BackWeb Technologies Ranked 10th Fastest Growing Technology Company in North America on the 2001 Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 500

San Jose, CA November 16, 2001 — BackWeb Technologies (Nasdaq: BWEB), the leading provider of ProactivePortal™ technologies for the enterprise, today announced that it ranked number 10 on the 2001 Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology companies in North America. Rankings are based on five-year percentage revenue growth from 1996-2000. BackWeb grew 53,908 percent during this period.

In addition to ranking on the Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 500, BackWeb ranked number 3 on the Silicon Valley Technology Fast 50, which is a ranking of the 50 fastest growing technology firms in that region.

"BackWeb is honored to receive Deloitte & Touche's Top 500 ranking which validates our success over the past five years. BackWeb's success has been driven by our ability to meet the growing market need for enhanced reliability, urgency, and attention to critical communications," said BackWeb Chairman and CEO, Eli Barkat. "The recent turn of events has elevated these capabilities to be the centerpiece for next generation communication technologies. Now more than ever, businesses will need to guarantee that critical communications are received and interacted with. BackWeb looks forward to dedicating the next five years to providing technologies that will help companies in this endeavor."

Overall, companies that ranked on the 2001 Technology Fast 500 had five-year growth rates ranging from 115,874 to 824 percent, with an average growth rate of 6,184 percent.

"With its ranking on the prestigious Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 500, BackWeb's leaders have proven that they have the vision and the fortitude to excel in the highly competitive technology industry," said Mark A. Evans, managing director of Deloitte & Touche's Technology & Communications Group. "We congratulate them on becoming one of the 500 fastest growing technology companies in the U.S. and Canada."

Technology Fast 500 winners are invited to an exclusive CEO Summit that will be held from May 8–10, 2002 at The Breakers Resort, Palm Beach, Florida. The CEO Summit, now in its fourth year, is designed to address the unique business challenges facing these super-charged technology companies.

Fast 500 Selection and Qualifications
The Fast 500 list is compiled from three sources: winners of Deloitte & Touche's 22 regional North American Fast 50 programs, nominations submitted directly to the Fast 500, and public company database research. To qualify for the Fast 500, entrants must have had 1996 revenues of at least $50,000 USD and $75,000 CD for the United States and Canada, respectively. Entrants are public or private companies headquartered in North America and must be a "technology company," defined as a company that develops proprietary technology which contributes to a significant portion of the company's operating revenues, manufactures a technology-related product, or devotes a high percentage of effort to research and development of technology.

About Deloitte & Touche
Deloitte & Touche LLP, one of the nation's leading professional services firms, provides assurance and advisory, tax, and management consulting services through nearly 30,000 people in more than 100 U.S. cities. The firm is dedicated to helping our clients and our people excel. Known as an employer of choice for innovative human resources programs, Deloitte & Touche has been recognized as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For in America" by Fortune magazine for four consecutive years. Deloitte & Touche is the U.S. national practice of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu is a Swiss Verein, and each of its national practices is a separate and independent legal entity. For more information, please visit Deloitte & Touche's web site at www.us.deloitte.com.

About Deloitte & Touche's Technology & Communications Group
The Technology & Communications Group is composed of service professionals who have a wealth of experience serving technology and communications companies throughout the world in areas including Internet, software, semiconductors, cable, media and publishing, communication utilities, networking, wireless, computers and peripherals, and related industries. These specialists understand the challenges that technology and communications companies face throughout all stages of their business growth cycle and are committed to helping them succeed. Deloitte & Touche is a leader in providing strategic, financial, operational, and information technology assistance to its technology and communications clients.