Docu Group Sets New Rules in European Construction Publishing Business

Blauen (Basel), Switzerland � February 14, 2003 � Docu Group AG, a leading European supplier of construction project and product information, today announced that it will obtain a worldwide license to former dotcom Bricsnet NV�s advanced construction information technology and take over Bricsnet�s German content business. By combining the new Internet technology with comprehensive project and product information, Docu Group challenges established players in the construction publishing business.

The Internet technology, developed by Bricsnet under the name Product|Center, is a unique integrated system for collecting, storing and publishing digital construction information. Product|Center utilizes a common technology infrastructure instead of maintaining various sites and technologies and increases the value and usability of the construction data with web-based administration tools, XML interfaces for bulk uploading of data and advanced search capabilities. In January 2003, the Product|Center site received 390,000 visitors generating 7 million hits on over 2 million page views.

The acquisition of Bricsnet�s German content business, operating under the name AIS, further strengthens Docu Group�s position on the German-speaking markets. The company now holds a second position on the German construction project and product information market, after BertelsmannSpringer (B2B) Heinze and Ibau. In Switzerland, Docu Group is the market leader for product information, and has started to provide project information, again in competition with BertelsmannSpringer (B2B). In Austria, and also in Scandinavia, the company occupies second places in product and property information, respectively, after local market leaders BertelsmannSpringer (B2B) and Byggfakta (Reed Elsevier).

Other countries where Docu Group is active are the UK, where Docu Group�s partner Wilmington Publishing has a leading position on the product information market, and France, the Benelux, Hungary, North America, and Mexico, where partnerships have been signed or will be signed in the near future.

Sture Wigart, Docu Group�s chairman with a lifetime experience in the construction publishing business, says, �We are delighted to now be able to combine our extensive content with an advanced technical solution. This technology lets us set new rules for competitiveness in our markets, such as free access for end users, the shortest possible response times, and international distribution on a variety of media. The dinosaurs in this industry have reason to fear.�

A new Baudoc.ch site based on the Product|Center technology is expected to be launched on April 2^nd, 2003.

About Docu Group AG

Soon serving building professionals in 12 countries, Docu Group AG is the leading international supplier of construction project and product information. Docu Group challenges long-time established publishing companies by combining superior Internet-based technology with comprehensive content. The company provides its services to hundreds of thousands of architects, planners, engineers and contractors worldwide, and tens of thousands of building product manufacturers. Docu Group�s corporate headquarters is located in Blauen, near Basel, Switzerland. 

www.docugroup.info

About Docu Group Germany (Baumarktforschung Deutschland GmbH)

Baumarktforschung Deutschland GmbH is a leader in the German construction project information market. The company, established 1998 in Taunusstein, Germany, lets demand �architects or subcontractors looking for orders, or main contractors looking for investment money, subcontractors, or materials � meet with supply: projects, products, services, venture capital. A staff of 130 specialists serves 6,500 paying customers, and collects data from a community of 25,000 architects who participate in regular surveys. 

www.baumarktforschung.de

About Bricsnet NV

Bricsnet NV, formerly listed on Nasdaq Europe [symbol: BSNT] is a global provider of owner-oriented, integrated software technology, services and information for the process of engineering, construction and operations of commercial buildings. By selling the Product|Center technology and German content business Bricsnet increases its focus on the real estate and property management markets. Bricsnet�s corporate headquarters is located in Gent, Belgium.

About Bricsnet Germany

Bricsnet Germany was founded as �S+b dataserv� in 1993 and was acquired by Bricsnet in October 1999. Its main product Architect Information System (AIS) is widely known and used in Germany. Building product information from leading manufacturers is accessible on the Internet and is distributed on CD to more than 53,000 building and constructon professionals. AIS offers a particularly large collection of company and product information, over 2,500 CAD details and over 15,000 specification texts. For some customers specification texts can be generated interactively through a �Dynamische Baudaten� wizard. AIS is the largest German construction Web catalog that does not require registration.

 

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