NETGRAVITY INC
424B4, 1999-03-30
PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE
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                             Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4) in connection with
                             Registration Statement Nos. 333-73203 and 333-75237
 
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                                4,080,000 SHARES
                                  COMMON STOCK
 
    NetGravity, Inc. is offering 3,218,440 shares of common stock and the
selling stockholders are offering an additional 861,560 shares. NetGravity's
common stock is listed on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "NETG."
The last reported sale price of the common stock on the Nasdaq National Market
on March 29, 1999 was $32.25 per share.
 
                              -------------------
 
                 Investing in the common stock involves risks.
                    See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 6.
 
                               -----------------
 
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                                                                           Per Share                 Total
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Public offering price.............................................         $   31.50            $   128,520,000
Underwriting discounts and commissions............................         $    1.73            $     7,068,600
Proceeds to NetGravity............................................         $   29.77            $    95,804,913
Proceeds to the selling stockholders..............................         $   29.77            $    25,646,487
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    The Securities and Exchange Commission and state securities regulators have
not approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is
truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 
    NetGravity has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an
additional 612,000 shares of common stock to cover over-allotments. BancBoston
Robertson Stephens Inc. expects to deliver the shares of common stock to
purchasers on or about April 5, 1999.
 
                              -------------------
 
BANCBOSTON ROBERTSON STEPHENS
 
                      NATIONSBANC MONGOMERY SECURITIES LLC
 
                                                                    FAC/EQUITIES
 
                 The date of this prospectus is March 30, 1999
<PAGE>
EDGAR Colorwork Descriptions:
 
INSIDE FRONT COVER OF PROSPECTUS:
 
    Title:  Solutions for online interactive and marketing
 
    Intro Paragraph:  NetGravity is a leading provider of online interactive
    marketing solutions. At the core of NetGravity's solutions is its AdServer
    product family, which is designed to enable customers to improve response
    rates by targeting advertisements to individual users and to increase
    efficiency by automating certain online interactive marketing business
    processes. These features are designed to enhance customers' ability to
    generate revenue from sales of advertising space and from direct marketing
    campaigns.
 
    Graphic Depicting Functions of AdServer
 
    Caption 1:
 
    1)  Manage and schedule advertising and direct marketing offers. NetGravity
        solutions analyze historical data, forecast advertising inventory
        capacities and deliver up-to-date availability reports.
 
    Caption 2:
 
    2)  Deliver the right message to the right person. Our solutions are
        designed to enhance our customers' ability to generate revenue through
        capabilities such as targeting advertisements to individual users and
        groups of users.
 
    Caption 3:
 
    3)  Test, track and fine-tune messages. Report-generating functions reveal
        important information about how an online advertisement, group of
        advertisements or direct marketing message is performing.
 
INSIDE GATEFOLD:
 
    Title: NetGravity helps businesses build online relationships with
    consumers.
 
    Intro Paragraph:
 
    The competitive nature of the global marketplace requires merchants to
    continually seek out and obtain new customers while preserving their
    relationships with current customers. To help build these relationships
    online, NetGravity markets and supports three solutions, AdServer
    Enterprise, AdServer Network and AdCenter for Publishers, designed to
    support the needs of companies in the online interactive marketing industry.
 
    NetGravity's products and services, together with its broad range of
    consulting and support capabilities, are designed to enhance the
    effectiveness and efficiency of the entire online interactive marketing
    supply chain: e-commerce merchants (vendors of products and services),
    advertising agencies and content publishers.
 
    Upper Right-Hand Corner Captions:
    - Manage and schedule advertising and direct marketing offers.
    - Deliver the right message to the right person.
    - Test, track and fine-tune messages.
 
    Graphic Intro: How NetGravity solutions can be used to facilitate Internet
    business.
 
    Graphic Depicting AdServer's Role in online advertising and direct marketing
 
    Captions 1-7:
 
        1) An individual consumer surfs the Web.
 
        2) The consumer encounters a site that piques interest.
 
        3) A targeted advertisement is delivered to the consumer in real-time by
    NetGravity AdServer.
 
        4) The consumer clicks on the advertisement.
 
        5) By means of a link, the consumer is sent to the merchant's site.
 
        6) NetGravity AdServer delivers a targeted direct marketing offer to the
    consumer.
 
        7) NetGravity AdServer assists the merchant in collecting data for
    future use.
 
INSIDE BACK COVER OF PROSPECTUS:
 
    Intro Paragraph:
 
    NetGravity provides mission-critical online interactive marketing solutions
    for e-commerce merchants, advertising agencies and content publishers
    (including advertising networks).
 
    Content: 6 branded logos above a textual list of ~ 100 customer names.
 
    Company logos for this sheet:
 
      CNN Interactive
 
      Real Cities (Knight-Ridder New Media)
 
      WhoWhere?
 
      ONSALE
 
      Netscape Communications
 
      Agency.com
<PAGE>
    You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We
have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that
contained in this prospectus. We are offering to sell and seeking offers to buy
shares of common stock only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are
permitted. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of
the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this
prospectus or of any sale of the common stock. Please see "Risk Factors--You
should not rely on press releases, news articles or other information not
contained in the prospectus." In this prospectus, "NetGravity," the "Company,"
"we," "us" and "our" refer to NetGravity, Inc. and its wholly owned
subsidiaries, NetGravity Europe Limited, NetGravity Asia Pacific K.K. and
NetGravity (Hong Kong) Limited.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
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Summary...................................................................     4
Risk Factors..............................................................     6
Use of Proceeds...........................................................    21
Dividend Policy...........................................................    21
Price Range of Common Stock...............................................    21
Capitalization............................................................    22
Selected Consolidated Financial Data......................................    23
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
  Operations..............................................................    24
Business..................................................................    38
Management................................................................    56
Certain Transactions......................................................    68
Principal and Selling Stockholders........................................    71
Description of Capital Stock..............................................    74
Shares Eligible for Future Sale...........................................    77
Underwriting..............................................................    79
Legal Matters.............................................................    81
Experts...................................................................    81
Additional Information....................................................    81
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements................................   F-1
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                            ------------------------
 
    NetGravity is a trademark of NetGravity, Inc. This prospectus also contains
additional trademarks
and tradenames of NetGravity and of other companies.
 
                                       3
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                                    SUMMARY
 
    YOU SHOULD READ THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY TOGETHER WITH THE MORE DETAILED
INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS, INCLUDING RISK FACTORS, REGARDING OUR COMPANY
AND THE COMMON STOCK BEING SOLD IN THIS OFFERING.
 
                                  Our Company
 
    NetGravity, Inc. is a leading provider of solutions for online interactive
marketing, which includes online advertising and online direct marketing. We
were a pioneer in the online advertising software market and believe that we
were the first company to provide this software to major online content
publishers. We develop, market and support a broad range of high-end,
mission-critical software and transaction-based services. Our solutions are
designed to help our customers increase their revenues by automating online
interactive marketing and by improving response rates through better consumer
targeting. We sell our solutions to each of the three participants in the
interactive marketing supply chain: e-commerce merchants (vendors of products
and services); advertising agencies; and content publishers. Our core product,
AdServer, is a software solution targeted to large, sophisticated e-commerce
merchants and content publishers. AdServer manages the process of placing
advertisements, promotions and other offers on Web pages. We recently began
offering transaction-based services, including AdCenter for Publishers, an
outsourced version of AdServer. We have also announced AdCenter for Agencies,
which will extend AdCenter to include enhanced features designed for online
advertising agencies. We expect AdCenter for Agencies to be available in the
second quarter of 1999. In addition, we recently began offering our Global
Profile Service to our AdServer and AdCenter customers. Global Profile Service
is a transaction-based data service that gives our customers access to a
database of anonymous consumer profiles for use in targeting online
advertisements, promotions and other offers. The first release of Global Profile
Service allows for targeting based on geographic location. We are developing
future releases of Global Profile Service to allow targeting based on other
demographic and behavioral characteristics.
 
    The unique capabilities of online advertising, the growth in use of
electronic media and the favorable demographics of Internet users have led to a
significant increase in online advertising. Jupiter Communications estimates
that online advertising expenditures in the United States will increase from
$1.9 billion in 1998 to $7.7 billion in 2002. Similarly, Jupiter estimates that
expenditures on online direct marketing were $190 million in 1998 and will
exceed $1.3 billion in 2002.
 
    Our objective is to become the leading provider of online interactive
marketing solutions for e-commerce merchants, advertising agencies and content
publishers. To achieve this objective, our strategy includes the following key
elements:
 
    - extend our leadership in online advertising software solutions by
      continuing to enhance our technology;
 
    - establish our leadership in interactive marketing solutions for e-commerce
      by adding features to AdServer designed to meet the specific requirements
      of e-commerce merchants;
 
    - improve our customers' return on investment through enhanced targeting by
      offering our Global Profile Service, which provides access to a database
      of over 45 million anonymous consumer profiles;
 
    - enable efficient advertising buying on the Internet by providing solutions
      that link e-commerce merchants, advertising agencies and content
      publishers; and
 
    - enhance our long-term global competitive position by expanding our
      international presence.
 
    We market and sell our products and services primarily through our field
sales and telesales organizations. We maintain sales and support operations in
North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. To date, we have sold our software and
services to over 325 customers, including 32% of the top 50 revenue-generating
online content publishers listed in the March 31, 1998 CMR Interwatch report.
Our customers include agency.com, @Home Network, British Telecom, broadcast.com,
CNN Interactive, E*TRADE, IBM, Netscape Communications, Preview Travel, ONSALE,
Real Cities (Knight-Ridder New Media) and Time Inc. New Media.
 
                                  Our Address
 
    NetGravity's principal executive offices are located at 1900 South Norfolk
Street, Suite 150, San Mateo, California 94403 and our telephone number at that
address is (650) 425-6000. Our website is located at www.netgravity.com.
Information contained in our website is not part of this prospectus.
 
                                       4
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                                  The Offering
 
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Common stock offered by NetGravity................  3,218,440 shares
 
Common stock offered by the selling
  stockholders....................................  861,560 shares
 
Common stock to be outstanding after the
  offering........................................  17,153,258 shares(1)
 
Use of proceeds...................................  For working capital and general corporate
                                                    purposes. See "Use of Proceeds."
 
Nasdaq National Market symbol.....................  NETG
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                      Summary Consolidated Financial Data
                     (in thousands, except per share data)
 
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                                                                                Period from
                                                                             September 5, 1995       Year Ended December 31,
                                                                              (inception) to     -------------------------------
                                                                             December 31, 1995     1996       1997       1998
                                                                            -------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------
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Statement of Operations Data:
Total revenues............................................................       $      --       $   1,939  $   6,358  $  11,557
Loss from operations......................................................            (191)         (4,681)    (6,872)   (11,833)
Net loss..................................................................            (195)         (4,627)    (6,882)   (11,293)
Basic and diluted net loss per share(2)...................................       $   (0.19)      $   (2.19) $   (2.46) $   (1.28)
Shares used in per share calculation(2)...................................           1,006           2,111      2,799      8,823
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                                                                                                         December 31, 1998
                                                                                                     -------------------------
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                                                                                                      Actual    As Adjusted(3)
                                                                                                     ---------  --------------
Balance Sheet Data:
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments..................................................  $  20,799   $    115,604
Working capital....................................................................................     17,705        112,510
Total assets.......................................................................................     33,420        128,225
Notes payable, less current portion................................................................      1,109          1,109
Stockholders' equity...............................................................................     22,128        116,933
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(1) Based on shares outstanding as of March 29, 1999. Assumes no exercise of the
    underwriters' over-allotment option and excludes, as of December 31, 1998,
    (i) 1,990,908 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding
    options at a weighted average exercise price of $4.21 per share and (ii) an
    aggregate of 2,050,381 shares available for future issuance under our 1998
    Stock Plan, 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and 1998 Director Option Plan.
    New investors will be further diluted if any shares of common stock are
    issued upon exercise of currently outstanding options or other rights, are
    granted in the future or are reserved for future issuance under our stock
    plans. See "Management-- Employee Benefit Plans" and Note 5 of Notes to
    Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
(2) See Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the
    determination of shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per
    share.
 
(3) Adjusted to reflect our sale of 3,218,440 shares of common stock at the
    public offering price of $31.50 per share (after deducting the underwriting
    discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us) and
    the application of the estimated net proceeds therefrom.
 
                         ------------------------------
 
    EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE INDICATED HEREIN, ALL INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS
ASSUMES THAT THE UNDERWRITERS' OVER-ALLOTMENT OPTION IS NOT EXERCISED. SEE
"PRINCIPAL AND SELLING STOCKHOLDERS" AND "UNDERWRITING."
 
                                       5
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                                  RISK FACTORS
 
    AN INVESTMENT IN THE SHARES OF OUR COMMON STOCK OFFERED BY THIS PROSPECTUS
INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY REVIEW THE FOLLOWING RISK
FACTORS AS WELL AS THE OTHER INFORMATION SET FORTH IN THIS PROSPECTUS BEFORE
MAKING AN INVESTMENT.
 
    SOME OF THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS THAT INVOLVE SUBSTANTIAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES. YOU CAN IDENTIFY
THESE STATEMENTS BY FORWARD-LOOKING WORDS SUCH AS "MAY," "WILL," "EXPECT,"
"ANTICIPATE," "BELIEVE," "ESTIMATE" AND "CONTINUE" OR SIMILAR WORDS. YOU SHOULD
READ STATEMENTS THAT CONTAIN THESE WORDS CAREFULLY BECAUSE THEY: (1) DISCUSS OUR
EXPECTATIONS ABOUT OUR FUTURE PERFORMANCE; (2) CONTAIN PROJECTIONS OF OUR FUTURE
OPERATING RESULTS OR OF OUR FUTURE FINANCIAL CONDITION; OR (3) STATE OTHER
"FORWARD-LOOKING" INFORMATION. WE BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT TO COMMUNICATE OUR
EXPECTATIONS TO OUR INVESTORS. THERE MAY BE EVENTS IN THE FUTURE, HOWEVER, THAT
WE ARE NOT ACCURATELY ABLE TO PREDICT OR OVER WHICH WE HAVE NO CONTROL. THE RISK
FACTORS LISTED IN THIS SECTION, AS WELL AS ANY CAUTIONARY LANGUAGE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS, PROVIDE EXAMPLES OF RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND EVENTS THAT MAY CAUSE
OUR ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THE EXPECTATIONS WE DESCRIBE IN OUR
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. BEFORE YOU INVEST IN OUR COMMON STOCK, YOU SHOULD BE
AWARE THAT THE OCCURRENCE OF ANY OF THE EVENTS DESCRIBED IN THESE RISK FACTORS
AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS COULD HAVE A MATERIAL AND ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR
BUSINESS, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION AND THAT UPON THE
OCCURRENCE OF ANY OF THESE EVENTS, THE TRADING PRICE OF OUR COMMON STOCK COULD
DECLINE AND YOU COULD LOSE ALL OR PART OF YOUR INVESTMENT.
 
We have a limited operating history.
 
    We were founded in September 1995 and commercially released version 1.0 of
AdServer in May 1996. Accordingly, we have a limited operating history, and we
face all of the risks and uncertainties encountered by early-stage companies.
The new and evolving nature of the online interactive marketing solutions
markets increases these risks and uncertainties. Also, because we have a limited
operating history, our past results may not be meaningful and you should not
rely on them as indicators of our future performance. For a detailed discussion
of our financial condition and results of operations, please see the section of
this prospectus entitled "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations."
 
We have incurred substantial losses and anticipate continued losses.
 
    Since our inception in September 1995, we have incurred substantial losses.
Our losses were $6.9 million for the year ended December 31, 1997 and $11.3
million for the year ended December 31, 1998. As of December 31, 1998, we had an
accumulated deficit of $23.0 million.
 
    We anticipate that our expenses relating to developing, marketing and
supporting our current and future products and services will increase
substantially in the future. In particular, we expect to spend significantly on
the following activities:
 
    - developing new market opportunities for our current and future products
      and services;
 
    - funding more research and development to improve our current solutions and
      to create new solutions;
 
    - expanding and improving our sales and marketing operations;
 
    - expanding and enhancing our outsourced interactive marketing solution
      (AdCenter), our enhanced targeting service (Global Profile Service) and
      possible future products and services designed for e-commerce merchants
      and advertising agencies (including our planned AdCenter for Agencies
      offering);
 
    - developing new channels for distributing our products and providing our
      services;
 
    - expanding and improving our financial and operational infrastructure; and
 
    - broadening our customer support capabilities.
 
                                       6
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    Accordingly, for the foreseeable future, we expect to experience additional
losses as our expenses for developing, marketing and supporting our current
solutions and developing new solutions exceed our total revenues. These
additional losses will increase our accumulated deficit.
 
    For more detailed information concerning our losses and other operating
results, please see the sections of this prospectus entitled "Selected
Consolidated Financial Data" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
Our future operating results are uncertain and are likely to fluctuate
  significantly.
 
    Our revenues, gross margins and other operating results may vary
significantly from quarter to quarter. The fluctuations may be due to a number
of factors, many of which are beyond our control. These factors include:
 
    - our or our competitors' introduction of new or enhanced online interactive
      marketing solutions;
 
    - market acceptance of existing or planned products and services, including
      future versions of AdServer and AdCenter, our enhanced targeting services
      (Global Profile Service) and possible future products and services
      designed for e-commerce merchants and advertising agencies (including
      AdCenter for Agencies);
 
    - the time it takes us to sell our services and license and implement our
      products and the size of each transaction;
 
    - the mix of software licenses, software upgrades, consulting and support
      and transactional services revenues;
 
    - the amount of advertising spending budgeted by advertisers and direct
      marketers for online interactive marketing;
 
    - our or our competitors' price changes or changes in pricing models;
 
    - our customers' failure to renew their AdServer upgrade and support
      contracts;
 
    - the shift from higher gross margins from software license and upgrade
      revenues to lower gross margins from consulting and support and
      transactional services revenues;
 
    - the mix of distribution channels through which we sell our products and
      services;
 
    - our sales and licensing activities in international markets;
 
    - costs relating to possible acquisitions of technology or businesses; and
 
    - the amounts of royalty payments, amortization charges and other costs
      related to the licensing or acquisition of technology or other intangible
      assets.
 
    Due to all of the foregoing factors, we do not believe that period-to-period
comparisons of our historical results of operations are good predictors of
future performance. Furthermore, it is possible that in some future quarters our
results of operations may fall below the expectations of securities analysts and
investors. In such event, the trading price of our stock will likely be
materially and adversely affected. Please also see "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" for a more detailed
analysis of our period-to-period results.
 
We rely heavily on sales of one product family.
 
    To date, we have generated nearly all of our revenues from the license and
related upgrades, consulting and support of our AdServer family of software
products. We expect that our current AdServer family of software products and
software products in development, together with the related consulting and
support services, will continue to account for a substantial majority of our
revenues for the foreseeable future.
 
                                       7
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Therefore, our future financial performance is dependent, in significant part,
upon the successful development, introduction and customer acceptance of new and
enhanced versions of AdServer and of related new products and services that we
may develop. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in upgrading
AdServer or that we will successfully develop new products and services or that
any new product or service will achieve market acceptance. Consequently, factors
affecting the pricing of and demand for AdServer, such as competition,
technological changes, failure of the market for online interactive marketing
solutions to develop as we expect or lack of customer acceptance of AdServer
could have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations
or financial condition. For more information on the sources of our revenues,
please see the section of this prospectus entitled "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
Our future success depends on the timely completion of new solutions under
  development.
 
    We must successfully complete the development of AdCenter for Agencies and
the next version of Global Profile Service (which is being designed to provide
much more detailed consumer profiles than the current version). Our future
revenues will likely fall below our expectations (and the expectations of
investors in our common stock) if we do not successfully develop, market and
support these services. Any actual or expected revenue shortfall would likely
reduce the trading price of our common stock.
 
We have an unproven and changing business model.
 
    Our core business model has been to license software designed to enable our
customers to directly manage their online interactive marketing activities. We
believe that it is too early to determine whether this business model will be
successful in the future. An alternate business model employed by some of our
competitors (including DoubleClick) is to provide outsourced, service-based
solutions to customers who choose not to directly manage their online
interactive marketing activities.
 
    In 1998 we broadened our business by releasing AdCenter for Publishers, a
service-based service that transfers to us the responsibility for managing our
customers' online systems and the data generated from their online interactive
marketing activities, but preserves customers' control over their advertising
sales functions. We also recently introduced our Global Profile Service which
allows our customers to more narrowly target consumers through the use of
anonymous consumer profiles from our centralized database. Although revenues
from AdCenter and the Global Profile Service to date have not been material, we
intend to place more emphasis on developing these services in the future. Our
increased emphasis on AdCenter and the Global Profile Service may not be
successful. In particular, AdCenter may not compete effectively with current or
future outsourced service providers based on price, performance or other
features. Similarly, our Global Profile Service may not be competitive with
current or future providers of consumer profile data. In addition, we expect to
devote significant engineering, marketing, sales, consulting and customer
support resources to enhance AdCenter's and the Global Profile Service's
competitiveness, scalability and cost-effectiveness. These actions may divert
resources from our other products and services and may thus harm our core
AdServer business. Please see the section of this prospectus entitled
"Business--Software Products and Transactional Services" for a description of
AdCenter and the Global Profile Service.
 
Our markets are highly competitive.
 
