Afternic.com Appoints Margeotes Fertitta + Gordon Its Public Relations Agency of Record

Business Wire, March 17, 2000

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 2000

World's first true domain name exchange to launch

nationwide media outreach

Afternic.com, the world's first true single-source community for domain name research, valuation, acquisition and resale, today announced that it has selected Margeotes Fertitta + Gordon Public Relations (MF+G) as its agency of record. MF+G is a division of Margeotes Fertitta + Partners, LLC, a top-20 advertising agency.

According to Afternic.com Co-CEO Chris Maroney, the public relations firm will craft all of Afternic.com's external communications, including those directed at both on-line and off-line corporate and consumer audiences: members of the business, technology and legislative communities. "It is essential that Afternic.com be introduced to its publics in the most accurate, cohesive and efficient way," said Maroney.

Jon Whelan, Maroney's counterpart as Co-CEO, added, "We chose Margeotes Fertitta + Gordon because of the agency's deep understanding of the Internet marketplace, plus their strategic, client-centered approach and unparalleled attention to detail."

Afternic.com is committed to becoming the hub of domain name activity and opinion on the World Wide Web. Much more than a mere assemblage of domain name brokers, Afternic.com represents a true community for those involved in the Internet namespace, on all sides of the sales equation.

"Afternic.com is a true Internet pioneer," commented Janine Gordon, president of Margeotes Fertitta + Gordon. "The company stands poised to seize control of a brand-new e-commerce category--one that is becoming increasingly important as primary and secondary markets in the domain name space converge. We are thrilled at the opportunity to help Afternic.com build its brand and its business."

About Margeotes Fertitta + Gordon

Margeotes Fertitta + Gordon is a Manhattan-based strategic marketing public relations firm with capitalized billings of $7.5 million. In addition to Afternic.com, MF+G's other clients include Cahners Business Information, DealTime.com, Merck-Medco, The Prudential Insurance Corporation of America, Roundabout Theatre Company and Swoppin.com, among others. As a subsidiary of Margeotes Fertitta + Partners, a $315 million advertising agency, MF+G provides an array of services well beyond the scope of even the largest public relations firms.

About Afternic.com

Afternic.com is a privately held company based in New York City. In just three months of operation, it has become the Web's premier domain name exchange. Afternic.com's domain name portal provides a comprehensive set of invaluable resources for those with a stake in the Internet namespace. Buyers and Sellers are able to value domain name assets, perform on-line transactions, place automatic bids, track auction activity and manage complex domain name portfolios. All transactions are protected by Afternic.com's exclusive registration transfer process, DNescrow.