Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld & Toll, P.L.L.C. Files Class Action Suit Against Merrill Lynch and Henry Blodget

Business Wire, May 1, 2002

Business Editors, Legal Writers

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2002

Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld & Toll, P.L.L.C., filed a lawsuit on May 1, 2002, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of purchasers of the common stock of Excite@Home ("Excite") (Nasdaq:ATHM) (Nasdaq:ATHMQ.OB) between the period of August 18, 1999 through September 28, 2001 (the "Class Period"), against Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. and its Internet analyst Henry Blodget.

Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld & Toll, P.L.L.C. is also involved in another case against Merrill Lynch and Blodget on behalf of purchasers of Infospace stock.

The Complaint alleges that to maintain and enhance Merrill Lynch's investment banking relationships with Excite, defendants issued analyst reports with positive ratings on Excite which were materially misleading as they were inconsistent with their own contemporaneous, private adverse assessments of Excite. For example, defendants were repeatedly issuing a short-term accumulate, long-term buy rating on Excite despite their internal e-mails that Excite stock had a "flat" outlook, was without any "real catalysts" for improvement and was a "piece of crap."

Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld & Toll, P.L.L.C. has significant experience in prosecuting investor class actions and actions involving financial fraud. The firm has offices in Washington, D.C., Seattle, Washington and New York, and is active in major litigation pending in federal and state courts throughout the nation.

The firm's reputation for excellence has been recognized on repeated occasions by courts which have appointed the firm to lead positions in complex multi-district or consolidated litigation. Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld & Toll, P.L.L.C. has taken a lead role in numerous important cases on behalf of defrauded investors, and has been responsible for a number of outstanding recoveries which, in the aggregate, total over a billion dollars.

If you purchased Excite common stock during the period from August 18, 1999 through September 28, 2001, inclusive, you may, no later than June 21, 2002, move to be appointed as a Lead Plaintiff.

If you have any questions about this notice or the action, or with regard to your rights, please contact either of the following:

 Steven J. Toll, Esq.
 Diana Steele
 Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld & Toll, P.L.L.C.
 1100 New York Avenue, NW
 West Tower, Suite 500
 Washington, DC 20005
 Telephone: 888-240-0775 or 202-408-4600
 E-mail: stoll@cmht.com or dsteele@cmht.com