    The market for online interactive marketing solutions is new, intensely
competitive and rapidly evolving. We expect competition to continue to increase
both from existing competitors and new market entrants. We believe that our
ability to compete depends on many factors both within and beyond our control,
including:
 
    - the ease of use, performance, features, price and reliability of our
      solutions as compared to those of our competitors;
 
    - the timing and market acceptance of new solutions and enhancements to
      existing solutions developed by us and our competitors;
 
    - the quality of our customer service and support; and
 
    - the effectiveness of our sales and marketing efforts.
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
    In the online advertising market, we compete directly with DoubleClick Inc.,
CMG plc (through its Engage/Accipiter unit), Excite, Inc. (through its
MatchLogic unit), AdForce, Inc., Real Media, Inc. and a variety of other online
advertising service providers. To date, we have focused primarily on developing
software-based solutions, which we license to our customers, although we have
recently begun offering an outsourced solution (AdCenter). Some of our
competitors (including DoubleClick) have adopted a business model focused on
outsourcing of interactive marketing solutions. These competitors have much more
experience offering these outsourced solutions and may have lower cost
structures due, in part, to efficiencies created from the larger scale of their
operations. If the outsourced model gains popularity over the software model in
our target market, we cannot assure you that we will be able to compete
effectively with our current products and services.
 
    In the online direct marketing market, we expect to face indirect
competition from the vendors of electronic commerce systems, including
BroadVision, Inc., InterWorld Corporation and Open Market, Inc. among others. In
addition, if providers of electronic commerce systems begin including advanced
online direct marketing functionality in their products, this could reduce or
eliminate the need for separate direct marketing management solutions, including
our current and future products targeted at the direct marketing market. We also
encounter competition from Netscape and Microsoft, which build or bundle
advertising management products with their Internet commerce solutions. Both
Netscape and Microsoft have significantly greater resources than we do, and, due
to their control of the browser market, if either of them were to offer online
advertising and direct marketing management solutions with features comparable
to those offered by us, there can be no assurance that we would be able to
compete effectively.
 
    Many of our current and potential competitors have longer operating
histories and significantly greater financial, technical, marketing and other
resources than we do and thus may be able to respond more quickly to new or
changing opportunities, technologies and customer requirements. Also, many of
our current and potential competitors have greater name recognition, more
extensive customer bases and larger proprietary consumer databases. These
competitors may be able to undertake more extensive promotional activities,
adopt more aggressive pricing policies, or offer more attractive terms to
purchasers than we can. In addition, current and potential competitors have
established or may establish cooperative relationships among themselves or with
third parties to enhance their products. Accordingly, it is possible that new
competitors or alliances among competitors may emerge and rapidly acquire
significant market share.
 
    In addition to these current and potential commercial competitors, we also
face competition from the internal capabilities of some potential customers.
Some of the largest and most popular online content publishers use internally
developed interactive marketing solutions rather than the commercial solutions
offered by NetGravity and our competition. We cannot assure you that we will be
able to compete successfully with these internally-developed solutions.
 
    Increased competition is likely to result in price reductions, reduced gross
margins and loss of market share, any one of which could impair our finances and
business prospects. We cannot assure you that we will be able to compete
successfully against existing or potential competitors or that competitive
pressures will not materially impair our finances or business prospects.
 
Our sales and implementation cycles are long.
 
    SALES CYCLE. To license our software products, we generally engage in a
lengthy sales effort. During the sales effort, we spend significant time
educating prospective customers on the use and benefit of our solutions. As a
result, the sales cycle for our products and services is long and currently
averages approximately four months. The sales cycle for our online direct
marketing solutions is likely to be longer than the sales cycle for online
advertising solutions, because we believe that online direct marketing is less
established and will require more education of potential customers. In addition,
an increase in the average size of transactions would also likely result in an
even longer sales cycle as the license of our software products rises to the
level of an enterprise-wide decision for prospective customers, requiring a
significant
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
commitment of resources. Delays due to lengthy sales cycles could have a
material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial
condition. For a detailed description of our sales cycle, please see the
sections of this prospectus entitled "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Business--Sales and
Marketing."
 
    IMPLEMENTATION CYCLE. Because we do not recognize revenues from a sale until
the customer has implemented the solution purchased, the timing of our revenues
depends on our customers' implementation cycles. The implementation of our
products often involves a significant commitment of resources by customers
and/or our consultants over an extended period of time. Our sales and customer
implementation cycles may be delayed due to product defects or errors and
factors over which we have little or no control, including customers' budgetary
constraints, internal acceptance reviews and the complexity of customers' online
interactive marketing needs. Delays in customer deployment of a product could
have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations or
financial condition. For example, due to errors contained in early versions of
AdServer 3.0, deployment of this earlier version of AdServer required a
significant amount of our and our customers' time and resources. For more
information about our revenue recognition policies please see the section of
this prospectus entitled "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations."
 
Online advertising and online direct marketing are new and evolving businesses.
 
    Online interactive marketing is in its very early stages of development.
Like many new businesses, it is characterized by rapidly evolving technologies,
quickly changing marketing and sales strategies, multiple and aggressive market
participants, fluctuating demand and uncertain market acceptance for products
and services. Online advertising and online direct marketing (the two components
of online interactive marketing) are also characterized by their heavy
dependence on the success of the Internet, which itself is a new medium with an
unpredictable future. For a discussion of the risks associated with the
Internet, please see the Risk Factor entitled "Our success depends on the
widespread acceptance and use of the Internet."
 
  ONLINE ADVERTISING
 
    THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ONLINE ADVERTISING IS UNCERTAIN AND OUR FUTURE SUCCESS
DEPENDS HEAVILY ON THE CONTINUED AND INCREASED USE OF THE INTERNET AS AN
ADVERTISING MEDIUM. We believe that it is too early to accurately judge the
effectiveness of Internet advertising as compared to traditional advertising
media. If the market for Internet advertising fails to develop or develops more
slowly than we expect, our business, results of operations and financial
condition could be materially and adversely affected.
 
    ADVERTISERS HAVE LIMITED EXPERIENCE WITH THE INTERNET. Our current and
potential advertising customers are generally not experienced in online
advertising and have allocated only a limited portion of their advertising
budgets to Internet advertising. There is no guarantee that our current and
potential customers will increase or even continue Internet advertising or that
advertisers that currently do not advertise on the Internet will begin to
advertise online.
 
    WEB PUBLISHERS HAVE LIMITED ADVERTISING EXPERIENCE. Most of our current and
potential Web content publisher customers have little or no experience selling
advertising space on their Web sites. Consequently, such publishers may not
generate enough advertising revenues to be economically viable. If Web
publishers stop using our products and services, our business, results of
operations and financial condition would be materially and adversely affected.
 
    THE CURRENT METHODS OF MEASURING ONLINE ADVERTISING'S EFFECTIVENESS PRODUCE
UNCERTAIN RESULTS. There are currently no standards for measuring the
effectiveness of Internet advertising. Without standardized measurements, online
advertisers may challenge or refuse to accept our or third-party measurements of
the effectiveness of online advertisements. Our business, results of operations
and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected if standards
for measuring the effectiveness of Internet advertising are not developed and
widely adopted.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
    OUR BUSINESS DEPENDS HEAVILY ON BANNER ADVERTISEMENTS. Almost all of our
revenues ultimately come from the delivery of banner advertisements on Web
pages. If advertisers determine that banner advertising is an ineffective or
unattractive advertising medium, our business, results of operations and
financial condition would be materially adversely affected.
 
    INTERNET USERS MAY USE "FILTER" SOFTWARE TO BLOCK ADVERTISEMENTS. Some
Internet users use "filter" software programs that limit or prevent advertising
from being delivered to such users' computers. The commercial viability of
Internet advertising, and our business, results of operations and financial
condition, would be materially and adversely affected by Web users' widespread
adoption of such software.
 
  ONLINE DIRECT MARKETING
 
    DIRECT MARKETERS MAY NOT BE ACCUSTOMED TO CONDUCTING DIRECT MARKETING ON THE
INTERNET. Online direct marketing is a new and substantially different approach
to direct marketing that has not reached broad acceptance by direct marketing
companies. Consequently, direct marketing companies may be reluctant to conduct
their business online until they understand and are comfortable with the medium.
If direct marketing companies do not accept the Internet as a viable medium for
direct marketing, our business, results of operations and financial condition
could be materially and adversely affected.
 
    ONLINE DIRECT MARKETING MAY COMPETE WITH TRADITIONAL DIRECT MARKETING MEDIA.
Companies that have already invested substantial resources in other methods of
conducting their direct marketing business may be reluctant or slow to adopt a
new approach that may replace, limit or compete with their existing systems. If
direct marketing companies do not accept the Internet as a viable medium for
direct marketing, our business, results of operations and financial condition
could be materially and adversely affected.
 
    WE HAVE NOT YET, BUT EXPECT THAT WE MAY NEED TO, TAILOR OUR PRODUCTS TO
ONLINE MARKETERS' NEEDS. Because online direct marketing is emerging as a new
and distinct market apart from online advertising, we believe that potential
adopters of online direct marketing solutions will increasingly demand
functionality tailored to their specific requirements. Although AdServer's
largely advertising-oriented features can be deployed for online direct
marketing, we have not yet developed products with the custom features required
by online direct marketers. We cannot assure you that we will develop any such
products, or if such products are developed, that they will achieve a
satisfactory level of market acceptance.
 
We must successfully develop new products and keep up with rapid technological
  change.
 
    OUR BUSINESS WILL SUFFER IF WE FAIL TO KEEP UP WITH RAPIDLY CHANGING
TECHNOLOGY. Rapidly changing technology, evolving industry standards, frequent
announcements and introductions of new or enhanced products and services and
changing customer demands characterize the markets for our products and
services. The emerging nature of the Web in general and online interactive
marketing in particular underscore these characteristics. Accordingly, we are
dependent upon our ability to adapt to rapidly changing technologies, to adapt
our solutions to meet evolving industry standards and to continually improve the
performance, features and reliability of our solutions in response to both
changing customer demands and competitive product and service offerings. For
example, if the historical growth rate in the use of the Internet were to
continue, our current products may need to be redesigned in order to efficiently
process a significantly higher volume of transactions, particularly if each
transaction becomes more complex through the use of demographic targeting and
other advanced features. If we fail to successfully and quickly adapt to
changing technologies and customer requirements, our business, results of
operations or financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
 
    OUR DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS FACE THE FURTHER CHALLENGE OF MAINTAINING
COMPATIBILITY WITH THIRD-PARTY HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE. Our products are designed
to operate on a variety of hardware and software platforms employed by our
customers in their individual networks. We must continually modify and enhance
our products to keep pace with changes in hardware and software platforms and
database technology. As a result, uncertainties related to the timing and nature
of new product announcements, introductions or modifications
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
by operating systems vendors, particularly Microsoft and Sun, by vendors of
relational database software, particularly Oracle and Microsoft, and browser
vendors, particularly Netscape and Microsoft, could materially and adversely
affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. Please also
see the section of this prospectus entitled "Business--Technology."
 
If our transactional services revenues grow, we may experience additional
  revenue fluctuations.
 
    To date, the vast majority of our revenues has been from software licenses
and related support and upgrades, and has not been directly linked to the volume
of advertisements delivered by our customers. However, as we increasingly focus
on offering transaction-based services, our revenues may become more dependent
on the volume of transactions executed by our customers. In contrast to revenues
from existing software licenses and upgrades and support arrangements which are
reasonably predictable over the term of the customer contract, transactional
services revenues are inherently less predictable and may contribute to the
variability of our overall revenues and other operating results. For example, we
believe that advertising sales in traditional media, such as television and
radio, are generally lower in the first calendar quarter of each year and are
subject to other cyclical variations. We believe that our transactional services
revenues will be affected by similar seasonal and cyclical fluctuations as the
online advertising market matures.
 
We have to effectively manage our growth.
 
    We have recently experienced a period of rapid growth and expansion that has
placed and continues to place a significant strain upon our management, systems
and resources. We have grown from ten employees as of December 31, 1995 to 125
employees as of December 31, 1998 and currently plan to further expand our staff
both domestically and internationally. In particular, we plan to expand our
sales and marketing and customer support organizations both domestically and
internationally. Our ability to compete effectively and manage future growth, if
any, will require us to continue to implement and improve operational, financial
and management information systems on a timely basis and to attract, hire, train
efficiently and effectively and retain additional technical, managerial,
finance, sales and marketing and support personnel. Any failure to implement and
improve our operational, financial and management systems or to attract, hire,
train or retain employees could have a material and adverse effect on our
business, results of operations or financial condition. Please see the Risk
Factor entitled "Our success depends on certain key employees" for descriptions
of risks relating to our employees and the sections of this prospectus entitled
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" and "Business--Employees" for a description of our growth.
 
We face risks associated with our international operations and plans for
  expansion.
 
    WE HAVE A LIMITED OPERATING HISTORY IN OUR INTERNATIONAL MARKETS. We have
only limited experience in marketing, selling and distributing our products and
services internationally. Through our three subsidiaries, NetGravity Europe
Limited, NetGravity Asia Pacific K.K. and NetGravity (Hong Kong) Limited, we
recently began operations in a number of markets in Europe and Asia Pacific.
International revenues comprised approximately 28% of our total revenues in 1998
and are expected to comprise a significant portion of our total revenues in
1999.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
    THERE ARE CERTAIN RISKS AND CHALLENGES INHERENT IN DOING BUSINESS IN
INTERNATIONAL MARKETS. Such risks include:
 
    - difficulties in collecting accounts receivable and longer collection
      periods;
 
    - changing and conflicting regulatory requirements;
 
    - potentially adverse tax consequences;
 
    - tariffs and general export restrictions, including export controls
      relating to encryption technology;
 
    - difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations;
 
    - political instability;
 
    - fluctuations in currency exchange rates as evidenced by the ongoing Asia
      Pacific financial crisis;
 
    - the uncertain impact of the introduction of the Euro;
 
    - seasonal reductions in business activity during the summer months in
      Europe and certain other parts of the world; and
 
    - the impact of local economic conditions and practices.
 
    INTERNATIONAL MARKETS FOR ONLINE INTERACTIVE MARKETING ARE IN THEIR VERY
EARLY STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT. International markets for online advertising and
direct marketing are in earlier stages of development than in the United States,
and we cannot assure you that the market for, and use of online advertising and
direct marketing in international markets will be significant in the future.
Factors that may further account for slower growth in the online advertising and
direct marketing markets in Europe and Asia include:
 
    - slower growth in the number of individuals using the Internet
      internationally;
 
    - privacy concerns;
 
    - a lower rate of advertising spending internationally than in the United
      States; and
 
    - a greater reluctance internationally to use the Internet for advertising
      and direct marketing.
 
    WE NEED TO DEVELOP LOCALIZED VERSIONS OF OUR PRODUCTS AND TO EXPAND OUR
INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE. We believe that having localized versions of our
products may become an important competitive factor for international sales in
the future. We also believe that our international sales may be limited in the
future if we do not increase our physical presence abroad, including hiring
additional personnel for local service and support. In addition, before we can
efficiently deliver transactional services to international customers, we must
establish local hosting centers from which to deliver these services. The
development of localized versions of our products and the expansion of our
international presence will likely require significant resources.
 
    Any of the above factors could have a material and adverse affect on our
international sales and operations, which, in turn, could adversely affect our
overall business, operating results and financial condition.
 
Our success depends on certain key employees.
 
    Our future performance will depend largely on the efforts and abilities of
our key technical, customer support, sales and managerial personnel and on our
ability to retain them. We have in the past experienced difficulty in hiring
qualified technical, customer support, sales and managerial personnel. Our
success will depend on our ability to attract and retain such personnel in the
future. In particular, we are currently seeking to hire a senior executive to
expand the operational expertise of our management team. Although we have
engaged an executive search firm to assist us, we cannot assure you that we will
be able to successfully hire
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
and retain such an executive. In addition, the loss of any of our current
executive officers could materially and adversely affect our business, financial
condition and operating results. Please see the section of this prospectus
entitled "Management" for biographies and compensation of our executive
officers.
 
We may acquire other companies' product lines, technologies or businesses.
 
    As part of our growth strategy, we may in the future attempt to purchase
other companies' product lines, technologies or businesses. In connection with
any such acquisitions, we may pay cash, issue stock, incur debt or be required
to amortize expenses related to goodwill and other intangible assets. For
example, in September 1998 we paid $2 million to MatchLogic for rights to use
certain of MatchLogic's proprietary consumer profile databases for limited
purposes. We accounted for this transaction as a purchase of an intangible
asset, which is being amortized over its expected useful life of three years. In
addition, acquisitions of companies and businesses involve numerous risks,
including difficulties in the assimilation of the operations, technologies,
products and personnel of the acquired company, the diversion of management's
attention from other business concerns, risks of entering markets in which we
have no or limited direct prior experience and the potential loss of key
employees of the acquired company. From time to time, we have engaged in
discussions with third parties concerning potential acquisitions of product
lines, technologies and businesses. In the event that such an acquisition were
to occur, our business, results of operations, financial condition and the
trading price of our common stock may be materially and adversely affected due
to the factors described above.
 
We rely on third-party software and consumer profile data.
 
    WE RELY ON SOFTWARE LICENSED FROM THIRD PARTIES, including database access
technology and other tools from Rogue Wave. We intend to increase our use of
licensed third-party software in future releases of our solutions. We cannot
assure you that we will be able to continue to license this technology on
commercially reasonable terms, if at all. The loss or inability to maintain any
of these technology licenses could result in delays in the sale of our products
and services until equivalent technology, if available, is identified, licensed
and integrated. These delays could have a material and adverse effect on our
business, results of operations or financial condition. For more information
concerning the way our products work with third-party technology, see the
section of this prospectus entitled "Business--Product and Service Development."
 
    WE ARE DEPENDENT ON THIRD PARTY DATA SOURCES FOR OUR GLOBAL PROFILE SERVICE.
Our Global Profile Service is a service we offer our customers that allows them
to more narrowly target their online interactive marketing by using anonymous
geographic data. We plan to expand this service to cover other demographic and
behavioral data. We license the underlying databases of anonymous consumer
profiles from third party sources, including Excite/MatchLogic and HNC/Aptex.
The performance of our Global Profile Service, as measured by improved response
rates to advertisements, promotions or other offers is, in large part, dependent
on the scope, accuracy and timeliness of the profile data contained in these
third party databases. These factors are largely outside of our control.
Although our contracts with MatchLogic and Aptex provide for access to their
databases through September 2001, if, for whatever reason, we were no longer
able to purchase access to these databases or equivalent databases on
commercially reasonable terms, or if the quality and scope of the available data
was not sufficient for effective targeting, we may have to discontinue our
Global Profile Service. In addition to the resulting loss of direct revenue from
the Global Profile Service, existing or potential customers may view the
unavailability or impaired functionality of the Global Profile Service as a
competitive disadvantage and may choose not to use AdServer in favor of a
solution offering superior targeting capabilities. For these reasons, any
unavailability or degradation of our Global Profile Service could have a
material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial
condition.
 
You should not rely on press releases, news articles or other information not
  contained in the prospectus.
 
    From time to time, we issue press releases concerning our products and
services or other information about NetGravity. In addition, traditional and
electronic publications or discussion forums may present
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
information about us or our products and services. The information contained in
these press releases, publications or forums may not be accompanied by other
important information necessary for investors to fairly understand our business
and the risks associated with an investment in our stock due, in part, to
practical limitations on the form and length of these channels of communication.
Therefore, you should not rely on any information not contained in this
prospectus in making a decision to buy or sell our stock.
 
    On February 25, 1999, we issued a press release that was published under the
following headline, "NetGravity Opens Four New Offices to Support Rapidly
Increasing Revenues, Projected to Reach More Than $9 Billion by 2002" and the
following sub-heading, "...Chicago Office Solidifies NetGravity's More than 30%
Marketshare Among Publishers...." These phrases were selected from the same
market background information as is provided elsewhere in this prospectus, but
may have lacked enough contextual information to allow a person unfamiliar with
us and our industry to accurately interpret them. In particular, the projection
was intended to refer to Jupiter Communications' projection that the overall
combined market for online direct marketing and online advertising would grow to
$9 billion by 2002 and the marketshare reference was intended to refer to the
fact that our solutions are used by 32% of the top 50 revenue-generating online
content publishers listed in the March 31, 1998 CMR Interwatch report. Any
inference from these statistics as to our future revenue or our overall market
share among content publishers was not intended and should not be relied upon by
investors. We do not claim that we have a 30% marketshare among the thousands of
online content publishers; we have approximately 325 customers. We do not claim
that our revenues will exceed $9 billion by 2002; our total revenues were $11.6
million in 1998 and we cannot assure you that our revenues will grow in the
future. In addition to the foregoing, the body of the press release contained
forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the emergence of
interactive marketing and our plans for our role in such market. These
forward-looking statements should be considered in the context of the
substantial risks that we face. Many of these risks are described in this
prospectus. We and each of the underwriters and selling stockholders disclaim
any information not contained in this prospectus (including the contents of the
press release described above) to the extent inconsistent with or in conflict
with the information contained in this prospectus.
 
We may need to expand our use of resellers.
 
    We have historically sold our products and services primarily through our
field sales and telesales organization, but our future success may depend in
part upon our ability to increase sales of our solutions through Web hosting
organizations and Internet systems integrators (collectively, "Resellers"). We
cannot assure you that we will be able to attract and retain Resellers. If we
are able to attract Resellers, our gross margins may narrow due to discounts we
would give to our Resellers. In addition, if any of our Resellers were to
provide inadequate support and services to our customers, our revenues could
decrease and our reputation could be damaged. Our inability to attract or
adequately manage Resellers could materially and adversely affect our business,
results of operations and financial condition. Please see "Business--Marketing
Alliances" for a more detailed description of our Reseller and other third-party
relationships.
 
