CMGI to Acquire Activerse Inc.; Internet Messaging Leader Becomes Latest Addition to CMGI Internet Group

Business Wire, March 4, 1999

ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 4, 1999--CMGI, Inc. (NASDAQ:CMGI) today announced a binding letter of intent to acquire Activerse Inc., a leading provider of open standard Internet messaging technologies. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Based in Austin, Texas, Activerse (http://www.activerse.com) will join CMGI as a wholly-owned subsidiary in the company's Internet Group. With this acquisition, CMGI invests in the rapidly expanding market for tools and technologies that enable live communication via the Internet. Activerse's products address the complex dynamics of Web communication by providing instant access to Internet-connected communities, workgroups, social groups and individuals. Unlike the proprietary technologies currently offered by America Online and ICQ, the Ding! suite of products from Activerse utilizes current and emerging open Internet standards, including Java and HTML, and allows independent web sites and intranets to manage their own Ding! communities. Activerse's products enable both consumer and corporate audiences to enhance online communities through the convenience of instant messaging, while reaping the benefits of extended branding and revenue capabilities.

"An estimated 20 million people are regularly using instant messaging today and these products are increasingly becoming a part of every Internet desktop," said David Wetherell, Chairman and CEO, CMGI. "Activerse's instant messaging solution is a powerful example of the type of `viral' applications that drive consumer traffic and loyalty, translating into expanded content and commerce channels for online communities. Activerse also helps extend the synergy model so important to our family of companies, and will have immediate applications throughout a number of content and community sites within the CMGI network."

"Activerse is pleased to become a part of the CMGI family and we look forward to building on our current base of corporate customers to expand more rapidly into the consumer marketplace," said Steve Vandegrift, President and CEO, Activerse Inc. "For instant messaging technology to be as widely used as e-mail is today, it will be important for users to be able to communicate across disparate instant messaging systems. Our products enable Web publishers and corporate network managers alike to manage their own online communities, without the proprietary technology barriers of our competitors."

The purchase of Activerse is the second CMGI acquisition announced this week, and represents another important addition to the company's rapidly growing number of operating holdings. On March 1st, CMGI announced that it would acquire I/PRO (http://www.ipro.com), a leader in World Wide Web traffic verification, analysis, and research solutions. Additional companies in the CMGI Internet Group include ADSmart, Engage Technologies, NaviNet, NaviSite, Magnitude Network, Planet Direct and ZineZone.

About Activerse

Activerse was founded in October 1993 and is developing tools and technologies that will allow everyone, everywhere, to interact easily and efficiently over the Internet. Activerse's Ding! product enables communities and organizations to create their own live communication networks for everything from instant messaging to IP telephony. More information about Activerse can be found at http://www.activerse.com.

About CMGI

A recognized leader in the Internet arena, CMGI (NASDAQ: CMGI) has built a sizeable base of Internet operating companies and through its @Ventures affiliate, a large number of related and synergistic Internet investments, using the businesses and technologies of these companies to enhance the value of its core operating companies. This unique method of creating equity for its shareholders is what CMGI calls "creating net value." Microsoft, Intel and Sumitomo hold minority positions in CMGI. The CMGI Internet Group consists of its majority-owned subsidiary companies ADSmart, Engage Technologies, NaviSite, NaviNet, Planet Direct, Magnitude Network and ZineZone.com.

The company's @Ventures affiliates have ownership interests in Lycos, Inc. (NASDAQ:LCOS), blaxxun, GeoCities (NASDAQ:GCTY), Vicinity, ThingWorld.com, KOZ, Silknet, Chemdex, Speech Machines, Softway Systems, TicketsLive, Critical Path, MotherNature.com, Raging Bull, Universal Learning Technology, Visto, Virtual Ink, Ancestry.com, ONElist, Furniture.com, Boston Financial Network and Asimba. CMGI also includes CMG Direct, SalesLink, InSolutions and On-Demand Solutions as majority owned subsidiaries in the direct marketing, fulfillment and turn-key arenas. Corporate headquarters is located at 100 Brickstone Square, Andover, MA 01810. Telephone: 978-684-3600. Fax: 978-684-3814. Additional information is available on the company's Web site, http://www.cmgi.com.