Most Expensive URL Ever in the Dot-Org Domain is Sold Via Afternic.com; "Engineering.org" goes for nearly $200,000

Business Wire, May 8, 2000

Business/Technology Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 8, 2000

What: The domain name Engineering.org has just been purchased via

transparent, open auction on Afternic.com for $198,895.

- This transaction involves one of the highest prices ever paid - for anything
- via Internet auction

- It is one of the top-25 highest-priced domain names ever sold

This extraordinary closing is the clearest demonstration yet of the rapidly growing value of top-level domains (TLD's) outside of the rarefied dot-com, as well as the premium that an organization will pay for the ultimate generic domain name related to its particular field.

Who: Engineering.org now resolves to a site operated by The American

Society of Mechanical Engineers, a New York-based industry

organization. It was offered for sale by an independent member of

the Afternic.com exchange.

When: The deal became final on Thursday, May 4, 2000

Where: Afternic.com is located online at www.afternic.com

Background: Afternic.com is a privately held company based in New York

City. In nearly five 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(SM).