Our success depends on the widespread acceptance and use of the Internet.
 
    Because we are in the business of providing online interactive marketing
solutions, our success is directly tied to the widespread acceptance and
continued use of the Internet. However, the Internet may not be accepted as a
viable commercial medium for a number of reasons, including the potentially
inadequate development of the Internet's infrastructure. Even if the Internet
gains widespread acceptance and continued use, such acceptance and use may
decrease rapidly if, in the future, the Internet's infrastructure cannot support
the demands that users place upon it, or if significant governmental regulation
is imposed on the Internet. If use of the Internet does not grow as expected,
our business, results of operations and financial condition would be materially
and adversely affected. Also, if the Internet's current infrastructure or the
technical standards and protocols that support such infrastructure change or are
replaced by new technical standards and protocols, we may need to incur
substantial costs to adapt our current solutions.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
We depend on cookie technology for ad targeting.
 
    Our software, including our Global Profile Service software, uses "cookies"
to deliver targeted advertising, to help compile demographic information, and to
limit the frequency with which an advertisement is shown to a particular
Internet user. Cookies are small files of information about an Internet user's
movement through the Internet that are stored on the hard drive of the user's
computer. The cookie information is passed to the Web site through the Internet
user's browser software. Cookies are often placed on the user's hard drive
without the user's knowledge or consent, although users can often disable the
cookie functions of their Internet browser software.
 
    Some Internet commentators and advocates and some governmental bodies
concerned with the privacy of Internet users have suggested limiting or
eliminating the use of cookies. These have led to legal and technical
limitations on the use of cookies. For example, the European Union has recently
adopted a directive addressing data privacy that may result in limitations on
the collection and use of certain information regarding Internet users. Also,
Germany has imposed its own laws limiting the use of cookies and other countries
may also place similar limitations.
 
    If legal or technological restrictions impose any significant reduction or
limitation on the use or effectiveness of cookies, we would likely have to
switch to other technology that allows the gathering of information for ad
targeting. This could require significant reengineering time and resources,
might not be done in time to avoid negative consequences to our business,
results of operations or financial condition, and might not be possible at all.
 
Our business is subject to governmental regulations and to legal uncertainties.
 
    CURRENT AND FUTURE LAWS MAY AFFECT ONLINE BUSINESSES. Due to concerns
arising from the increasing popularity and use of the Web, a number of laws and
regulations have been and may be adopted covering issues such as user privacy,
pricing, acceptable content, taxation and quality of products and services. Such
legislation could dampen the growth in use of the Internet generally and
decrease the acceptance of the Internet as a communications and commercial
medium. Further, due to the global nature of the Internet, it is possible that
multiple federal, state or foreign jurisdictions might attempt to concurrently
and inconsistently regulate the transmissions of our customers or levy sales or
other taxes relating to our activities. Moreover, the applicability to the
Internet of existing laws governing issues such as property ownership, libel and
personal privacy is uncertain. Any of the foregoing developments could have a
material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial
condition.
 
    CERTAIN ISP AND OSP ACCESS FEES HAVE BEEN PROPOSED AND MAY BE IMPOSED.
Because the growing popularity and use of the Web has burdened the existing
telecommunications infrastructure, many areas with high Web use have begun to
experience interruptions in phone service. Certain local telephone carriers have
petitioned governmental bodies to regulate Internet service providers ("ISPs")
and online service providers ("OSPs") in a manner similar to long distance
telephone carriers and to impose access fees on ISPs and OSPs. If any of these
petitions or the relief sought therein is granted, the costs of communicating on
the Web could increase substantially, potentially negatively affecting the
growth in use of the Web which could in turn decrease the demand for our
products and services.
 
We may be unable to adequately protect our customers' information.
 
    We have included basic security features in certain of our products and
services that are intended to protect the privacy and integrity of data
collected from our customers. However, in our AdServer product, passwords for
certain operations are not encrypted and therefore are susceptible to hacker
interception, break-ins and disruption. Such computer break-ins and other
disruptions may jeopardize the security of information stored in and transmitted
through the computer systems of our customers. If such computer break-ins or
other disruptions were to happen to our current products or to any of our future
products, we might be subject to lawsuits by the affected customers, harm to our
reputation among our current and potential customers, and significant
expenditures of our capital and other resources.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
We face the risks of product defects and product liability claims.
 
    OUR BUSINESS WILL BE HARMED IF OUR SOFTWARE CONTAINS SIGNIFICANT BUGS.
Software products as complex as ours frequently contain errors, defects or
performance problems (commonly called "bugs"), especially when they are first
introduced or when new versions or enhancements are released. Although we test
our products extensively prior to introduction, in the past our products have
contained software errors that were not discovered until after commercial
introduction. For example, AdServer 3.0, although functional when released, had
a number of software errors that affected the product's performance, reliability
and compatibility with certain operating environments. We had to devote
significant customer support resources to address these errors. We cannot assure
you that our testing (which includes customer beta testing) will detect all
serious defects, errors and performance problems prior to commercial release of
our future software products. Any future software defects, errors or performance
problems discovered after commercial release could result in the diversion of
scarce resources away from customer service and product development, lost
revenues or delays in customer acceptance of our products and damage to our
reputation, which, in each case, could have a material and adverse effect on our
business, results of operations or financial condition. Our customers and
potential customers may be particularly sensitive to any such defects, errors or
performance problems given that a failure of a Web site's advertising management
and delivery system often immediately and directly results in lost or reduced
advertising revenue during such failure.
 
    IF OUR PRODUCTS MALFUNCTION OR SUFFER FROM DESIGN DEFECTS, WE MAY BE SUBJECT
TO PRODUCT LIABILITY CLAIMS. Although our license agreements with our customers
typically contain provisions designed to limit our exposure to liabilities
arising from product liability claims, we cannot assure you that these
provisions will be enforceable under existing or future international, federal,
state or local laws and judicial decisions. We have not experienced any product
liability claims to date, but we may be subject to such claims in the future. A
product liability claim brought against us could have a material and adverse
effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.
 
We may be unable to protect our proprietary rights in our products.
 
    IT IS DIFFICULT FOR US TO PREVENT THE MISAPPROPRIATION OF OUR INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY. Policing unauthorized use of our products is difficult, particularly
because the global nature of the Internet makes it hard to control the ultimate
destination or security of software or other data transmitted. The laws of other
countries may afford little or no effective protection of our technology. We
cannot assure you that the steps taken by us will prevent misappropriation of
our technology or that agreements entered into for that purpose will be
enforceable. In addition, litigation may be necessary in the future to enforce
our intellectual property rights, to protect our trade secrets, to determine the
validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others, or to defend against
claims of infringement or invalidity. Such litigation, whether successful or
unsuccessful, could result in substantial costs and diversions of resources,
either of which could have a material and adverse effect on our business,
results of operations or financial condition.
 
    WE PROTECT OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY BY WAY OF SEVERAL LEGAL MEANS. The
success and competitiveness of our products depend in part upon our ability to
protect our current and future technology through a combination of trademark,
trade secret and copyright law. Because laws protecting certain ownership rights
in Internet-related industries are uncertain and still evolving, we cannot give
you any assurance about the future viability or value of any of our current
technology ownership rights.
 
    OUR SOURCE CODE MAY BE RELEASED TO OUR CUSTOMERS UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES. Under the general terms and conditions of our standard license
agreements with customers, we retain title to the trade secrets and copyrights
in the source code of our software products. However, some of our agreements
with our customers contain provisions requiring release of source code for
limited, non-exclusive use by the customer in the event that we cease to do
business or we fail to support our products. This release of source code may
increase the likelihood of misappropriation by third parties.
 
    WE PROTECT OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY BY ENTERING INTO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
AGREEMENTS WITH EMPLOYEES, CONSULTANTS AND VENDORS. We enter into
confidentiality and intellectual property assignment agreements with
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
our employees, consultants, and vendors and generally control access to and
distribution of our software, documentation and other proprietary information.
Notwithstanding these precautions, it may be possible for a third party to copy
or otherwise obtain and use our software or other proprietary information
without authorization or to develop similar software independently.
 
Our products may infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others.
 
    From time to time we have been, and expect to continue to be, subject to
claims of alleged infringement of the copyrights, trade secrets and other
intellectual property rights of third parties by us. In addition, other parties
may assert invalidity claims (or claims for indemnification resulting from
infringement claims) against us. Any such assertions or prosecutions might
materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial
condition. Although such claims have not resulted in litigation or had a
material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial
condition, such claims could subject us to significant liability for damages and
could result in invalidation of our proprietary rights and be time-consuming and
expensive to defend, and result in the diversion of management time and
attention. If any such claims or actions are asserted against us, we may seek to
obtain a license under a third party's intellectual property rights. We cannot
assure you, however, that under such circumstances, a license would be available
on reasonable terms or at all.
 
We face Year 2000 risks.
 
    We are aware that many currently installed information technology ("IT")
systems, such as computer systems and software products, as well as non-IT
systems that include embedded technology, were not designed to correctly process
dates after December 31, 1999. We are currently assessing the impact of this
issue, commonly referred to as the "Year 2000" issue, on our business and
operations. We cannot assure you that we will be able to identify and accurately
evaluate all Year 2000 issues that we face.
 
    In September 1998, we released version 3.5 of our AdServer product which
included enhancements designed to correctly accept and process 21st century
dates and, as a result, we now believe that the current versions of our AdServer
family of software products are Year 2000 compliant. However, given the
complexity of software systems such as AdServer and the need for them to
interoperate with other systems, we cannot assure you that our products will not
experience Year 2000 problems in the future. Any such Year 2000 issues could
result in:
 
    - a decrease in sales of our products;
 
    - deferral of revenue recognition on contracts in which we have warranted
      (or may in the future warrant) compliance with Year 2000 requirements;
 
    - an increase in the allocation of resources to address Year 2000 problems
      of our customers without additional revenue commensurate with such
      dedicated resources; or
 
    - an increase in litigation costs relating to losses suffered by our
      customers due to Year 2000 problems.
 
    In addition, we have determined that certain of our software IT systems are
not currently Year 2000 compliant. We believe that our software IT systems will
become compliant through updates and upgrades purchased in the ordinary course
of business for reasons unrelated to Year 2000.
 
    As we review our non-IT systems, we may identify situations that present
material Year 2000 risks or that will require substantial time and material
expense to address. In addition, if our customers or our potential customers are
required to expend significant resources to address their Year 2000 issues (or
if they fail to appropriately address such Year 2000 issues), our business,
results of operation and financial condition could be adversely affected due to
resulting changes in purchasing patterns.
 
    Our Year 2000 compliance efforts related to AdServer consumed significant
software engineering resources that would otherwise have been devoted to product
development efforts. To the extent that significant additional software
engineering resources are required to address other Year 2000 issues that may be
discovered, our product development efforts may be significantly hampered which,
in turn, could have a
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of
operations. For more information, please see the section of this prospectus
entitled "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations--Year 2000 Compliance."
 
Our corporate governance structure may delay or prevent our acquisition by
  another company.
 
    Our certificate of incorporation and by-laws and the Delaware General
Corporation Law include provisions that may be deemed to have anti-takeover
effects. These anti-takeover effects could delay or prevent a takeover attempt
that you or our other stockholders might consider in your or their best
interests.
 
    In addition, our board of directors is authorized to issue, without
obtaining stockholder approval, up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock and to
determine the price, rights, preferences and privileges of such shares without
any further stockholder action. The existence of this "blank-check" preferred
stock could make more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us
by means of a tender offer, merger, proxy contest or otherwise.
 
    In the future, we may adopt other measures that may have the effect of
delaying, deferring or preventing an unsolicited takeover, even if such a change
in control were at a premium price or favored by a majority of unaffiliated
stockholders. Certain of these measures may be adopted without any further vote
or action by the stockholders. For more information, please see the section of
this prospectus entitled "Description of Capital Stock."
 
We may require additional financing.
 
    We believe that, following the offering, our cash reserves and cash flows
from operations will be adequate to fund our operations for at least the next 12
months. Nevertheless, we may need to raise more money within the next 12 months
or thereafter. Our capital requirements depend on many factors, including, but
not limited to:
 
    - the rate at which we develop and introduce our products and services;
 
    - the market acceptance and competitive position of our products and
      services;
 
    - the level of promotion and advertising required to market our products and
      services and attain a competitive position in the marketplace; and
 
    - the response of competitors to our products and services.
 
    If we were to require additional funding, such additional funding might not
be available on terms favorable to our stockholders or us or in sufficient
amounts. If additional funds are raised through the issuance of common stock,
such stock might be offered at a price lower than the fair market value of our
common stock at the time of the sale and would therefore reduce the value of the
common stock of our then current stockholders. Even if the value of our common
stock does not decrease, the percentage ownership of the then current
stockholders of the company will be reduced by the issuance of the new stock.
 
Certain current stockholders own a large percentage of our voting stock.
 
    Following the closing of this offering, our officers, directors and
affiliated entities together will beneficially own approximately 23.0% of our
outstanding common stock (22.2% if the underwriters' over-allotment option is
exercised in full). As a result, these stockholders may, as a practical matter,
be able to substantially influence all matters requiring stockholder approval
and, thereby, our management and affairs. Matters that typically require
stockholder approval include:
 
    - election of directors;
 
    - merger or consolidation; and
 
    - sale of all or substantially all of our assets.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
    This concentration of ownership may delay, deter or prevent acts that would
result in a change of control, which in turn could reduce the market price of
our common stock. Please see the section of this prospectus entitled "Principal
and Selling Stockholders" for a detailed description of the percentages of our
common stock owned by our officers, directors and affiliated entities.
 
This offering will benefit certain existing stockholders.
 
    The selling stockholders will receive substantial proceeds from selling
their shares of common stock in this offering. We will pay the offering expenses
of the selling stockholders in this offering, other than underwriting discounts
and commissions. After deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, the net
proceeds (at the public offering price of $31.50 per share) to the selling
stockholders, most of whom are our affiliates, will be approximately $25,646,487
after deducting underwriting fees of $1.7325 per share.
 
Our stock price is volatile.
 
    The market price of our common stock is highly volatile and may be subject
to significant fluctuations in response to actual or anticipated variations in
quarterly operating results and other factors, such as:
 
    - announcements of technological innovations;
 
    - sales of common stock following the expiration of legal or contractual
      transfer restrictions;
 
    - new products or new contracts by us or our competitors;
 
    - conditions and trends in the software and other technology industries;
 
    - adoption of new accounting standards affecting the software industry;
 
    - changes in earning estimates or recommendations by securities analysts;
      and
 
    - general market conditions.
 
    From the time of our initial public offering through March 29, 1999, the
closing price of our common stock reported on the Nasdaq National Market has
ranged from $6 7/8 to $32 15/16. In addition, the stock market in general, and
the market for technology-related stocks in particular, have experienced extreme
volatility that often has been unrelated to the operating performance of
particular companies. These broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely
affect the trading price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating
performance. We cannot assure you that the market price for our common stock
will not decline below the price of the common stock we are offering in this
prospectus. Please see the section of this prospectus entitled "Price Range of
Common Stock" for additional information about our stock price.
 
    In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a
particular company's stock, class action litigation has often been brought
against that company. We cannot assure you that we will not be the target of
such litigation in the future.
 
We do not expect to pay dividends.
 
    We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock. We
currently intend to retain any future earnings for funding growth and,
therefore, do not expect to pay any dividends in the foreseeable future. For
more information, please see the section of this prospectus entitled "Dividend
Policy."
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
    The net proceeds from the sale of the 3,218,440 shares of common stock
offered by us will be approximately $94.8 million (approximately $113.0 million
if the Underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full) at the public
offering price of $31.50 per share and after deducting the underwriting
discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by the
Company. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of common
stock by the selling stockholders.
 
    The primary purpose of this offering is to obtain additional working
capital. We expect to use the net proceeds of this offering for working capital
and other general corporate purposes and capital expenditures. In particular, we
intend to use a portion of the net proceeds to fund operating expenses related
to entering new markets for our products and services, increasing research and
development spending, increasing our sales and marketing operations, developing
new distribution channels, improving our operational and financial systems and
broadening our customer support capabilities. A portion of the net proceeds may
also be used for the acquisition of businesses, products and technologies that
complement ours. We have no present plans, agreements or commitments and are not
currently engaged in any negotiations with respect to any such transactions.
Pending such uses, we will invest the net proceeds of this offering in
investment-grade, interest-bearing securities. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Liquidity and Capital
Resources."
 
                                DIVIDEND POLICY
 
    We have never paid cash dividends on our capital stock. We currently expect
to retain our future earnings, if any, for use in the operation and expansion of
our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable
future. Our debt facilities contain restrictive covenants that limit our ability
to pay cash dividends or make stock repurchases without the prior written
consent of the lender. See Notes 3 and 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements.
 
                          PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK
 
    NetGravity's common stock began trading publicly on the Nasdaq National
Market on June 12, 1998 and is traded under the symbol "NETG." The following
table shows the high and low per share closing prices of the common stock, as
reported by the Nasdaq National Market for the periods indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                High        Low
                                                                              ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                           <C>        <C>
1998
  Second Quarter (Beginning June 12, 1998)..................................     14 1/8      9 3/4
  Third Quarter.............................................................         27      7 3/4
  Fourth Quarter............................................................         26      6 7/8
 
1999
  First Quarter (Through March 29, 1999)....................................   32 15/16    15 7/16
</TABLE>
 
    On March 29, 1999, the closing price of the common stock on the Nasdaq
National Market was $32 1/4 per share, and there were approximately 229 holders
of record of the common stock.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
    The following table sets forth NetGravity's capitalization as of December
31, 1998, (i) on an actual basis and (ii) as adjusted to reflect our sale of
3,218,440 shares of common stock offered hereby at the public offering price of
$31.50 per share and our application of the estimated net proceeds therefrom,
after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering
expenses. See "Use of Proceeds." The capitalization information set forth in the
table below is qualified by the more detailed Consolidated Financial Statements
and Notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus and should be read in
conjunction with such Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             December 31, 1998
                                                                                         -------------------------
                                                                                          Actual    As Adjusted(1)
                                                                                         ---------  --------------
                                                                                              (in thousands)
<S>                                                                                      <C>        <C>
Cash, cash equivalents and short term investments......................................  $  20,799   $    115,604
                                                                                         ---------  --------------
                                                                                         ---------  --------------
Notes payable, less current portion....................................................      1,109          1,109
Stockholder's equity:
  Convertible preferred stock; $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; none
   issued and outstanding as of December 31, 1998, actual and as adjusted..............     --            --
  Common stock, $0.001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized, 13,589,894 shares
   issued and outstanding, actual; 50,000,000 shares authorized, 16,808,334 shares
   issued and outstanding, as adjusted.................................................         14             16
Additional paid-in capital.............................................................     46,817        141,620
Deferred stock compensation............................................................     (1,706)        (1,706)
Accumulated deficit....................................................................    (22,997)       (22,997)
                                                                                         ---------  --------------
    Total stockholders' equity.........................................................     22,128        116,933
                                                                                         ---------  --------------
      Total capitalization.............................................................  $  23,237   $    118,042
                                                                                         ---------  --------------
                                                                                         ---------  --------------
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 
(1) Assumes no exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option and excludes
    as of December 31, 1998, (i) 1,990,908 shares of common stock issuable upon
    exercise of outstanding options at a weighted average exercise price of
    $4.21 per share and (ii) an aggregate of 2,050,381 shares available for
    future issuance under our 1998 Stock Plan, 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
    and 1998 Director Option Plan. New investors will be further diluted if any
    shares of common stock are issued upon exercise of currently outstanding
    options or other rights, are granted in the future or are reserved for
    future issuance under our stock plans. See "Management--Employee Benefit
    Plans" and Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
                      SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
 
    The selected consolidated financial data presented below for each of the
years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1998, and as of December 31,
1997 and 1998, are derived from the consolidated financial statements of
NetGravity, Inc. and its subsidiaries, which consolidated financial statements
have been audited by KPMG LLP, independent certified public accountants, and are
included elsewhere in this prospectus. The consolidated statement of operations
data for the period from September 5, 1995 (inception) through December 31,
1995, and the consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 1995 and 1996
are derived from audited consolidated financial statements of the Company that
are not included herein. The selected consolidated financial data set forth
below is qualified in its entirety by, and should be read in conjunction with,
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" and the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included
elsewhere in this prospectus.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     Period from
                                                                  September 5, 1995      Year Ended December 31,
                                                                   (inception) to    -------------------------------
                                                                  December 31, 1995    1996       1997       1998
                                                                  -----------------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                               <C>                <C>        <C>        <C>
                                                                        (in thousands, except per share data)
Consolidated Statement of Operations Data:
Revenues:
  Software licenses.............................................      $      --      $   1,262  $   2,901  $   4,115
  Software upgrades.............................................             --            107      1,123      2,394
  Consulting and support........................................             --            570      2,334      4,637
  Transactional services........................................             --             --         --        411
                                                                         ------      ---------  ---------  ---------
    Total revenues..............................................             --          1,939      6,358     11,557
                                                                         ------      ---------  ---------  ---------
Cost of revenues:
  Cost of software licenses.....................................             --             --         76         63
  Cost of consulting and support................................             --            702      2,496      4,521
  Cost of transactional services................................             --             --         --        644
                                                                         ------      ---------  ---------  ---------
    Total cost of revenues......................................             --            702      2,572      5,228
                                                                         ------      ---------  ---------  ---------
    Gross profit................................................             --          1,237      3,786      6,329
Operating costs and expenses:
  Research and development......................................             39          1,764      3,033      4,639
  Selling and marketing.........................................             21          2,839      6,073     10,351
  General and adminstrative.....................................            131          1,315      1,552      3,172
                                                                         ------      ---------  ---------  ---------
    Total operating costs and expenses..........................            191          5,918     10,658     18,162
                                                                         ------      ---------  ---------  ---------
    Loss from operations........................................           (191)        (4,681)    (6,872)   (11,833)
Other income (expense), net.....................................             (4)            54        (10)       540
                                                                         ------      ---------  ---------  ---------
    Net loss....................................................      $    (195)     $  (4,627) $  (6,882) $ (11,293)
                                                                         ------      ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                         ------      ---------  ---------  ---------
Basic and diluted net loss per share............................      $   (0.19)     $   (2.19) $   (2.46) $   (1.28)
Shares used in per share calculation(1).........................          1,006          2,111      2,799      8,823
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        December 31,
                                                                         ------------------------------------------
                                                                           1995       1996       1997       1998
                                                                         ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                      <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
  Working capital (deficit)............................................  $     (69) $    (221) $   2,222  $  17,705
  Total assets.........................................................        486      3,159      9,887     33,420
  Notes payable, less current portion..................................         --        682        727      1,109
  Accumulated deficit..................................................       (195)    (4,822)   (11,704)   (22,997)
  Total stockholders' equity (deficit).................................        (12)      (164)     2,851     22,128
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 
(1) See Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
                      MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
                OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
    THE FOLLOWING MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF THE FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS OF THE COMPANY CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS RELATING TO THE FUTURE EVENTS OR THE FUTURE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF
THE COMPANY, WHICH INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES. THE COMPANY'S ACTUAL RESULTS
COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE ANTICIPATED IN THESE FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS AS A RESULT OF CERTAIN FACTORS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE
SET FORTH UNDER "RISK FACTORS," "BUSINESS" AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS.
 
