call 800-278-4871, or e-mail aavlninfo@arthurandersen.com.

About VerticalNet's eBusiness Training Services VerticalNet's eBusiness Training Services is the training division for VerticalNet, Inc. Available in each of VerticalNet's 57 online communities, VerticalNet's eBusiness Training Services offers training centers that provide industry-relevant courses, including: online training/distance learning courses; live, instructor-led training sessions; CBT software; and videos and publications.

Additionally, VerticalNet's eBusiness Training Services creates customer Training Intelligence Portals (TIP) for individual companies, that maximize corporate training efficiency. A TIP is a special e-commerce hub that enables a company's employees to get necessary training from selected suppliers.

About VerticalNet, Inc.

VerticalNet, Inc. (www.verticalnet.com) owns and operates 57 industry-specific Web sites designed as online business-to-business communities, known as vertical trade communities. These vertical trade communities provide users with comprehensive sources of information, interaction and e-commerce. They are grouped into the following industry sectors: Communications, Energy, Environment/Utilities, Financial Service, Food/Packaging, Foodservice/Hospitality, Healthcare, High Tech, Industrial, Manufacturing/Discrete, Manufacturing/Process, Public Sector, Science and Services.

Additionally, VerticalNet provides auctions, catalogs, bookstores, career centers and other e-commerce capabilities horizontally across its communities with sites such as Industry Deals.com, LabX.com and Professional Store.com. VerticalNet's NECXÒ Exchange provides an exchange for the electronic components industry. Through Tradeum technology and strategic alliances, VerticalNet is focused on providing comprehensive end-to-end e-commerce solutions.

VerticalNet International leverages the Company's leadership position to create global Internet B2B marketplaces, offering products and services internationally and partnering with companies that have strong local presence and domain expertise. VerticalNet has launched international joint ventures: VerticalNet Europe, B.V. with British Telecommunications, plc and Internet Capital Group, and VerticalNet Japan with SOFTBANK E-COMMERCE CORP.

VerticalNet and NECX are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of Vert Tech LLC in the United States and/or other countries.

This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, as well as statements that are preceded by, followed by or include the words "believes," "plans," "intends", "will," "expects," "anticipates," or similar expressions. For such statements, VerticalNet claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from the results predicted, and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements include those factors set forth in the VerticalNet's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 and its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000, both of which have been filed with the SEC. VerticalNet undertakes no responsibility to publicly update the forward looking statements contained in this press release.