Overview
 
    NetGravity, Inc. is a leading provider of online interactive marketing
solutions. The Company develops, markets and supports a broad range of high-end,
mission-critical software and transaction-based services. Our solutions are
designed to help the Company's customers increase their revenues by automating
online interactive marketing and by improving response rates through better
consumer targeting. The Company sells its solutions to each of the three
constituents in the interactive marketing supply chain: e-commerce merchants
(vendors of products and services); advertising agencies; and content
publishers.
 
    From inception (September 5, 1995) to December 31, 1995, the Company was in
the development stage, and its activities primarily related to raising capital,
recruiting personnel, conducting research and development activities, purchasing
operating assets and building the NetGravity brand. From January 1996 through
December 31, 1998, the Company began shipping products, built a consulting and
support organization, continued investing in research and development, built
domestic and international sales organizations, established its AdCenter service
bureau, expanded its marketing activities and developed its operational and
financial infrastructure.
 
    To date, the Company has generated its revenues primarily from the license
and related upgrade of, consulting for and support of its AdServer family of
software products. In March 1996, the Company initially released and made
generally available AdServer 1.0. Subsequently, the Company has had two major
releases of its AdServer products: AdServer 2.0 in October 1996 and AdServer 3.0
in June 1997. Revenues from software licenses in any given period are generally
attributable to the sale of the most recent version of the Company's products,
and the Company generally discontinues marketing older versions upon new version
introductions. The Company believes that its current AdServer family of software
products and software products in development, together with the related
consulting and support services, will continue to account for a substantial
majority of its revenues for the foreseeable future.
 
    In August 1998, the Company formally launched its transactional services
business with the introduction of AdCenter for Publishers, an outsourced version
of AdServer. In October 1998, the Company announced the Global Profile Service,
which is a database of anonymous consumer profiles that the Company makes
available to its customers for use in enhanced targeting. Revenues from AdCenter
and Global Profile Service are included within the line-item "transactional
services." To date, transactional services revenues have not been material.
 
    The Company records an account receivable and deferred revenue upon shipment
and invoicing of a software license to a customer. The Company recognizes
software license revenue upon completion of the product installation. The
Company's management has generally determined that installation occurs at the
point in time at which the customers begin "serving ads" by utilizing the
Company's products. This methodology has been applied consistently for all
software license revenue since the inception of the Company. A portion of the
initial software product license fee is attributed to the customer's right to
receive, at no additional charge, software upgrades released during the
subsequent twelve months. Revenues attributable to software upgrades are
deferred and recognized ratably over the period covered by the software license
agreement, which is generally one year. Revenue from consulting services are
recognized as the services are performed. Customer support revenue is deferred
and recognized ratably over the period covered by the customer support
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
agreement, which is generally one year. Transactional services revenue is
recognized as the services are rendered. In October 1997, the American Institute
of Certified Public Accountants issued Statement of Position ("SOP") No. 97-2,
Software Revenue Recognition, which the Company adopted, effective January 1,
1998. Such adoption had no material effect on the Company's methods of
recognizing revenue from its software licenses, software upgrades, and
consulting and support activities. See Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements.
 
    Pricing for AdServer products is based on the number of copies licensed to
the customer, scaled to provide discounts based on the overall size of the
system being licensed. Initial license sales include a one-year subscription
entitling the licensee to free upgrades of major releases of the product. The
software upgrade revenue is broken out separately for every license in
accordance with SOP 97-2, based on vendor-specific objective evidence for the
upgrade element, and the revenue allocated to the upgrade element is recognized
over the agreement term. For subsequent years, customers may subscribe on an
annual basis for the right to receive major product upgrades. The cost to
subscribe to the upgrade program is based on a percentage of the list price of
software the customer has licensed. Annual support contracts, which are
generally purchased in conjunction with the licensing of a product, are sold
separately from the initial license for a fee, which is also based on a
percentage of the list price of the software. Support packages typically include
non-major product releases, online support and telephone support. Consulting
revenues consist of implementation services and training. Consulting is charged
at a per diem rate or on a fixed fee basis for a package of services.
 
    AdCenter for Publishers pricing is based on the number of advertisements,
promotions or other offers delivered. Pricing for the sales of the initial
release of Global Profile Service (which currently includes only geographic
targeting) is based on the expected annual volume of profiles to be delivered to
the customer. The Company expects that pricing for future versions of Global
Profile Service will be based on the actual number of profiles delivered to
customers.
 
    The Company licenses and sells its products and services primarily through
its direct sales force and telesales organizations and maintains sales and
support organizations in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. See Note 7 of
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company does not currently sell
its transactional services to international customers. Indirect sales channels,
including resellers and Web hosting providers, also sell the Company's products.
Indirect channels generally provide less revenue per license to the Company
since the channel partner usually receives discounts. Through December 31, 1998,
revenues through indirect channels were not material.
 
    The Company currently invoices its European customers in local currencies
and its customers in Asia Pacific in U.S. currency. The Company expects to
eventually invoice all of its international customers in local currencies.
Although the Company pays certain of the expenses of its European and Asia
Pacific operations in local currencies, the Company has not engaged in foreign
currency hedging activities, and international revenues are currently subject to
fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Historically, fluctuations in foreign
currency exchange rates have not had a material effect on the Company's revenues
or expenses. However, to the extent that international revenues increase as a
percentage of total revenues in the future, exposure to foreign currency
fluctuations may also increase.
 
    The Company's business has grown from inception through December 31, 1998,
with total revenues of $1.9 million, $6.4 million and $11.6 million for the
years ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. However, the Company
has experienced net losses over this entire period, and as of December 31, 1998
had an accumulated deficit of $23.0 million. The Company's loss from operations
and net loss were each $6.9 million for the year ended December 31, 1997 and
$11.8 million and $11.3 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31,
1998. Loss from operations exceeded total revenues in each of these periods.
These losses resulted from significant costs incurred in the development,
marketing and support of the Company's products and services. During this
period, the number of Company employees increased from 10 at December 31, 1995
to 125 at December 31, 1998. The Company currently expects to expand its
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
sales and marketing operations, to continue international expansion, to increase
its investment in product development, to further expand its transactional
services infrastructure and offerings, to further expand its consulting and
support organizations and to improve its internal operating and financial
infrastructure in support of the Company's business plan, all of which will
increase operating expenses. As a result, the Company expects to incur
additional losses and continued negative cash flow from operations for the
foreseeable future. In particular, as a result of recent and pending significant
expenditures to expand the Company's transactional services, such losses are
anticipated to increase significantly during the first half of 1999.
 
    The Company has recorded deferred stock compensation of $1.8 million for the
year ended December 31, 1997 and $1.4 million for the year ended December 31,
1998 as a result of stock options granted during 1997 and 1998. Amortization of
deferred stock compensation of approximately $115,000 was recognized in 1997,
$1.4 million was recognized in 1998 and approximately $965,000 is expected to be
recognized in 1999. Amortization of deferred stock compensation is allocated to
costs of consulting and support and to all operating expense lines identified on
the statement of operations. Deferred stock compensation is amortized over the
vesting period of the options, generally four years. As a result, amortization
of deferred stock compensation will adversely impact the Company's operating
results for the next four years.
 
    The Company believes that period-to-period comparisons of its operating
results are not meaningful and should not be relied upon as predictive of future
performance. The Company's prospects must be considered in light of the risks,
expenses and difficulties frequently encountered by companies in the early stage
of development, particularly companies in new and rapidly evolving markets.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in addressing such
risks and difficulties. In addition, although NetGravity has experienced
significant revenue growth recently, there can be no assurance that the Company
will increase or even sustain its current level of revenues or that the Company
will achieve profitability in the future. See "Risk Factors--We have a limited
operating history," "--We have incurred substantial losses and anticipate
continued losses," "--Our future operating results are uncertain and are likely
to fluctuate significantly" and "--We have to effectively manage our growth."
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
Results of Operations
 
    The following table sets forth consolidated statement of operations data for
the periods indicated as a percentage of total revenue:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              Year Ended December 31,
                                                                          -------------------------------
                                                                            1996       1997       1998
                                                                          ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                       <C>        <C>        <C>
Revenues:
  Software licenses.....................................................       65.1%      45.6%      35.6%
  Software upgrades.....................................................        5.5       17.7       20.7
  Consulting and support................................................       29.4       36.7       40.1
  Transactional services................................................         --         --        3.6
                                                                          ---------  ---------  ---------
    Total revenues......................................................      100.0      100.0      100.0
                                                                          ---------  ---------  ---------
 
Cost of revenues(1):
  Cost of software licenses(2)..........................................         --        1.2        0.5
  Cost of consulting and support(3).....................................       36.2       39.3       39.1
  Cost of transactional services(4).....................................         --         --        5.6
                                                                          ---------  ---------  ---------
    Total cost of revenues..............................................       36.2       40.5       45.2
                                                                          ---------  ---------  ---------
    Gross margin........................................................       63.8       59.5       54.8
 
Operating costs and expenses:
  Research and development..............................................       91.0       47.7       40.1
  Selling and marketing.................................................      146.4       95.5       89.6
  General and administrative............................................       67.8       24.4       27.4
                                                                          ---------  ---------  ---------
    Total operating costs and expenses..................................      305.2      167.6      157.2
                                                                          ---------  ---------  ---------
    Loss from operations................................................     (241.4)    (108.1)    (102.4)
Other income (expense), net.............................................        2.8       (0.2)       4.7
                                                                          ---------  ---------  ---------
    Net loss............................................................     (238.6)%    (108.2)%     (97.7)%
                                                                          ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                          ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
(1) There are no material costs of revenues associated with software upgrades.
 
(2) As a percentage of software license revenues, cost of software licenses was
    0.0%, 2.6% and 1.5% in the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998,
    respectively.
 
(3) As a percentage of consulting and support revenues, cost of consulting and
    support was 123.2%, 106.9% and 97.5% in the years ended December 31, 1996,
    1997 and 1998, respectively.
 
(4) As a percentage of transactional services revenues, cost of transactional
    services was 0.0%, 0.0% and 156.7% in the years ended December 31, 1996,
    1997 and 1998, respectively.
 
    REVENUES
 
    The Company's total revenues grew 228% from 1996 to 1997 and 82% from 1997
to 1998. Total revenues for 1996, 1997 and 1998 were $1.9 million, $6.4 million
and $11.6 million, respectively. In general, NetGravity has experienced revenue
growth in all of its revenue sources as a result of an increased number of
software licenses, increased average deal sizes and the introduction of new
services. International revenues, primarily comprised of exported AdServer
products and related services, as a percentage of total revenues were 0% in
1996, 8% in 1997 and 28% in 1998. Growth in international revenues in all
periods was attributable to expanded sales and marketing efforts overseas and
the opening of a European regional office in April 1997 and a regional office in
the Asia Pacific region in April 1998. The Company does not currently sell its
transactional services to international services. In North America, revenues
grew 215% from 1996 to 1997 and 35% from 1997 to 1998. No customer, domestic or
international, accounted for more than 10% of total revenues in the years ended
1996, 1997 or 1998. The approximate number of NetGravity's AdServer customers
was 70, 190 and 295 at December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. In
addition, at December 31, 1998 the Company had 39 AdCenter for Publishers
customers and seven of its customers had purchased Global Profile Services.
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
    SOFTWARE LICENSES.  Software licenses revenues for 1996, 1997 and 1998 were
$1.3 million, $2.9 million and $4.1 million, or 65.1%, 45.6%, and 35.6% of total
revenues, respectively. Software licenses revenues increased in absolute dollars
but decreased as a percentage of total revenues in all periods. The increase in
absolute dollars was primarily attributable to an increased number of software
licenses sold, the introduction of new versions of AdServer and an increase in
average deal sizes. The decrease in each period as a percentage of total
revenues was primarily a result of increased demand for consulting services, the
increased number of customers participating in software upgrade and support
plans and the revenues associated with the introduction of transactional
services in North America in the second quarter of 1998. Because software
upgrades revenues and consulting and support revenues are, to a large extent, a
function of software licenses revenues, the Company's future operating results
will be substantially dependent on growth of software licenses revenues, and the
failure to increase software licenses revenues would likely have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial
condition.
 
    SOFTWARE UPGRADES.  Software upgrades revenues for 1996, 1997 and 1998 were
$107,000, $1.1 million and $2.4 million, or 5.5%, 17.7% and 20.7% of total
revenues, respectively. The increase in each period was a result of software
upgrades being provided to a larger installed customer base, which more than
offset a reduction in the software upgrades pricing from 45% to 25% of the list
price of the related software license made in the last half of 1997, and a
further reduction to 20% of the list price of the related software license made
in the second quarter of 1998.
 
    CONSULTING AND SUPPORT.  Consulting and support revenues include revenues
related to the Company's consulting, support and training services. Consulting
and support revenues for 1996, 1997 and 1998 were $572,000, $2.3 million and
$4.6 million, or 29.4%, 36.7% and 40.1% of total revenues, respectively. The
increase in each period was primarily a result of the increased demand for
consulting services, increased offerings in consulting and education, expansion
into Europe and Asia, the larger installed customer base and the election of
customers to renew their support program. Consulting and training services
contributed $251,000, $1.2 million and $2.2 million in 1996, 1997 and 1998,
respectively.
 
    TRANSACTIONAL SERVICES.  The Company's transactional services were
introduced in 1998 with the formal release of AdCenter for Publishers during the
third quarter of 1998 and Global Profile Services in the fourth quarter of 1998.
Transactional services revenues were $411,000 in 1998, or 3.6% of total
revenues.
 
    COST OF REVENUES
 
    Gross margins decreased from 63.8% in 1996 to 59.5% in 1997 and to 54.8% in
1998, primarily as a result of the increase in consulting and support revenues
as a percentage of total revenues and the increased staffing levels in
consulting and support and, in 1998, the transactional services organization.
The impact of these factors was offset in part by the increase in software
upgrades as a percentage of revenues, as the costs of software upgrade revenues
is not material.
 
    COST OF SOFTWARE LICENSES.  Cost of software licenses consists of royalties
paid to third parties for licensed technology. Cost of software licenses for
1996, 1997 and 1998 was $0, $76,000 and $63,000, respectively. As a percentage
of software licenses revenues, cost of software licenses was 0.0%, 2.6% and 1.5%
in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. The Company expects cost of software
licenses to increase in future periods due to costs of additional technology
licensed for future products.
 
    COST OF CONSULTING AND SUPPORT.  Cost of consulting and support consists
primarily of personnel-related costs incurred in providing consulting, support
and training to customers. The cost of consulting and support for 1996, 1997 and
1998 was $702,000, $2.5 million and $4.5 million, respectively. The increase in
each period was primarily due to an increase in personnel and related overhead,
as the Company increased staff to meet customer demand, and increased outside
services and travel costs associated with the increased volume of service
provided by the consulting and support organizations. Personnel and related
overhead accounted for $511,000, $2.0 million and $3.6 million of cost of
consulting and support in 1996, 1997 and 1998,
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
respectively. Outside services accounted for $105,000, $226,000 and $455,000 of
cost of consulting and support in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. Travel
costs accounted for $86,000, $300,000 and $291,000 of cost of consulting and
support in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. The Company expects that the cost
of consulting and support will continue to increase in absolute dollar amounts
in future periods as the Company continues to hire additional consulting,
training and customer support personnel. Cost of consulting and support as a
percentage of consulting and support revenues decreased from 123.2% in 1996 to
106.9% in 1997 and to 97.5% in 1998, primarily due to better utilization of
consulting and support personnel associated with an increased customer base.
 
    COST OF TRANSACTIONAL SERVICES.  The cost of transactional services consists
primarily of the personnel and related expenses, the hosting and bandwidth costs
and the amortization of intangibles associated with the AdCenter and Global
Profile Services offerings. The cost of transactional services in 1998 was
$644,000. There were no costs of transactional services prior to 1998. In 1998,
personnel and related expenses represented $128,000, hosting and bandwidth costs
represented $251,000 and the amortization of intangible assets represented
$222,000. The Company expects the cost of transactional services to continue to
increase in absolute dollars in future periods as the Company continues to hire
additional personnel and to serve increased volumes through its service bureau.
Cost of transactional services as a percentage of transactional services
revenues was 156.7% in 1998.
 
    Gross margins may be impacted by the mix of products sold by the Company,
the mix of software licenses revenues, software upgrades revenues, consulting
and support revenues and transactional services revenues, the mix of
international and North American revenues, the mix of distribution channels used
by the Company, and the level of royalty payments, amortization charges and
other costs related to the acquisition of technology or other intangible assets.
The Company typically realizes higher gross margins on software upgrades
revenues than on software licenses revenues, substantially higher gross margins
on software licenses revenues than on consulting and support revenues, and
higher gross margins on direct sales than on indirect sales. Shifts in the mix
of revenues towards lower margin revenues or a greater percentage of sales
through indirect channels would adversely impact the Company's overall gross
margin and could materially adversely impact the Company's operating results.
For example, when consulting and support revenues increased as a percentage of
total revenues from 36.7% for 1997 to 40.1% for 1998, overall gross margins fell
from 59.5% to 54.8%, in part due to this shift in the mix of revenues. There can
be no assurance that such adverse fluctuations in the mix of revenue or costs of
revenues will not recur in the future. Moreover, the Company expects that
increases in costs of transactional services will materially and adversely
impact overall gross margins for the foreseeable future.
 
    OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES
 
    RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.  Research and development expenses consist
primarily of compensation and consulting expenses and depreciation expense on
related equipment. To date, the Company has not capitalized any such development
costs under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 86 because
the Company believes its process for developing software is essentially
completed concurrent with the establishment of technological feasibility; all
research and development costs have been expensed as incurred. Research and
development expenses of $3.0 million in 1997 represented a 67% increase from the
$1.8 million in expenses in 1996. Research and development expenses of $4.6
million in 1998 represented a 53% increase from the $3.0 million in expenses in
1997. The increase in absolute dollars in all periods was primarily due to
increased personnel and related overhead and, to a lesser extent, outside
services associated with enhancements of existing products and development of
new products. Personnel and related overhead accounted for $1.6 million, $2.7
million and $3.9 million of research and development expenses in 1996, 1997 and
1998, respectively. Outside services accounted for $62,000, $240,000 and
$345,000 of research and development expenses in 1996, 1997 and 1998,
respectively. Research and development costs decreased as a percentage of total
revenues from 91.0% and 47.7% in 1996 and 1997, respectively, to 40.1% in 1998.
The
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
Company believes that continued investment in research and development is
critical to attaining its strategic objectives and, as a result, expects
research and development expenses to increase in absolute dollars in future
periods.
 
    SELLING AND MARKETING.  Selling and marketing expenses consist primarily of
salaries, commissions, travel expenses, advertising expenses, trade show
expenses, seminars and costs of marketing materials. Selling and marketing
expenses of $6.1 million in 1997 represented a 114% increase from the $2.8
million in expenses in 1996. Selling and marketing expenses of $6.1 million in
1997 represented a 70% increase from $10.4 million in 1998. The increase in
absolute dollars in each period was due primarily to the increase in
compensation paid to sales and marketing personnel (including commissions) and
related overhead, and increased travel costs associated with the Company's
direct selling efforts. Compensation paid to selling and marketing personnel and
related overhead accounted for $1.6 million, $4.1 million and $7.0 million of
selling and marketing expenses in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. Travel
costs accounted for $189,000, $761,000 and $1.3 million of selling and marketing
expenses in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. The balance of selling and
marketing expenses during all periods consisted primarily of costs of
development and implementation of the Company's marketing campaign (including
general brand promotion) and did not vary significantly between comparable
periods. Selling and marketing expenses as a percentage of total revenues were
146.4%, 95.5% and 89.6% in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. The Company
expects selling and marketing expenses to increase in absolute dollars in future
periods as the Company hires additional personnel, promotes AdCenter for
Publishers, Global Profile Service and other new products, expands into new
markets and continues to promote the NetGravity brand.
 
    GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE.  General and administrative expenses consist
primarily of salaries and related costs for the Company's executive,
administrative, finance and human resources personnel, support services and
professional services fees. General and administrative expenses increased from
$1.3 million in 1996 to $1.6 million in 1997 and to $3.2 million in 1998. The
increase in absolute dollars in each period was primarily a result of increased
personnel and related overhead necessary to support the Company's increased
scale of operations, including the additional costs associated with the
requirements of becoming a publicly traded company in June 1998. Personnel and
related overhead accounted for $624,000, $1.1 million and $1.8 million of
general and administrative expenses in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively.
General and administrative expenses increased as a percentage of total revenues
from 24.4% in 1997 to 27.4% in 1998. The increase as a percentage of total
revenues was primarily a result of the increased staffing and costs related to
the Company's expanded operation, and the requirements of being a public
company. General and administrative expenses decreased as a percentage of total
revenues from 67.8% in 1996 to 24.4% in 1997. The Company expects general and
administrative expenses to increase in absolute dollars in future periods as the
Company expands its management and staff, incurs additional costs related to
expansion of its operation and continues to incur the additional costs
associated with being a publicly traded company.
 
    OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE).  The increase in other income (expense) from net
expense of $10,000 in 1997 to net income of $540,000 in 1998 was primarily due
to the interest earned on the net proceeds from the Company's initial public
offering in June 1998.
 
    INCOME TAXES.  Deferred taxes are recognized as a result of temporary
differences that arise between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and the
related financial statement carrying amounts, as measured using the tax rates
that are expected to be in effect when the temporary differences reverse. During
1996, 1997 and 1998, the Company generated pre-tax losses of $4.7 million, $6.9
million and $11.3 million, respectively. The Company has approximately $9.3
million in deferred tax assets; however, it has not recognized any associated
income tax benefit because the deferred tax assets are fully reserved due to
uncertainties regarding the realization of the assets, given the lack of
earnings history for the Company. See Note 4 to Consolidated Financial
Statements.
 
    At December 31, 1998, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards for
U.S. federal and state income tax purposes of approximately $15.9 million. In
addition, the Company had U.S. federal and state
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
research and development credit carryforwards of approximately $318,000 and
$272,000, respectively, available to offset future tax liabilities. The
Company's U.S. federal net operating loss and research and development credit
carryforwards expire in the years 2010 through 2018, if not utilized. Federal
and state tax laws impose substantial restrictions on the utilization of net
operating loss and tax credit carryforwards in the event of an "ownership
change" as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended. The Company had such an ownership change, as defined, in March 1997.
Accordingly, $6.0 million of each of the Company's U.S. federal and state net
operating loss carryforwards are each limited in their annual usage to
approximately $700,000 per year. The Company has not yet determined whether any
ownership change, as defined, has occurred since 1997.
 
    As of December 31, 1998, NetGravity Europe Limited and NetGravity Asia
Pacific K.K. had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $2.7 million
and $900,000 in the United Kingdom and Japan, respectively. The United Kingdom
net operating loss carryforward can be carried forward indefinitely. The Japan
net operating loss will expire in the year 2003, if not utilized.
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
Quarterly Results of Operations
 
    The following table sets forth certain unaudited consolidated statement of
operations data for each of the eight quarters ended December 31, 1998, as well
as such data expressed as a percentage of the Company's total revenues for the
periods indicated. In the opinion of management, this information has been
prepared substantially on the same basis as the audited consolidated interim
financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus, and all necessary
adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, have been included
in the amounts stated below to present fairly the unaudited consolidated
quarterly results of operations data. The unaudited consolidated quarterly data
should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements
of the Company and the Notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. The
operating results for any quarter should not be considered indicative of results
of any future period.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          Three Months Ended
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Mar. 31      June 30      Sep. 30      Dec. 31      Mar. 31      June 30
                                                 1997        1997         1997         1997         1998         1998
                                              ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                                                       (in thousands, except as a percentage of total revenues)
<S>                                           <C>         <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
  Revenues:
    Software licenses.......................  $     710    $     665    $     824    $     702    $     775    $     877
    Software upgrades.......................        185          266          303          369          402          527
    Consulting and support..................        458          470          614          792          826          916
    Transactional services..................         --           --           --           --           --           12
                                              ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
      Total revenues........................      1,353        1,401        1,741        1,863        2,003        2,332
                                              ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
  Costs of revenues(1):
    Cost of software licenses...............          7           21            7           41           15           20
    Cost of consulting and support..........        240          513          728        1,015        1,158        1,073
    Cost of transactional services..........         --           --           --           --           --           19
                                              ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
      Total cost of revenues................        247          534          735        1,056        1,173        1,112
                                              ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
      Gross margin..........................      1,106          867        1,006          807          830        1,220
  Operating costs and expenses:
    Research and development................        678          782          677          896          996        1,063
    Selling and marketing...................      1,341        1,410        1,558        1,764        1,956        2,439
    General and adminstrative...............        241          353          310          648          708          754
                                              ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
      Total operating costs and expenses....      2,260        2,545        2,545        3,308        3,660        4,256
                                              ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
      Loss from operations..................     (1,154)      (1,678)      (1,539)      (2,501)      (2,830)      (3,036)
  Other income (expense), net...............         (6)          (8)         (27)          31           30           26
                                              ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
      Net loss..............................  $  (1,160)   $  (1,686)   $  (1,566)   $  (2,470)   $  (2,800)   $  (3,010)
                                              ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                                              ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
  Revenues:
    Software licenses.......................       52.5%        47.5%        47.3%        37.7%        38.7%        37.6%
    Software upgrades.......................       13.7         19.0         17.4         19.8         20.1         22.6
    Consulting and support..................       33.8         33.5         35.3         42.5         41.2         39.3
    Transactional services..................        0.0          0.0          0.0          0.0          0.0          0.5
                                              ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
      Total revenues........................      100.0        100.0        100.0        100.0        100.0        100.0
                                              ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
  Cost of revenues(1):
    Cost of software licenses(2)............        0.5          1.5          0.4          2.2          0.7          0.9
    Cost of consulting and support(3).......       17.7         36.6         41.8         54.5         57.8         46.0
    Cost of transactional services(4).......        0.0          0.0          0.0          0.0          0.0          0.8
                                              ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
      Total cost of revenues................       18.2         38.1         42.2         56.7         58.5         47.7
                                              ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
      Gross profit..........................       81.7         61.9         57.8         43.3         41.5         52.3
  Operating costs and expenses:
    Research and development................       50.1         55.8         38.9         48.1         49.7         45.6
    Selling and marketing...................       99.1        100.6         89.5         94.7         97.7        104.6
    General and administrative..............       17.8         25.2         17.8         34.8         35.3         32.3
                                              ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
      Total operating costs and expenses....      167.0        181.6        146.2        177.6        182.7        182.5
                                              ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
      Loss from operations..................      (85.3)      (119.7)       (88.4)      (134.3)      (141.2)      (130.2)
  Other income (expense), net...............       (0.4)        (0.6)        (1.6)         1.7          1.5          1.1
                                              ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
      Net loss..............................      (85.7)%     (120.3 )%      (90.0 )%     (132.6 )%     (139.7 )%     (129.1)%
                                              ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                                              ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                                Sep. 30      Dec. 31
                                                 1998         1998
                                              -----------  -----------
 
<S>                                           <C>          <C>
  Revenues:
    Software licenses.......................   $     956    $   1,507
    Software upgrades.......................         697          768
    Consulting and support..................       1,347        1,548
    Transactional services..................          59          340
                                              -----------  -----------
      Total revenues........................       3,059        4,163
                                              -----------  -----------
  Costs of revenues(1):
    Cost of software licenses...............           7           21
    Cost of consulting and support..........       1,114        1,176
    Cost of transactional services..........          93          532
                                              -----------  -----------
      Total cost of revenues................       1,214        1,729
                                              -----------  -----------
      Gross margin..........................       1,845        2,434
  Operating costs and expenses:
    Research and development................       1,298        1,282
    Selling and marketing...................       2,859        3,097
    General and adminstrative...............         794          916
                                              -----------  -----------
      Total operating costs and expenses....       4,951        5,295
                                              -----------  -----------
      Loss from operations..................      (3,106)      (2,861)
  Other income (expense), net...............         283          201
                                              -----------  -----------
      Net loss..............................   $  (2,823)   $  (2,660)
                                              -----------  -----------
                                              -----------  -----------
  Revenues:
    Software licenses.......................        31.3%        36.2%
    Software upgrades.......................        22.8         18.4
    Consulting and support..................        44.0         37.2
    Transactional services..................         1.9          8.2
                                              -----------  -----------
      Total revenues........................       100.0        100.0
                                              -----------  -----------
  Cost of revenues(1):
    Cost of software licenses(2)............         0.2          0.5
    Cost of consulting and support(3).......        36.4         28.2
    Cost of transactional services(4).......         3.0         12.8
                                              -----------  -----------
      Total cost of revenues................        39.6         41.5
                                              -----------  -----------
      Gross profit..........................        60.4         58.5
  Operating costs and expenses:
    Research and development................        42.4         30.8
    Selling and marketing...................        93.5         74.4
    General and administrative..............        26.0         22.0
                                              -----------  -----------
      Total operating costs and expenses....       161.9        127.2
                                              -----------  -----------
      Loss from operations..................      (101.5)       (68.7)
  Other income (expense), net...............         9.3          4.8
                                              -----------  -----------
      Net loss..............................       (92.2 )%      (63.9 )%
                                              -----------  -----------
                                              -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
(1) There are no material costs of revenues associated with software upgrades.
 
(2) As a percentage of software license revenues, costs of software licenses was
    1.0%, 3.2%, 0.8% and 5.8% chronologically as presented above in 1997, and
    1.9%, 2.3%, 0.7% and 1.4% chronologically as presented above in 1998.
 
(3) As a percentage of consulting and support revenues, cost of consulting and
    support was 52.4%, 109.1%, 118.6% and 128.2% chronologically as presented
    above in 1997, and 140.2%, 117.1%, 82.7% and 76.0% chronologically as
    presented above in 1998.
 
(4) As a percentage of transactional services revenues, cost of transactional
    services was 158.3%, 157.6% and 156.5% chronologically as presented above in
    the last three quarters of 1998.
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
    The Company's total revenues have increased in each quarter presented. The
increases have been generally due to increased acceptance of the Company's
AdServer family of products, expansion of the Company's direct sales force, the
introduction of AdServer Network in April 1997 and increased software upgrades
and customer services revenues as the installed customer base has grown. Total
costs of revenues have generally increased in absolute dollars over the quarters
presented due to the Company's increased staffing in customer support,
consulting, training and transactional services. Cost of revenues as a
percentage of total revenues increased in every quarter until the three months
ended March 31, 1998. Total cost of revenues as a percentage of total revenues
decreased in the second and third quarters of 1998 as a result of the consulting
and support organization's improved gross margin. However, as a result of the
investment in transactional services in the fourth quarter of 1998, the cost of
revenues as a percentage of total revenues increased over the third quarter. The
Company intends to increase its investment in the cost of transactional services
and, as a result, the Company expects the cost of revenues to increase as a
percent of total revenues during this investment period. Total operating
expenses have generally increased in absolute dollar amounts over the quarters
shown due to the Company's increased staffing in research and development, sales
and marketing and general and administrative functions.
 
    Our revenues, gross margins and other operating results may vary
significantly from quarter to quarter. The fluctuations may be due to a number
of factors, many of which are beyond our control. These factors include:
 
    - our or our competitors' introduction of new or enhanced online interactive
      marketing solutions;
 
    - market acceptance of existing or planned products and services, including
      future versions of AdServer and AdCenter, our enhanced targeting services
      (Global Profile Service) and products and services designed for
      advertising agencies (including AdCenter for Agencies) and electronic
      commerce companies;
 
    - the time it takes us to sell our services and license and implement our
      products and the size of each sales or licensing transaction;
 
    - the mix of software licenses, software upgrades, consulting and support
      and transactional services revenues;
 
    - the amount of advertising spending budgeted by advertisers for online
      advertising and direct marketing;
 
    - our or our competitors' price changes or changes in pricing models;
 
    - our customers' failure to renew their AdServer upgrade and support
      contracts;
 
    - the shift from higher gross margins achieved through software license and
      upgrade revenues to lower gross margins achieved through consulting and
      support and transactional services revenues;
 
    - the mix of distribution channels through which we sell our products and
      services;
 
    - our sales and licensing activities in international markets;
 
    - costs relating to possible acquisitions of technology or businesses; and
 
    - the amounts of royalty payments, amortization charges and other costs
      related to the licensing or acquisition of technology or other intangible
      assets.
 
    Due to all of the foregoing factors, we do not believe that period-to-period
comparisons of our historical results of operations are good predictors of
future performance. Furthermore, it is possible that in some future quarters our
results of operations may fall below the expectations of securities analysts and
investors. In such event, the trading price of our stock will likely be
materially and adversely affected.
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
    The Company has funded its operations to date primarily through the private
placement of preferred stock and its initial public offering. Prior to the
Company's initial public offering, private placements provided net proceeds
totaling $17.4 million. In June 1998, the Company sold 3,000,000 shares of its
common stock in its initial public offering, generating net proceeds of $23.8
million. In July 1998, the Company sold an additional 250,000 shares of its
common stock and generated an additional $2.1 million of net proceeds in
connection with the exercise of the over-allotment option granted to the
underwriters of the Company's initial public offering. At December 31, 1998, the
Company had $20.8 million in cash and cash equivalents and short-term
investments, which represents an increase of $15.2 million as compared to $5.6
million at December 31, 1997. The Company currently has no significant capital
commitments other than obligations under operating leases.
 
    At December 31, 1998, the Company had a revolving credit facility with a
bank in the amount of $4.0 million which bears interest at the prime rate (7.75%
as of December 31, 1998) and which matures in May 1999. Borrowings are limited
to the lesser of $4.0 million or 80% of the net amount of eligible accounts
receivable and are secured by the Company's assets. The credit facility has a
sub-facility for up to $1.5 million in non-revolving line of credit for
purchases of equipment all outstanding amounts are to be converted in May 1999
to a fully amortized 60 month term loan at prime, with principal and interest
payable monthly. As of December 31, 1998, borrowings under this credit facility
were $1.0 million, all of which were under the equipment sub-facility. See Note
3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
    As of December 31, 1997, the Company had a revolving credit facility with a
bank in the amount of $1.0 million which bore interest at the prime rate (8.50%
as of December 31, 1997) plus 0.75%, which matured in May 1998. Borrowings were
limited to the lesser of $1.0 million or 70% of the net amount of eligible
accounts receivable and were secured by the Company's accounts receivable. As of
December 31, 1997 and December 31, 1998, borrowings under this credit facility
were $655,000 and $0, respectively. As of December 31, 1997, the Company had an
equipment line of credit with the same bank that provided up to $1.0 million,
bears interest at the prime rate, and expires in June 2000. The line of credit
is secured by the Company's fixed assets. As of December 31, 1997 and 1998,
$584,000 and $350,000, respectively, had been advanced under this agreement with
the principal amount due in 30 monthly installments of $19,467 beginning
December 31, 1997. The Company also has a second equipment line of credit with
the same bank that provides up to $1.2 million, bears interest at the prime
rate, and expires in June 2000. The line of credit is secured by the Company's
fixed assets. As of December 31, 1997 and December 31, 1998, $628,000 and
$377,000, respectively, had been advanced under this agreement with the
principal amount due in 30 monthly installments of $20,933 beginning December
31, 1997. See Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
    Net cash used in operating activities was $3.3 million, $5.1 million, and
$8.5 million in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. In each period, cash used by
operating activities was primarily a result of a net loss and, in 1998, due to
increases in accounts receivable resulting from the significant increase in
revenue.
 
    Net cash used in investing activities was $854,000, $1.2 million and $15.9
million in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. In 1998, cash used in investing
activities was primarily for the acquisition of property and equipment, $2.3
million for the acquisition of other assets, and the purchase of $10.6 million
of short-term investments.
 
    Cash provided by financing activities was $4.7 million, $10.9 million, and
$29.0 million in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. The primary source of cash
provided by financing activities was proceeds from the issuance of stock and, to
a lesser extent, borrowings.
 
    The Company's deferred revenue balance includes deferred software licenses
revenues and revenues attributable to uncompleted consulting engagements, as
well as the unamortized portion of the revenues from software upgrades and
support contracts. The Company records an account receivable and deferred
revenue upon shipment and invoicing of a software license to a customer. The
Company's accounts receivable balance
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
is relatively large in comparison to quarterly and annual revenues because the
Company generally recognizes revenue from the licensing of software later than
shipment and invoicing. Further, the Company's deferred revenue balance or
changes therein may not be indicative of the Company's backlog or changes in the
ordering patterns of customers.
 
    Although the Company has no other material commitments other than its
facilities leases (see Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements),
management anticipates that it will experience an increase in its capital
expenditures and lease commitments consistent with its anticipated growth in
operations, infrastructure and personnel. The Company expects that capital
expenditures for 1999 will be at least $3.0 million. In particular, the Company
anticipates incurring capital expenditures in connection with its expansion of
its transactional services offerings. The Company currently anticipates that it
will continue to experience significant growth in its operating expenses for the
foreseeable future related to entering new markets for the Company's products
and services, increasing research and development spending, increasing its sales
and marketing operations, developing new distribution channels, improving its
operational and financial systems and broadening its customer support
capabilities. Such operating expenses will be a material use of the Company's
cash resources.
 
    The Company believes that its available cash resources and amounts available
under its commercial credit facilities will be sufficient to meet its expected
working capital and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next 12
months. This estimate is a forward-looking statement that involves risks and
uncertainties, and actual results may vary as a result of a number of factors,
including those discussed under "Risk Factors" and elsewhere herein.
 
    The Company may need to raise additional funds in order to support more
rapid expansion, develop new or enhanced services, respond to competitive
pressures, acquire complementary businesses or technologies, or respond to
unanticipated requirements. The Company may seek to raise additional funds
through private or public sales of securities, strategic relationships, bank
debt, financing under leasing arrangements, or otherwise. If additional funds
are raised through the issuance of equity securities, the percentage ownership
of the stockholders of the Company will be reduced, stockholders may experience
additional dilution, or such equity securities may have rights, preferences, or
privileges senior to those of the holders of the Company's common stock. There
can be no assurance that additional financing will be available on acceptable
terms, if at all. If adequate funds are not available or are not available on
acceptable terms, the Company may be unable to develop or enhance its products,
take advantage of future opportunities, or respond to competitive pressures or
unanticipated requirements, which could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and operating results.
 
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk Derivatives and
  Financial Instruments
 
    FOREIGN CURRENCY HEDGING INSTRUMENTS
 
    The Company transacts business in various foreign currencies. Accordingly,
the Company is subject to exposure from adverse movements in foreign currency
exchange rates. This exposure is primarily related to revenues and operating
expenses in the U.K. and Japan denominated in the respective local currency.
However, as of December 31, 1998, the Company had no hedging contracts
outstanding.
 
    The Company currently does not use financial instruments to hedge operating
expenses in the U.K. or Japan denominated in the respective local currency.
Instead, the Company believes that a natural partial hedge exists, because local
currency revenues will substantially offset the operating expenses denominated
in the respective local currency. The Company assesses the need to utilize
financial instruments to hedge currency exposures on an ongoing basis.
 
    The Company does not use derivative financial instruments for speculative
trading purposes, nor does the Company hedge its foreign currency exposure in a
manner that entirely offsets the effects of changes in
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
foreign exchange rates. The Company regularly reviews its hedging program and
may as part of this review determine at any time to change its hedging program.
See "Risk Factors--We face risks associated with our international operations
and plans for expansion."
 
    FIXED INCOME INVESTMENTS
 
    The Company's exposure to market risks for changes in interest rates relates
primarily to investments in debt securities issued by U.S. government agencies
and corporate debt securities. The Company places its investments with high
credit quality issuers and, by policy, limits the amount of the credit exposure
to any one issuer.
 
    The Company's general policy is to limit the risk of principal loss and
ensure the safety of invested funds by limiting market and credit risk. All
highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the date of
purchase are considered to be cash equivalents; investments with maturities
between three and twelve months are considered to be short-term investments;
investments with maturities in excess of twelve months are considered to be
long-term investments. The weighted average pre-tax interest rate on the
investment portfolio is approximately 5.49%.
 
Year 2000 Compliance
 
    The Company is aware that many currently installed information technology
("IT") systems, such as computer systems and software products, as well as
non-IT systems that include embedded technology, were not designed to correctly
process dates after December 31, 1999. NetGravity is currently assessing the
impact this issue, commonly referred to as the "Year 2000" issue, on its
business and operations. The Company has formed an ad-hoc Year 2000 project team
to identify and address Year 2000 issues, including potential issues with the
significant non-IT systems in its buildings, plant, equipment and other
infrastructure. The Year 2000 project team has reviewed the Company's products,
is continuing to review the Company's IT systems and has recently begun
reviewing the Company's non-IT systems. NetGravity has not identified any
significant non-compliance issues with its products that have not already been
corrected. The Company expects that its review of its IT and non-IT systems will
be completed by June 30, 1999. In addition to its internal reviews, the Company
is discussing with its significant suppliers and service providers their plans
to investigate and address their Year 2000 issues. The Company cannot assure you
that it will be able to identify and accurately evaluate all Year 2000 issues
that it faces.
 
    In September 1998, NetGravity released version 3.5 of its AdServer product
which included enhancements designed to correctly accept and process 21st
century dates and, as a result, the Company now believes that the current
versions of its AdServer family of software products are Year 2000 compliant.
However, given the complexity of software systems such as AdServer and the need
for them to interoperate with other systems, the Company cannot assure you that
its products will not experience Year 2000 problems in the future. Any such Year
2000 issues could result in:
 
    - a decrease in sales of the the Company's products;
 
    - deferral of revenue recognition on contracts in which the Company has
      warranted (or may in the future warrant) compliance with Year 2000
      requirements;
 
    - an increase in the allocation of resources to address Year 2000 problems
      of the Company's customers without additional revenue commensurate with
      such dedicated resources; or
 
    - an increase in litigation costs relating to losses suffered by the
      Company's customers due to Year 2000 problems.
 
    In addition, NetGravity has determined that certain of its software IT
systems are not currently Year 2000 compliant. The Company believes that its
software IT systems will become compliant through updates and upgrades purchased
in the ordinary course of business for reasons unrelated to Year 2000. However,
the
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
Company cannot assure you that the incremental costs of such IT software will
not materially exceed its preliminary estimates. Higher incremental costs of
upgrading or replacing its IT software could have a material and adverse effect
on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.
 
    As the Company reviews its non-IT systems, it may identify situations that
present material Year 2000 risks or that will require substantial time and
material expense to address. In addition, if its customers or its potential
customers are required to expend significant resources to address their Year
2000 issues (or if they fail to appropriately address such Year 2000 issues),
the Company's business, results of operation and financial condition could be
adversely affected due to resulting changes in purchasing patterns. Furthermore,
if Year 2000 problems experienced by any of the Company's significant suppliers
or service providers cause or contribute to delays or interruptions in the
delivery of products or services, such delays or interruptions could have a
material and adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and
financial condition. Although the Year 2000 project team has not yet determined
the most likely worst-case Year 2000 scenarios or quantified the likely impact
of such scenarios, it is clear that the occurrence of one or more of the risks
described above could have a material and adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
    The Company does not separately account for Year 2000 related expenses but
estimates that the expenses it has incurred to date to address Year 2000 issues
have not been material and, although it has not completed its full assessment of
its Year 2000 readiness, it does not expect to incur material expenses in
connection with any required future remediation efforts. However, the Company's
Year 2000 compliance efforts related to AdServer consumed significant software
engineering resources that would otherwise have been devoted to product
development efforts. To the extent that significant additional software
engineering resources are required to address other Year 2000 issues that may be
discovered, the Company's product development efforts may be significantly
hampered which, in turn, could have a material and adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
    The Company's Year 2000 project team's activities will also include the
development of contingency plans in the event that the Company has not completed
all of its remediation programs in a timely manner. In addition, the Year 2000
project team will develop contingency plans in the event that any third parties
that provide goods or services essential to the Company's business fail to
appropriately address their Year 2000 issues. The Year 2000 project team expects
to conclude the development of these contingency plans by June 30, 1999. Even if
these plans are completed on time and put in place, it is possible that
unresolved or undetected internal and external Year 2000 issues will have a
material and adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and
results of operations.
 
    The information set forth above and elsewhere in this prospectus relating to
Year 2000 issues constitute "Year 2000 Readiness Disclosures," as such term is
defined by the Year 2000 Information and Readiness Disclosure Act of 1998,
enacted October 19, 1998 (Public Law 105-271, 112 State. 2386).
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
                                    BUSINESS
 
    THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION OF OUR BUSINESS CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
THAT INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES. OUR ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY
FROM THOSE ANTICIPATED IN THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AS A RESULT OF
CERTAIN FACTORS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE SET FORTH UNDER RISK
FACTORS AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS.
 
Overview
 
    NetGravity, Inc. is a leading provider of online interactive marketing
solutions. We were a pioneer in the online advertising management software
market and believe that we were the first company to provide this software to
major online content publishers. We develop, market and support a broad range of
high-end, mission-critical software and transaction-based services. Our
solutions are designed to help our customers increase their revenues by
automating online interactive marketing, including online advertising and
e-commerce direct marketing, and by improving response rates through better
consumer targeting. We sell our solutions to each of the three constituents in
the interactive marketing supply chain: e-commerce merchants (vendors of
products and services); advertising agencies; and content publishers. Our core
product, AdServer, is a software solution targeted to large, sophisticated
e-commerce merchants and content publishers. AdServer manages the process of
placing advertisements, promotions and other offers on Web pages. We recently
began offering transaction-based services, including AdCenter for Publishers, an
outsourced version of AdServer. We have also announced AdCenter for Agencies,
which will extend AdCenter to include enhanced features designed for online
advertising agencies. We expect AdCenter for Agencies to be available in the
second quarter of 1999. In addition, we recently began offering our Global
Profile Service to our AdServer and AdCenter customers. Global Profile Service
is a transaction-based data service that gives our customers access to a
database of anonymous consumer profiles for use in targeting online
advertisements, promotions and other offers. The first release of Global Profile
Service allows for targeting based on geographic location. We are developing
future releases of Global Profile Service to allow targeting based on other
demographic and behavioral characteristics.
 
    NetGravity markets and sells its products and services primarily through its
field sales and telesales organizations. We maintain sales and support
operations in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. To date, we have sold our
software and services to over 325 customers, including 32% of the top 50
revenue-generating online content publishers listed in the March 31, 1998 CMR
Interwatch report. Our customers include agency.com, @Home Network, British
Telecom, broadcast.com, CNN Interactive, E*TRADE, IBM, Netscape Communications,
Preview Travel, ONSALE, Real Cities (Knight-Ridder New Media) and Time Inc. New
Media.
 
Industry Background
 
    The competitive nature of the global marketplace requires merchants to
continually seek out and obtain new customers while preserving their
relationships with existing customers. Historically, merchants have communicated
with consumers through advertising in traditional media (such as print,
television and radio) and through traditional direct marketing channels (such as
telemarketing and direct mail) to establish and maintain their brand identities,
introduce new products, announce improved product features and target offers to
potential and current customers. McCann-Erickson has estimated that $200 billion
would be spent on traditional media advertising in the United States during
1998. The Direct Marketing Association estimated that $163 billion would be
spent on direct marketing in the United States during 1998.
 
    INTERACTIVE MARKETING SUPPLY CHAIN.  The traditional advertising and direct
marketing industries together can be viewed as a supply chain with three primary
constituents: merchants (vendors of products and services), advertising agencies
and content publishers. As the driving force in the supply chain, merchants seek
to increase their sales and brand awareness by targeting advertisements and
offers to current and prospective consumers of their products and services. To
build relationships with new and existing customers,
 
                                       38
<PAGE>
merchants work with advertising agencies to purchase advertising space targeted
at the types of consumers the merchants desire. Advertising agencies, in turn,
contact content publishers to identify and secure advertising space that meets
the merchants' criteria. Content publishers, such as magazines, newspapers,
radio stations and television programs, attract audiences of consumers by
offering compelling entertainment and information and deliver these audiences to
merchants. Established, larger content publishers generally work directly with
advertising agencies in order to retain greater control over their advertising
inventories, which, in turn, allows them to maintain and enhance the long-term
value of their advertising space to advertising agencies and merchants. Smaller,
less established content publishers generally work with advertising agencies
through advertising representatives or networks, which provide these content
publishers with an outsourced sales force for their advertising space. As
depicted below, advertising and direct marketing expenditures flow down the
supply chain from merchants to advertising agencies and then to content
publishers. In turn, audiences of consumers attracted by content publishers flow
up to merchants as prospective customers.
 
                       Interactive Marketing Supply Chain
 
                            [Graphic: Supply Chain]
 
    The dramatic growth of the Internet in recent years has led, and continues
to lead, merchants, advertising agencies and content publishers to devote
increasing resources toward developing and improving their utilization of the
Internet as a medium for customer acquisition and retention.
 
    GROWTH OF THE WEB AND E-COMMERCE.  IDC estimated that by the end of 1998
there were over 97 million users of the World Wide Web (the Web) worldwide. IDC
projects that, by the end of 2002, the number of
 
                                       39
<PAGE>
Web users will increase to over 320 million worldwide. We believe that the
number of Web users and the amount of time users spend on the Web will continue
to increase as Internet access becomes more widely available, as Internet
bandwidth and reliability are enhanced and as Internet content improves and
becomes more multimedia intensive.
 
    Because online transactions can be faster, less expensive and more
convenient than transactions conducted via traditional means, a growing number
of consumers are transacting business over the Web. Examples of such
transactions include buying consumer goods, trading securities, purchasing
airline tickets and paying bills. Jupiter Communications has estimated that 27%
of adult Web users made online purchases in 1997 and that 50% of adult Web users
will make online purchases in 2000. IDC estimates that purchases of goods and
services over the Internet will increase from $32.4 billion in 1998 to $237.2
billion in 2001. We believe that, as electronic commerce expands, e-commerce
merchants will increasingly seek to use the Web to locate customers, advertise
their products and services and facilitate transactions.
 
    ADVERTISERS AND MERCHANTS HAVE CONTINUED TO INCREASE THEIR ONLINE
INTERACTIVE MARKETING ACTIVITIES.  The Web continues to emerge as a promising
new medium for advertisers due to the growth in the number of Web users, the
attractive demographic profiles of Web users, the ability to quickly gather
response data and other feedback, the interactive nature of the Web, the
potential for reduced costs-per-transaction, the Web's global reach and a
variety of other factors. The Web provides advertisers with the opportunity to
cost-effectively reach broad, global audiences and to target their advertising
based on consumers' demographic characteristics, specific interests and
geographic location. Online advertising also has the potential to allow
advertisers to measure, in real time, the number of times that a particular
advertisement has been viewed, the responses to the advertisement and certain
characteristics of the viewers of the advertisement. In addition, the
interactive nature of the Web gives advertisers the potential to establish
dialogues and one-on-one relationships with consumers, to receive direct
feedback on their advertising and to quickly refine their advertising based on
such feedback. Accordingly, we believe that the Web has the potential to become
a more effective and efficient means for advertisers to reach their target
audiences as compared to traditional media.
 
    The unique characteristics of online advertising, combined with the growth
in the number of Internet users and their attractive demographic profiles, have
led to an increase in online advertising. Jupiter estimates that online
advertising expenditures in the United States will increase from $1.9 billion in
1998 to $7.7 billion in 2002. Historically, the leading online advertisers have
generally been technology companies, Internet search engines and Web content
publishers. However, many of the largest advertisers on traditional media,
including mass marketers such as consumer products companies and automobile
manufacturers, have recently expanded their use of online advertising.
NetGravity believes that online advertising will become an increasing component
of such merchants' advertising budgets and that this trend will drive demand for
sophisticated online advertising and direct marketing solutions.
 
    Because highly targeted product offers can be made to consumers at their
personal computers, we believe that the Internet represents an attractive new
medium for direct marketing, which has traditionally been conducted through
direct mail and telemarketing. The success of a direct marketing campaign is
generally measured by return on investment (ROI), which is favorably affected by
either an increase in response rate (for example, number of leads, sales or
other transactions as a percentage of impressions viewed) or a reduction in
cost-per-transaction. If merchants are able to generate higher ROIs from online
interactive marketing than from traditional media campaigns, we believe that
merchants will allocate a higher percentage of their marketing expenditures to
online interactive marketing. Jupiter Communications estimates that expenditures
on online direct marketing would be $190 million in 1998 and will exceed $1.3
billion in 2002 and that combined expenditures for online advertising and online
direct marketing will exceed $9 billion in 2002.
 
    USE OF CONSUMER TARGETING DATA TO INCREASE RETURN ON
INVESTMENT.  Interactive marketers seek to increase their ROI by targeting their
messages to the consumers most likely to respond favorably to them. In
traditional media, the goal of consumer-specific targeting can be indirectly
approached by delivering messages
 
                                       40
<PAGE>
to broadly-defined audiences (such as viewers of particular television
programs). Although this target audience approach is also used in online media
(for example, by targeting advertisements to particular Web sites), interactive
marketing offers incremental opportunity for direct consumer-specific targeting
based on anonymous profile data such as geographic or demographic information
about individual consumers. We believe that potentially higher response rates
generated by more consumer-specific targeting will justify higher prices being
paid by online advertisers and e-commerce merchants to content publishers that
are able to reach more narrowly defined audiences. However, the effectiveness
and efficiency of direct consumer-specific targeting is limited both by the
capabilities of the targeting technology and by the breadth and depth of
consumer profile data available to e-commerce merchants, advertising agencies
and content publishers.
 
    SUPPLY CHAIN CONSTITUENTS REQUIRE ENABLING TECHNOLOGY AND DATA.  As the
constituents of the interactive marketing supply chain increase their online
presence, they seek technology and data solutions that allow them to exploit the
attractive demographics, consumer-specific targeting capability, real-time
feedback, business process efficiencies and other potential advantages of online
interactive marketing. E-commerce merchants, advertising agencies and content
publishers require comprehensive, reliable and scalable solutions to allow them
to effectively and efficiently leverage the power of the Internet for
interactive marketing. In particular, we believe that larger, more established
content publishers will generally require solutions that allow them to continue
to closely control their advertising inventory. Moreover, because the process of
directly managing the sale and delivery of online advertisements, promotions and
other offerings can generate valuable consumer profile and behavioral data, we
believe that the desirability of maintaining direct control over consumer data
may be even greater than with respect to traditional media. In addition, as
targeting capabilities become increasingly important, we believe that the
constituents of the interactive marketing supply chain will seek to augment
their own consumer data with broader and more detailed databases of anonymous
consumer profiles to enable them to further improve their targeting capabilities
and ROI.
 
NetGravity Solution
 
    NetGravity, Inc. is a leading provider of solutions for online interactive
marketing. We were a pioneer in the online advertising software market and
believe that we were the first company to provide this software to major online
content publishers. We develop, market and support a broad range of high-end,
mission-critical software and transaction-based services. Our solutions are
designed to help our customers increase their revenues by automating online
interactive marketing and by improving response rates through better consumer
targeting. We sell our solutions to each of the three constituents in the
interactive marketing supply chain: e-commerce merchants (vendors of products
and services); advertising agencies; and content publishers. Our core product,
AdServer, is a software solution targeted to large, sophisticated e-commerce
merchants and content publishers. AdServer manages the process of placing
advertisements, promotions and other offers on Web pages. We recently began
offering transaction-based services, including AdCenter for Publishers, an
outsourced version of AdServer. We have also announced AdCenter for Agencies,
which will extend AdCenter to include enhanced features designed for online
advertising agencies. We expect AdCenter for Agencies to be available in the
second quarter of 1999. In addition, we recently began offering our Global
Profile Service to our AdServer and AdCenter customers. Global Profile Service
is a transaction-based data service that gives our customers access to a
database of anonymous consumer profiles for use in targeting online
advertisements, promotions and other offers. The first release of Global Profile
Service allows for targeting based on geographic location. We are developing
future releases of Global Profile Service to allow targeting based on other
demographic and behavioral characteristics.
 
    NetGravity's current and planned products and services are designed to
provide benefits to each of the three primary constituents in the online
interactive marketing supply chain:
 
    E-COMMERCE MERCHANTS.  E-commerce merchants are focused on attracting
consumers to their Web sites and on maximizing revenue per customer. Our
AdServer software is designed to allow e-commerce merchants to gather consumer
behavior data on their sites and correlate this information with other
information, such as purchase history, to build detailed customer-profile
databases using third party technology. Merchants can
 
                                       41
<PAGE>
then use AdServer to target advertisements, promotions or other offerings for
new or complementary products to particular consumers based on their profiles.
Merchants can share this targeting information with their advertising agency to
allow for more effective customer acquisition campaigns.
 
    ADVERTISING AGENCIES.  Advertising agencies seek to maximize the impact of
their clients' online campaigns to promote brand awareness or to solicit
transactions, while minimizing their own overhead in conducting the campaign.
AdServer is designed to enable advertising agencies to manage their clients'
online campaigns, to make changes to campaigns in real-time and to collect
information about consumer behavior that can be mined to create sophisticated
profiles. These profiles can be used to improve targeting for both current and
future campaigns.
 
    We believe that many advertising agencies prefer outsourced solutions that
reduce their internal technical and administrative burdens. Several of our
advertising agency customers currently using our AdCenter service offering have
helped us identify ways to tailor AdCenter to their needs. As a result, we are
developing AdCenter for Agencies which will automate much of the campaign
management process for advertising agencies, including media planning, media
buying, trafficking, reporting and billing. In addition, AdCenter for Agencies
is being designed to track purchases made by consumers responding to particular
advertisements, making it easier to determine the cost-per-transaction for a
campaign. We expect AdCenter for Agencies to be released in the second quarter
of 1999.
 
    CONTENT PUBLISHERS.  Content publishers seek to attract consumers to their
Web sites to maximize the value of their advertising space and/or to solicit
e-commerce transactions. Using AdServer (or the outsourced version, AdCenter for
Publishers), content publishers can maintain control of their own advertising
inventory, consumer data, mission-critical advertising business processes, and
relationships with advertisers and advertising agencies. These solutions are
designed to allow content publishers to predict inventory available for sale, to
deliver targeted advertisements to consumers and to provide reports and analysis
to advertisers. Additionally, our AdServer software solution can be integrated
with content management, billing and commerce systems.
 
    Our software is designed to be fault-tolerant, scalable, extensible and
platform-independent to meet the needs of even our largest customers. For
example, CNN Interactive, which operates one of the most visited Web sites on
the Internet, has served over 50 million impressions in a single day with our
AdServer software. NetGravity's software also supports industry standard
operating environments including popular Unix systems, Microsoft Windows NT,
standard relational databases, Web servers from Netscape and Microsoft and
Java-enabled Web browsers.
 
Strategy
 
    NetGravity's objective is to become the leading provider of online
interactive marketing solutions for e-commerce merchants, advertising agencies
and content publishers. To achieve this objective, our strategy includes the
following key elements:
 
    EXTEND LEADERSHIP IN ONLINE ADVERTISING SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS.  NetGravity
intends to extend its leadership position in the market for online advertising
software solutions by continuing to enhance its technology through investment in
research and development activities and by incorporating industry-leading
components into its products. We believe that maintaining and enhancing our
products and services are critical to our ability to solidify our market
leadership, strengthen our relationships with current customers and acquire new
customers.
 
    ESTABLISH LEADERSHIP IN INTERACTIVE MARKETING SOLUTIONS FOR
E-COMMERCE.  NetGravity seeks to foster the growth of the emerging market for
interactive marketing solutions for e-commerce merchants and to establish
leadership in this market. Recognizing the potential of the Web as a direct
marketing channel, many of our e-commerce customers are already leveraging
AdServer's largely advertising-oriented features to deploy interactive marketing
systems for e-commerce. We believe that e-commerce interactive marketing is
emerging
 
                                       42
<PAGE>
as a distinct market from online advertising and that customers focusing on
e-commerce will increasingly demand functionality tailored to their specific
requirements. Therefore, we intend to continue to add features to AdServer
designed to meet the specific requirements of e-commerce merchants as well as to
enhance our sales, marketing, professional services and support capabilities to
promote these new features. In addition, we plan to form relationships with
enterprise solutions vendors to accelerate the adoption of our AdServer software
by e-commerce merchants. In furtherance of this strategy, we recently
established a co-marketing and co-selling relationship with IBM relating to our
AdServer products.
 
    IMPROVE OUR CUSTOMERS' ROI WITH GLOBAL PROFILE SERVICE.  We are developing
solutions to allow e-commerce merchants to better target consumers, thereby
providing them the opportunity to increase their ROIs from investments in online
interactive marketing. The initial version of our Global Profile Service gives
our customers access to anonymous consumer profiles containing geographic data.
Through planned new releases of the Global Profile Service, we expect to provide
access to other demographic and behavioral data. We have already licensed access
to Matchlogic's database of approximately 45 million anonymous consumer profiles
and we plan to continue to form additional relationships with data providers to
improve the overall coverage of our profile database.
 
    ENABLE EFFICIENT ADVERTISING BUYING ON THE INTERNET.  NetGravity intends in
the future to develop products to link together its high-end interactive
marketing customers to allow them to automate the process of buying and selling
online advertising space. One of the key limitations of the Internet as compared
to other media is the difficulty merchants and advertising agencies experience
when trying to create and manage an online campaign across many selected content
publishers. Because we already work with several large and sophisticated content
publishers and advertising agencies, we believe we will have the opportunity to
leverage the compatability of our AdServer product and our planned AdCenter for
Agencies service to increase the efficiency of buying and selling ads for both
sides of the transaction. We believe that, if successful, this end-to-end
solution could be critical to establishing our solutions as the standard for
online interactive marketing.
 
    EXPAND INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE.  NetGravity plans to expand its international
operations to address the global adoption of the Internet and the international
demand for online interactive marketing solutions. We believe that there are
many international opportunities for our products and services and have
established sales and support operations in Europe and Asia Pacific with
regional headquarters in London and Tokyo and field offices in France, Germany
and Hong Kong. As part of this expansion, we intend to create reselling and
systems integration relationships in Europe and Asia Pacific to leverage our
sales and consulting forces in these regions. We also intend to develop
localized versions of our products. We believe that an early presence in these
markets will enhance our long-term competitive position in these regions.
 
                                       43
<PAGE>
Software Products and Transactional Services
 
    NetGravity develops, markets and supports its family of online interactive
marketing solutions and offers associated services. The following illustrates
the role of AdServer in a typical consumer interaction with a customer's Web
site.
 
  [Graphic: Consumer Interaction with Web site that uses NetGravity AdServer]
 
    CAPTIONS:
 
    1)  CONSUMER VISITS WEB SITE THAT USES NETGRAVITY ADSERVER SOLUTION.
 
    2)  BROWSER REQUESTS PAGE FROM WEB SITE.
 
    3)  NETGRAVITY ADSERVER LOOKS UP CONSUMER PROFILE, AND CHOOSES MOST
       APPROPRIATE ADVERTISEMENTS.
 
    4)  CONTENT PAGE WITH TARGETED ADVERTISEMENTS DELIVERED TO CONSUMER'S
       BROWSER.
 
    5)  NETGRAVITY ADSERVER LOGS DELIVERY AND RESULTS FOR FUTURE ANALYSIS AND
       REPORTING.
 
    -  SITE ADMINISTRATORS USE NETGRAVITY ADSERVER TO MANAGE FORECASTING, AD
       INVENTORY, SCHEDULING AND RESULTS ANALYSIS.
 
NetGravity markets three primary solutions to support the needs of companies in
the online interactive marketing industry: AdServer Enterprise, AdServer Network
and AdCenter for Publishers. NetGravity also offers its Global Profile Service
to extend the targeting capabilities of its primary solutions by providing
access to more extensive targeting data than may otherwise be available to our
customers. In addition, NetGravity is in the process of developing AdCenter for
Agencies, a version of AdCenter customized for advertising agencies.
NetGravity's solutions are designed to be scalable, extensible and robust
systems for deploying online interactive marketing solutions on the Internet.
The AdServer solutions utilize a common fault-tolerant, scalable architecture
for real-time delivery of targeted advertisements, a management system for
tracking advertising inventory and a customizable reporting and analysis system
allowing AdServer users to better understand their customers.
 
    ADSERVER ENTERPRISE.  AdServer Enterprise is designed to manage interactive
marketing on individual Web sites. AdServer Enterprise manages the process of
placing advertisements, promotions and other offers on Web pages. It also allows
tracking of consumer action and movement on a Web site and captures consumer
responses to advertisements. AdServer Enterprise is designed to be integrated
with other systems, such as customer databases, to create rich consumer profiles
for more effective targeting. AdServer Enterprise comes pre-configured to
address many common targeting requirements and can be extended to perform more
specific targeting. AdServer Enterprise's scalable architecture allows Web sites
to reliably serve high volumes of targeted advertisements. AdServer Enterprise
also collects and summarizes user interaction data to allow detailed analysis
and reporting to advertisers and direct marketers.
 
                                       44
<PAGE>
    ADSERVER NETWORK.  AdServer Network is an enhanced version of AdServer
Enterprise designed to manage multi-site interactive marketing. AdServer Network
is designed to allow central management of advertising inventories of multiple
Web sites, delivery of targeted advertisements to multiple remote Web sites
based on centralized targeting data, centralized collection and analysis of user
information and targeting of advertisements to consumers on remote Web sites.
These features make AdServer Network an attractive solution for a variety of
applications. For example, AdServer Network can be used by content publishers to
deliver targeted advertisements to a set of affiliated Web sites or by
advertising agencies to manage campaigns for their clients across all of the Web
sites in the campaign.
 
    ADCENTER FOR PUBLISHERS.  AdCenter for Publishers is an outsourced service
solution based on our AdServer software and is designed to allow our customers
to outsource certain advertising management functions to NetGravity. NetGravity
works with Web hosting organizations to manage this centralized solution for
customers that do not wish to hire a technical staff or to maintain their own
systems. To date, revenues from AdCenter for Publishers have not been material.
 
    GLOBAL PROFILE SERVICE.  NetGravity's Global Profile Service is a central
database of anonymous user profiles which allows customers to augment their own
consumer information to improve their ability to analyze and target their
consumers. NetGravity has established relationships with two initial data
providers, Excite/MatchLogic and HNC/Aptex to provide demographic and purchase
affinity data on consumers for the Global Profile Service. The Global Profile
Service contains over 45 million consumer profiles with demographic and
geographic fields. This covers a substantial portion of all Internet users and
contains detailed information such as location, age, gender, household income,
education and presence of children. We are designing Global Profile Service to
work with multiple data providers and to aggregate fields supplied from several
sources in real-time. Currently, NetGravity is offering only geographic profiles
to our customers. NetGravity is in the process of extending the Global Profile
Service to enable it to deliver more comprehensive consumer profiles, but does
not expect such release to be available until late 1999, however we cannot
assure you that this release schedule will be met. See "Risk Factors--Our future
success depends on the timely completion of new solutions under development." To
date, revenues from the Global Profile Service have not been significant. See
"Risk Factors--We rely on third-party software and consumer profile data."
 
    ADCENTER FOR AGENCIES.  AdCenter for Agencies is a solution under
development that will be a version of AdCenter tailored to requirements of
advertising agencies. We are designing AdCenter for Agencies to automate much of
the campaign management process for advertising agencies including media
planning, media buying, trafficking, reporting and billing. AdCenter for
Agencies will also be used to track purchases made by consumers responding to
particular advertisements and thereby determine the cost-per-transaction for
each campaign. AdCenter for Agencies is expected to be released in the second
quarter of 1999, however we cannot assure you that this release schedule will be
met. See "Risk Factors--Our future success depends on the timely completion of
new solutions under development."
 
                                       45
<PAGE>
    The following table summarizes NetGravity's software products and
transactional services:
 
<TABLE>
<S>              <C>              <C>                    <C>                          <C>
Product or       Market           Benefits               Introduction Dates           Pricing Model
Service
AdServer         SINGLE-SITE      Provides single-site   Version 1.0: March 1996      Software Model:
Enterprise       merchants and    management of user     Version 2.0: September 1996  Perpetual software
                 content          information,           Version 2.1: March 1997      license fee plus ongoing
                 publishers       targeting of           Version 3.0: June 1997       fees for upgrades and
                                  advertisements, and    Version 3.5: September 1998  support
                                  analysis and
                                  reporting
                                  capabilities
AdServer         MULTI-SITE       Provides the           Version 2.1: March 1997      Software Model:
Network          merchants,       capability to target   Version 3.0: June 1997       Perpetual software
                 advertising      advertisements to      Version 3.5: September 1998  license fee plus ongoing
                 agencies,        consumers on remote                                 fees for upgrades and
                 content          Web sites, while                                    support
                 publishers and   aggregating all
                 advertising      consumer information
                 networks         and providing
                                  centralized
                                  management
                                  capabilities
AdCenter for     SINGLE AND       Provides a service to  April 1998                   Transactional Model:
Publishers       MULTI-SITE       allow customers to                                  Fees based on number of
                 merchants,       outsource advertising                               advertisements,
                 advertising      management to                                       promotions or other
                 agencies,        NetGravity                                          offerings delivered
                 content
                 publishers and
                 advertising
                 networks
 
Global Profile   ADSERVER AND     Gives access to        Geographic Profiles:         Transactional Model:
Service          ADCENTER         database of anonymous  October 1998                 Geographic--Annual fee
                 CUSTOMERS        consumer profiles      Demographic and Behavioral   based on expected number
                                  used for enhanced      Profiles:                    of profiles delivered
                                  targeting              Planned for second half of   Demographic/Behavioral--
                                                         1999                         Pricing expected to be
                                                                                      based on actual number
                                                                                      of profiles delivered
AdCenter for     ADVERTISING      Automates the          Currently in development;    Transactional Model:
Agencies         AGENCIES         campaign management    expected to be available in  Fees expected to be
                 seeking          process for            the second quarter of 1999   based on number of
                 outsourced       advertising agencies                                advertisements,
                 online                                                               promotions or other
                 interactive                                                          offerings delivered
                 marketing
                 solutions
</TABLE>
 
Professional Services
 
    NetGravity's professional services organization as of December 31, 1998
consisted of 29 individuals, including 14 consultants, who provide the following
range of services:
 
    CONSULTING.  NetGravity offers consulting services that address each of the
activities its customers require for the initial implementation and long-term
operation of their NetGravity products. NetGravity offers: implementation
services to assist its customers in deploying AdServer; system extension
services that enable customers to extend NetGravity's products to meet their
specific business needs or technical requirements; and migration services that
enable customers to migrate to NetGravity's current products from earlier
versions of our products, from their in-house systems or from competitors'
products. A typical AdServer implementation requires up to 10 days of
professional services. NetGravity also offers other consulting
 
                                       46
<PAGE>
services, including project management, requirements definition, business
process re-engineering, system and solutions design, technical architecture
design, systems integration design, custom reporting and software development.
 
    TECHNICAL SUPPORT.  NetGravity provides product support services, including
telephone support and upgrade rights to new minor releases, under its standard
maintenance agreements. All of NetGravity's license customers have entered into
standard maintenance agreements. The annual maintenance fee for these services
is payable in advance and is based upon a percentage of the then-current list
price for the licensed software. A dedicated team of engineers trained to answer
questions on the installation and usage of AdServer products provides telephone
support from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Pacific time, Monday through Friday, from
NetGravity's corporate offices in San Mateo, California. NetGravity also offers
telephone support 24 hours a day, seven days a week through a call-back
procedure to certain customers who pay an additional fee for this service.
NetGravity believes that providing high quality customer service and technical
support is necessary to achieve rapid product implementation which, in turn, is
essential to customer satisfaction and revenue growth. Accordingly, NetGravity
is committed to continued recruiting and maintenance of a high-quality technical
support team.
 
    EDUCATION.  NetGravity provides training for both the users of AdServer and
the technical staffs who maintain AdServer. NetGravity also offers training in
advertising on the Internet, managing advertising sales with AdServer, and
administering AdServer. NetGravity is also offering training in developing
custom extensions to the AdServer product line. All training is made available
at either the customer's location or at NetGravity's facilities in San Mateo,
California, New York City, Tokyo or London.
 
Technology
 
    All of NetGravity's products and transactional services are built around the
core AdServer architecture. NetGravity's AdServer is designed to be a robust
architecture for customers to implement flexible, scalable and reliable online
advertising and direct marketing solutions, as well as to integrate these
solutions with external systems such as electronic commerce and dynamic content
generation systems. The AdServer architecture is also extensible through
documented application programming interfaces (APIs) and adheres to numerous
industry standards. In addition, we believe that the AdServer system
architecture is flexible enough to serve as the foundation for related future
products.
 
                       [Graphic: AdServer System Modules]
 
    CAPTIONS:
 
    -  ADMANAGER PROVIDES FORECASTING, INVENTORY MANAGEMENT, AND SCHEDULING.
 
    -  ADINSIGHT PROVIDES AUTOMATIC REPORT GENERATION AND PUBLISHING.
 
    -  ADCONSOLE PROVIDES SYSTEM STATUS AND CONTROL.
 
    -  SITE AND CONSUMER DATA IS USED FOR REPORTING AND ANALYSIS.
 
                                       47
<PAGE>
    PRIMARY ADSERVER SUBSYSTEMS
 
    ADSERVER ADVERTISING DELIVERY ENGINE.  NetGravity's AdServer advertising
delivery engine performs the actual content delivery function for the AdServer
System. The AdServer engine was designed to deliver highly targeted messages
with low latency to Web browsers, Web servers and proprietary content delivery
systems. The AdServer delivery engine architecture is designed to be highly
scalable, reliable and extensible. NetGravity has also incorporated several
performance and reliability enhancing technologies into the AdServer engine,
including built-in load balancing, automatic fail-over, automatic restart and
monitoring tools that notify technicians in the event of system failure.
 
    ADMANAGER BUSINESS PROCESS MANAGEMENT APPLICATION.  AdManager is a
three-tier application (comprised of user interface, application server and
database tiers) designed to allow customers to manage certain online advertising
and direct marketing business processes and associated data. In particular,
AdManager utilizes proprietary software to automate certain inventory
management, scheduling and availability functions that enable more efficient use
of available inventory.
 
    ADINSIGHT ADVERTISING PERFORMANCE AND REPORTING SYSTEM.  NetGravity believes
that the information resulting from online interactive marketing placements and
consumer response is extremely valuable for understanding consumer behavior and
measuring return on investment. The AdInsight measurement and reporting system
has been designed to permit detailed reporting and analysis for Web sites and
networks. Because of the volume of data gathered from high-traffic sites and
networks, AdInsight offers customizable summarization and reporting functions to
reduce database size and storage requirements. AdInsight also implements a
scheduling system to generate reports for automatic delivery to advertisers and
others directly over the Internet.
 
    ADCONSOLE SYSTEM MANAGEMENT APPLICATION.  AdConsole is designed to simplify
the process of maintaining and administering the entire AdServer System by
providing system administrators with a user interface for common system
management tasks. For example, AdConsole permits centralized starting, stopping,
monitoring and administering of multiple AdServer engines. AdConsole allows
system administrators to schedule routine tasks and monitor and administer
AdServer engines across multiple CPUs which increases the reliability of the
entire system by reducing the likelihood for administration or configuration
errors.
 
    OPEN ARCHITECTURE AND EXTENSIBILITY
 
    NetGravity designed the AdServer System with numerous extensibility features
to allow integration into existing systems and creation of new functionality.
NetGravity's open targeting architecture allows customers to augment AdServer's
standard targeting functionality through the addition of external targeting
capabilities. NetGravity's advertising delivery API allows integration into
custom electronic commerce systems, dynamic content delivery systems and other
kinds of advertising delivery mechanisms. In addition, AdServer stores business
process data, including advertisements, targeting information, delivery
statistics and reporting data in a standard relational database management
system (RDBMS) in documented data structures, allowing industry standard
reporting and query tools to be used to view and manipulate this data. These
open extensibility features allow AdServer to be integrated with customers'
legacy systems and/or third-party systems, such as sophisticated targeting
engines, content delivery systems and customized data mining and analysis tools.
 
    INDUSTRY STANDARDS
 
    NetGravity uses many widely accepted standards in developing its products,
including SQL for accessing RDBMSs, HTTP for Internet access, NSAPI (Netscape
Application Programming Interface) for access to Netscape's Internet servers,
ISAPI (Internet Server Application Programming Interface) for access to
Microsoft's Internet servers and HTML for formatting advertisements. Most of the
Company's software is written in C++, a widely accepted standard programming
language for developing object-oriented applications. Adherence to industry
standards provides compatibility with existing applications, enables ease of
modification, and reduces the need for software to be rewritten, thus protecting
the customer's investment. In addition, NetGravity is active in formulating
standards for advertising measurement on the Internet. For example, John W.
Danner, NetGravity's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, serves on the Board
of Directors of the Internet Advertising Bureau, a standards setting body for
Web publishers.
 
                                       48
<PAGE>
Customers and Markets
 
    As of December 31, 1998, NetGravity had over 325 customers. NetGravity sells
its AdServer products and AdCenter services to e-commerce merchants, advertising
agencies, content publishers and advertising networks. The following is a
partial list of NetGravity's customers:
 
Merchants
ArtNet
AutoWeb Interactive
Cendant Corporation
Commercial Dynamics
Didax Online L.C.
EGreetings, Inc.
E*TRADE Group
Garden.com
IBM
Ingram Micro
N(2)K
ONSALE
Planet Direct Corporation
Preview Travel
SRDS
TechWave
Ticketmaster Online CitySearch
TUCOWS Interactive
Vitamin Shoppe
West Group
 
Advertising Agencies
 
Agency.com
Anderson and Lembke
Dentsu Inc. (CCI)
Giant Step
Ogilvy and Mather
Ogilvy Interactive GmbH
 
Content Publishers
 
Aftonbladet
America's Health Network
Asahi Shimbun
Associated New Media
Athena 2000
audioSENSE Corporation
British Telecom
broadcast.com
CADE
Cahners Business Information
Children's Television Workshop
China Telecom
China Times Interactive
Chung Hwa Telecom
Cinetic GmbH
Clear Channel Communications
CMP Media
College Club
CondeNet
CyBear
Cyber Communications
Dallas Morning News
DeTeMedien GmbH
Detroit Newspapers
Deutsche Telekom Online Service GmbH (T-Online)
E-Pub
El Nuevo Dia Interactive
Express Newspapers
Financial Times Group
Focus Online GmbH
Fujitsu
GoGlobal.net
Guardian Media Group
Hachette Filipacchi Interactions SA
Hearst New Media and Technology
HjemmeNett AS
Hollywood Online
INFOACCES, S.A. de C.V.
Interactive Investor International
Internet Technologies China (Sohoo)
John Fairfax Holding
Jubii A/S
Jumbo
Knight Ridder New Media
Korea Telecom
Le Groupe Videotron LTEE
Matrix
Merrill Lynch
Mirror Group Newspapers
Miller Freeman PLC
Minneapolis Star Tribune Interactive
Monster.com
Mpath Interactive
MTV Interactive
NEC Corporation
Netpool
NetRadio
Netscape
NetZero
Nihon Keizai Shimbun
Nikkei Busines Publications
Objectif Net
Ordenamiento de Links Especializados, S.L. (OLE)
PDN Xinren Information Technology
Posten Sverige
Prima S.A.
Reed Business Information
Reuters
Rodale Press
Rogers New Media
Salon
SocialNet
Spinner.com
SuperBusinessNet
Swisscom AG
Sysware Corporation
Telecom New Zealand
Telstra Corporation
The Economist
The Mainichi Newspapers
The Weather Channel
Third Age Media
Thomson Financial Services
Time Inc. New Media
Toronto Morning Star
Toshiba Corporation
Tribune Interactive
Turner Broadcasting (CNN Interactive)
USA.NET
Virgin Net
Videotex (Planet Internet)
Warner Bros. Online
Wired Digital
World Opponent Network
World Wrestling Federation
WSI
Zaz
Zip2 Corporation
 
Advertising Networks
 
@Home Network
Active Agent GMBH
Canadian Broadcasting
Canoe, Canadian Online Explorer
CDA Investment Technology
China Internet
Digital Skies
EMC(2)
Hong Kong Telecom IMS
MediaLinx
News Interactive Pty.
NTT Navispace Corporation
Overseas Connections, Taipei
Scandinavia Online
Singapore Telecommunications
StarMedia Network
TeleDanmark
Telstra Corporation
Yellow Pages
 
                                       49
<PAGE>
    SELECTED CUSTOMER CASE STUDIES
 
    E-COMMERCE MERCHANT: GARDEN.COM (WWW.GARDEN.COM).  Garden.com, the leading
Internet retailer of gardening products, information and services, uses AdServer
software to manage its internal direct marketing activities to promote sales to
consumers after they arrive at the site. NetGravity worked with Garden.com to
integrate AdServer with Garden.com's proprietary e-commerce system, allowing
AdServer to use consumer profile data (including purchase history) from
Garden.com's e-commerce system to target promotions to consumers and track
consumer responses. These promotions include cross-sell and up-sell campaigns,
discounts, credits and free shipping. For example, if a consumer adds tulip
bulbs to his shopping cart, AdServer might deliver an offer to purchase a
complementary product, such as gardening tools, at a discounted price. If the
customer accepts the promotion, AdServer notifies Garden.com's e-commerce
system, which reflects the addition to the consumer's shopping cart and applies
the discount upon checkout. By tracking customers from the initial click on an
advertisement, through purchase activity on the Garden.com web site in response
to targeted direct marketing offers delivered by AdServer, Garden.com uses our
solutions to generate detailed reports on overall campaign effectiveness that go
beyond simple impression and click through data. Garden.com believes that the
tight integration of AdServer and its e-commerce system has allowed it to
improve the effectiveness and efficiency of its customer acquisition and
retention efforts.
 
    ADVERTISING AGENCY: AGENCY.COM.  Agency.com, the largest online interactive
marketing agency, focuses on online marketing opportunities for its clients.
Prior to becoming a NetGravity customer and beginning to use AdCenter for
Publishers, Agency.com manually managed its interactive marketing campaigns.
This manual approach involved executing media buys via phone and fax, emailing
"creatives" (which are the advertisement graphics themselves) to individual
content publishers and logging transactions into a spreadsheet. Weekly reports
were generated manually from data reported from Agency.com's ISP and were not as
detailed as its clients were requesting. In December 1998, Agency.com began an
interactive marketing campaign for Sprint Long Distance using AdCenter. With
AdCenter, advertisements are automatically distributed to content publishers and
all reporting data are gathered centrally, enabling on-the-fly performance
reporting. Agency.com is even able to offer Sprint direct access to AdCenter's
reports which, in addition to summarizing impressions viewed and click-through
rates, also track the actions of consumers visiting Sprint's web site in
response to the campaign. This detailed reporting data is used to gauge the
effectiveness of the campaign and to adjust the campaign by selecting the
content publishers and creatives that generate the highest ROI for Sprint. Based
on its experience with the Sprint campaign and other projects, Agency.com
provided NetGravity with important suggestions for the feature set of AdCenter
for Agencies, and expects to begin using AdCenter for Agencies when it is
released.
 
    CONTENT PUBLISHER: CNN INTERACTIVE.  Since August 1995, Cable News Network,
Inc. has operated CNN Interactive, a family of Web sites which now includes
CNN.com, CNNfn, CNN-Time All Politics, CNN enEspanol, CNN emPortugues and
CNN-Sports Illustrated. CNN Interactive is consistently ranked as one of the
most visited families of sites on the Web, and currently averages over 110
million page views per week. CNN Interactive initially relied on an internally
developed system to manage its online advertising. Daily advertisement rotations
were done manually by CNN Interactive personnel using spreadsheets to track
advertising inventory. As user traffic and advertising inventory grew
dramatically, CNN Interactive concluded that it needed to automate and
streamline its online advertising management activities to keep pace with such
growth. CNN Interactive turned to NetGravity and, in December 1996, deployed
AdServer Enterprise to replace its internal advertising management system.
AdServer Enterprise now performs automatic, real-time impression-based
advertisement rotation on the CNN Interactive sites. In addition, CNN
Interactive uses AdServer's reporting features to generate individualized weekly
reports for each of its more than 150 advertisers.
 
                                       50
<PAGE>
Sales and Marketing
 
    NetGravity markets and sells its products and services primarily through its
field sales and telesales organizations and maintains sales and support
operations in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. On December 31, 1998,
NetGravity's sales organization consisted of 46 individuals. NetGravity has
sales and support offices in San Mateo, California, New York City, London,
Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong and Frankfurt. NetGravity sells its products in Europe
and Asia Pacific through its subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Japan and Hong
Kong. NetGravity intends to broaden its presence in international markets by
expanding its international sales force and by entering into distribution
agreements with foreign distributors. See "Risk Factors--We face risks
associated with our international operations and plans for expansion" and "--Our
success depends on certain key employees."
 
    NetGravity's sales process begins with the generation of sales leads. Sales
leads are obtained primarily from telesales, customer referrals, our Web site,
responses to our public relations and marketing efforts and through trade shows.
Initial sales activity normally includes a product demonstration of AdServer
directly over the Internet to the prospective customer. This demonstration is
followed by one or more technical discussions where the customer's issues and
concerns are addressed. For interested accounts, a field sales representative
and a sales engineer make an on-site visit where the needs of such customer are
assessed. Soon thereafter, a proposal is generated containing a statement of
work for our consulting and training services and a quote for the package of
software license and services to be delivered. In addition, we have developed
pre-configured packages suitable for many common customer applications.
 
    NetGravity uses a variety of marketing programs (including general brand
promotion) to: stimulate demand for its products; build market awareness through
the press and industry analysts; produce and maintain marketing information and
sales tools; generate and develop customer leads; and establish and manage
marketing alliances. As of December 31, 1998, 10 employees were engaged in a
variety of marketing activities, including: preparing marketing research and
collateral marketing materials; product planning; managing press coverage and
other public relations; identifying potential customers; attending trade shows,
seminars and conferences; establishing and maintaining close relationships with
recognized industry analysts; and maintaining our Web site.
 
    To license our software products, we generally engage in a lengthy sales
effort. During the sales effort, we spend significant time educating prospective
customers on the use and benefit of our solutions. As a result, the sales cycle
for our products and services is long and currently averages approximately four
months. The sales cycle for our online direct marketing solutions is likely to
be longer than the sales cycle for the online advertising solutions, because we
believe that online direct marketing is less established and will require more
education of our potential customers. In addition, an increase in the average
size of transactions would also likely result in an even longer sales cycle as
the license of our software products becomes rises to the level of an
enterprise-wide decision by prospective customers requiring a significant
commitment of resources. Delays due to lengthy sales cycles could have a
material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial
condition.
 
Marketing Alliances
 
    An important element of NetGravity's sales strategy is to form business
alliances to assist NetGravity in marketing and selling its products and
developing customer applications. This approach is intended to increase the
resources available to perform application design and development services for
NetGravity's customers and to enhance NetGravity's market credibility, potential
for lead generation and access to large accounts. Additionally, business
partners can provide online interactive marketing expertise in solving the
business problems of NetGravity's customers. Certain of NetGravity's business
partners have entered into reseller agreements with us, whereby they are
permitted to resell our products, and, in some cases, to customize the products.
NetGravity works with these partners to develop re-sale and co-marketing
programs and to generate business referrals that lead to sales. For example,
NetGravity and IBM recently entered a
 
                                       51
<PAGE>
co-selling and co-marketing arrangement under which IBM is authorized to promote
our products and services to IBM's net.commerce customers and, based on
acheiving certain performance milestones, IBM has agreed to fund certain joint
marketing activities. We do not provide exclusive sales territories and does not
impose minimum purchase requirements in connection with its reseller agreements.
We have reseller agreements with the following organizations:
 
    WEB HOSTING ORGANIZATIONS.  Web hosting organizations centrally house and
maintain Internet connectivity equipment, server hardware and software for their
customers. Many Web sites utilize the services of hosting organizations and rely
on their advice and recommendations in selecting Internet software solutions.
Because of their influence in the market, NetGravity strives to maintain good
business relationships with these organizations. The following Web hosting
organizations have provided hosting services to NetGravity customers: ANS
Communications, BBN Corporation, Digex Incorporated, EUnet International B.V.,
Exodus Communications, Inc., Frontier GlobalCenter, Inc. and Proxicom, Inc., the
data and Internet service business unit of Teleport Communications Group Inc.
 
    INTERNET SYSTEMS INTEGRATORS.  Internet systems integrators assist online
content publishers and merchants in the design, procurement and deployment of
their Web sites. These Internet systems integrators often recommend advertising
management and other Internet solutions to their clients. The following Internet
systems integrators have worked with NetGravity customers: CKS--Enterprise, a
systems integration and consulting organization within CKS Group, Inc., Fort
Point Partners, Horizon Technologies, Organic Inc. and Modem Media . Poppe
Tyson.
 
    We have historically sold our products and services primarily through our
field sales and telesales organization, but our future success may depend in
part upon our ability to increase sales of our solutions through Web hosting
organizations and Internet systems integrators (collectively, "Resellers"). We
cannot assure you that we will be able to attract and retain Resellers. If we
are able to attract Resellers, our gross margins may narrow due to discounts we
would give to our Resellers. In addition, if any of our Resellers were to
provide inadequate support and services to our customers, our revenues could
decrease and our reputation could be damaged. Our inability to attract or
adequately manage Resellers could materially and adversely affect our business,
results of operations and financial condition.
 
Product and Service Development
 
    NetGravity believes that its future success will depend in large part on its
ability to enhance the AdServer System, develop new products, maintain
technological leadership, and satisfy an evolving range of customer requirements
for large scale online advertising and direct marketing applications.
NetGravity's product and services development organization is responsible for
product architecture, core technology, product testing and quality assurance,
writing user documentation, and expanding the ability of NetGravity products to
operate with the leading hardware platforms, operating systems, database
management systems, content management systems and electronic commerce systems.
Since inception, NetGravity has made substantial investments in product
development and related activities. In addition, certain technologies have been
acquired and integrated into NetGravity products through licensing arrangements.
As of December 31, 1998, there were 28 employees in NetGravity's product
development organization. NetGravity's research and development expenses were
$1.8 million, $3.0 million and $4.6 million for the years ended December 31,
1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. To date, NetGravity has not capitalized any
software development costs. NetGravity expects to continue to devote substantial
resources to its product development activities. NetGravity plans to release its
next major version of AdServer in 1999. NetGravity also expects to release
AdCenter for Agencies in the second quarter of 1999. Finally, the Company is
developing an enhanced version of its Global Profile Service, adding the ability
to supply more detailed demographic targeting data, which is expected to be
available in the second half of 1999.
 
    Although NetGravity sells products to each of the constituents in the online
advertising and direct marketing supply chain (merchants, advertising agencies
and content publishers), it does not currently offer
 
                                       52
<PAGE>
products automating the online advertising purchasing process among such
constituents. If demand for a comprehensive solution develops and NetGravity
fails to develop such a solution on a timely basis, or at all, it could have a
material adverse effect on NetGravity's business, results of operations or
financial condition. In addition, as more customers demand online advertising
and direct marketing solutions, NetGravity must tailor its products to the
specific requirements of both online advertisers and direct marketers and
provide a solution for supplying demographic and behavioral data. If NetGravity
does not develop a satisfactory product to address the online direct marketing
market, future growth of NetGravity could be impaired and NetGravity could lose
customers to competitors with more comprehensive solutions. The occurrence of
any such event could have a material adverse effect on NetGravity's business,
results of operations or financial condition.
 
    NetGravity's products are designed to operate on a variety of hardware and
software platforms employed by its customers in their individual networks.
NetGravity must continually modify and enhance its products to keep pace with
changes in hardware and software platforms and database technology. As a result,
uncertainties related to the timing and nature of new product announcements,
introductions or modifications by operating systems vendors, particularly
Microsoft and Sun, by vendors of relational database software, particularly
Oracle and Microsoft, and browsers, particularly Netscape and Microsoft could
materially adversely impact NetGravity's business, results of operations or
financial condition.
 
Competition
 
    The market for online interactive marketing solutions is new, intensely
competitive and rapidly evolving. We expect competition to continue to increase
both from existing competitors and new market entrants. We believe that our
ability to compete depends on many factors both within and beyond our control,
including:
 
    - the ease of use, performance, features, price and reliability of our
      solutions as compared to those of our competitors;
 
    - the timing and market acceptance of new solutions and enhancements to
      existing solutions developed by us and our competitors;
 
    - the quality of our customer service and support; and
 
    - the effectiveness of our sales and marketing efforts.
 
    We believe that we presently compete favorably with respect to these
factors. However, we believe that our markets are still evolving, and we cannot
assure you that we will compete successfully in the future. Historically, our
competitive position with respect to prospective customers who favor outsourced
solutions has not been as strong as our position in the software market given
that we have not, until recently, offered outsourced solutions. Even with the
introduction of AdCenter we cannot assurance you that our competitive position
will improve among such customers. Our competitive position in our market (or
portions thereof) as compared to our competitors is otherwise difficult to
characterize, due principally to the variety of current and potential
competitors and the emerging nature of the market.
 
    In the online advertising market, we compete directly with DoubleClick Inc.,
CMG plc (through its Engage/Accipiter unit), Excite, Inc. (through its
MatchLogic unit), AdForce, Inc., Real Media, Inc. and a variety of other online
advertising service providers. To date, we have focused primarily on developing
software-based solutions, which we license to our customers, although we have
recently begun offering an outsourced solution (AdCenter). Some of our
competitors (including DoubleClick) have adopted a business model focused on
outsourcing of interactive marketing solutions. These competitors have much more
experience offering these outsourced solutions. If the outsourced model gains
popularity over the software model in our target market, we cannot assure you
that we will be able to compete effectively with our current products and
services.
 
    In the online direct marketing market, we expect to face indirect
competition from the vendors of electronic commerce systems, including
BroadVision, Interworld and Open Market, among others. In addition,
 
                                       53
<PAGE>
if providers of electronic commerce systems begin including advanced online
direct marketing functionality in their products, this could reduce or eliminate
the need for separate direct marketing management solutions, including our
current and future products targeted at the direct marketing market. We also
encounter competition from Netscape and Microsoft, which build or bundle
advertising management products with their Internet commerce solutions. Both
Netscape and Microsoft have significantly greater resources than we do, and, due
to their control of the browser market, if either of them were to offer online
advertising and direct marketing management solutions with features comparable
to those offered by us, there can be no assurance that we would be able to
compete effectively.
 
    Many of our current and potential competitors have longer operating
histories and significantly greater financial, technical, marketing and other
resources than we do and thus may be able to respond more quickly to new or
changing opportunities, technologies and customer requirements. Also, many of
our current and potential competitors have greater name recognition, more
extensive customer bases and larger proprietary consumer databases. These
competitors may be able to undertake more extensive promotional activities,
adopt more aggressive pricing policies, or offer more attractive terms to
purchasers than we can. In addition, current and potential competitors have
established or may establish cooperative relationships among themselves or with
third parties to enhance their products. Accordingly, it is possible that new
competitors or alliances among competitors may emerge and rapidly acquire
significant market share.
 
    In addition to these current and potential commercial competitors, we also
face competition from the internal capabilities of some potential customers.
Some of the largest and most popular online content publishers use internally
developed interactive marketing solutions rather than the commercial solutions
offered by NetGravity and our competition. We cannot assure you that we will be
able to compete successfully with these internally-developed solutions.
 
    Increased competition is likely to result in price reductions, reduced gross
margins and loss of market share, any one of which could impair our finances and
business prospects. We cannot assure you that we will be able to compete
successfully against existing or potential competitors or that competitive
pressures will not materially impair our finances or business prospects.
 
Intellectual Property and Other Proprietary Rights
 
    IT IS DIFFICULT FOR US TO PREVENT THE MISAPPROPRIATION OF OUR INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY. Policing unauthorized use of our products is difficult, particularly
because the global nature of the Internet makes it hard to control the ultimate
destination or security of software or other data transmitted. The laws of other
countries may afford us little or no effective protection of our technology. We
cannot assure you that the steps taken by us will prevent misappropriation of
our technology or that agreements entered into for that purpose will be
enforceable. In addition, litigation may be necessary in the future to enforce
our intellectual property rights, to protect our trade secrets, to determine the
validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others, or to defend against
claims of infringement or invalidity. Such litigation, whether successful or
unsuccessful, could result in substantial costs and diversions of resources,
either of which could have a material and adverse effect on our business,
results of operations or financial condition.
 
    WE PROTECT OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY BY WAY OF SEVERAL LEGAL MEANS. The
success and competitiveness of our products depend in part upon our ability to
protect our current and future technology through a combination of trademark,
trade secret and copyright law. Because laws protecting certain ownership rights
in Internet-related industries are uncertain and still evolving, we cannot give
you any assurance about the future viability or value of any of our current
technology ownership rights.
 
    OUR SOURCE CODE MAY BE RELEASED TO OUR CUSTOMERS UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES. Under the general terms and conditions of our standard license
agreements with customers, we retain title to the trade secrets and copyrights
in the source code of our software products. However, some of our agreements
with our customers
 
                                       54
<PAGE>
contain provisions requiring release of source code for limited, non-exclusive
use by the customer in the event that we cease to do business or we fail to
support our products. This release of source code may increase the likelihood of
misappropriation by third parties.
 
    WE PROTECT OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY BY ENTERING INTO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
AGREEMENTS WITH EMPLOYEES, CONSULTANTS AND VENDORS. We enter into
confidentiality and intellectual property assignment agreements with our
employees, consultants, and vendors and generally control access to and
distribution of our software, documentation, and other proprietary information.
Notwithstanding these precautions, it may be possible for a third party to copy
or otherwise obtain and use our software or other proprietary information
without authorization or to develop similar software independently.
 
    From time to time we have been, and expect to continue to be, subject to
claims of alleged infringement of the copyrights, trade secrets and other
intellectual property rights of third parties by us. In addition, other parties
may assert invalidity claims (or claims for indemnification resulting from
infringement claims) against us. Any such assertions or prosecutions might
materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial
condition. Although such claims have not resulted in litigation or had a
material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial
condition, such claims could subject us to significant liability for damages and
could result in invalidation of our proprietary rights and be time-consuming and
expensive to defend, and result in the diversion of management time and
attention. If any such claims or actions are asserted against us, we may seek to
obtain a license under a third party's intellectual property rights. We cannot
assure you, however, that under such circumstances, a license would be available
on reasonable terms or at all.
 
Employees
 
    As of December 31, 1998, the Company had 125 employees, including 46 in
sales and marketing, 28 in research and development, 29 in professional
services, customer support and education, three in transactional services, and
19 in finance and administration. Of these, 11 are located in Asia, 15 are
located in Europe and the remainder are located in North America. None of the
Company's employees is represented by a labor union. The Company has experienced
no work stoppages and believes its relationship with its employees is good. See
"Risk Factors--Our success depends on certain key employees."
 
Facilities
 
    The Company is headquartered in San Mateo, California where it leases
approximately 26,500 square feet pursuant to a term lease that expires in
October 2005. In addition, the Company maintains a regional office in New York,
New York where it leases approximately 3,000 square feet of office space
pursuant to a lease that expires in 2003. The Company also leases space in
London, Tokyo and Hong Kong to support its international operations. See Note 6
of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
Legal Proceedings
 
    The Company is not currently subject to any material legal proceedings. The
Company may from time to time become a party to various legal proceedings
arising in the ordinary course of its business.
 
                                       55
<PAGE>
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
Executive Officers and Directors
 
    The executive officers and directors of the Company, and their ages as of
February 5, 1999, are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name                     Age                        Position
- -----------------------  ---   --------------------------------------------------
<S>                      <C>   <C>
John W. Danner(1)......   31   Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Stephen E. Recht.......   47   Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Susan Atherton.........   42   Vice President of Worldwide Sales
Michael W. Davies......   37   Vice President of Services and Support
John K. Donnelly.......   31   Vice President of North American Sales
Rick E. D. Jackson        38
  IV...................        Vice President of Marketing
Douglas S. Kaplan......   32   Vice President and General Manager of Asia Pacific
Martin G. Lane-Smith...   51   Vice President of Engineering
Jitendra Valera........   41   Vice President and General Manager of Europe
Larry C. Wear..........   33   Vice President of Global Services
J. Scott Briggs........   48   Director
John D. D. Kohler(2)...   44   Director
Amnon Landan...........   40   Director
Jonathan D.               47
  Lazarus(3)...........        Director
Alexander R.              31
  Slusky(2)(3).........        Director
</TABLE>
 
- ----------
 
(1) Member of New-Hire Option Committee.
 
(2) Member of Audit Committee.
 
(3) Member of Compensation Committee.
 
    JOHN W. DANNER co-founded the Company in 1995, served as its President from
inception until April 1998 and has served as Chief Executive Officer and as a
Director since inception. In April 1998, Mr. Danner was elected Chairman of the
Board. From November 1993 to January 1995, Mr. Danner was a technical lead/
architect for Silicon Graphics, Inc. ("Silicon Graphics"), where he architected
the set-top and server side of a component of Silicon Graphics' interactive
television system. From June 1990 to November 1993, Mr. Danner was a development
manager at Oracle Corporation, where he oversaw product development for Oracle
Book, a multimedia browser. Since January 1998, Mr. Danner has served on the
Board of Directors of the Internet Advertising Bureau, an online advertising
advocacy group and standards-setting body for online content publishers. Mr.
Danner holds B.S.E.E. and M.S.E.E. degrees from Stanford University.
 
    STEPHEN E. RECHT has served as the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of
the Company since 1996. From 1995 to 1996, Mr. Recht was the Chief Financial
Officer of AuraVision Corporation, a fabless, multimedia semiconductor company,
where Mr. Recht was responsible for all financial operations, investor
relations, contract administration, human resources and facilities. From 1992 to
1995, Mr. Recht was the Vice President, Finance and Administration and the Chief
Financial Officer of ViewStar Corporation, a client/ server, business process
automation software company, where Mr. Recht directed all financial operations
and investor relations. Mr. Recht holds a B.A. degree in Economics from Stanford
University and an M.B.A. degree from the Wharton School at the University of
Pennsylvania.
 
    SUSAN ATHERTON has served as the Company's Vice President of Worldwide Sales
since October 1998. From April 1998 to October 1998, Ms. Atherton served as the
Company's Vice President of Sales. From 1996 to 1998, Ms. Atherton was the Vice
President, Worldwide Sales, of DataMind Corporation, a developer of data mining
client/server and Web-enhanced products, where Ms. Atherton managed the
company's direct and indirect channels sales organization worldwide and helped
develop key strategic relationships with several technology companies. From 1995
to 1996, Ms. Atherton was the Vice President, Worldwide Sales, of Red
 
                                       56
<PAGE>
Pepper Software, a supply chain management software developer, where Ms.
Atherton managed the company's direct and indirect channels sales organization
worldwide. From 1993 to 1995, Ms. Atherton was the Area Vice President of Ross
Systems, Inc., a provider of supply chain management solutions and client/server
business software for enterprise resource planning, where Ms. Atherton helped
manage the company's Western U.S. sales force. Ms. Atherton holds a B.S. degree
in Economics from the University of California, Riverside.
 
    MICHAEL W. DAVIES has served as the Company's Vice President of Services and
Support since October 1998. From December 1997 to October 1998, Mr. Davies
served as the Company's Director of Professional Services. Before joining the
Company, Mr. Davies was the Director of Professional Services of Walker
Interactive Systems ("Walker"), a provider of enterprise-wide business and
accounting solutions, where he worked for eight years developing many areas
within Walker including consulting, education, sales, customer support and
marketing and managing Walker's Asia Pacific professional services practice. Mr.
Davies holds a B.S. degree in Computer Information Systems from the University
of Nevada.
 
    JOHN K. DONNELLY has served as the Company's Vice President of North
American Sales since October 1998. From April 1997 until October 1998 Mr.
Donnelly was the Company's Director of Sales. From January 1997 to April 1997,
Mr. Donnelly was the Company's East Regional Sales Manager. From May 1996 to
January 1997, Mr. Donnelly served as a field sales manager for the Company's
Northeast North America region. From October 1991 to May 1996, Mr. Donnelly
handled major account sales for Parametric Technology Corporation, a company
that develops, markets and supports integrated product development and
information management software. Mr. Donnelly holds B.A. degrees in
Communication and History from Boston College.
 
    RICK E. D. JACKSON IV has served as the Company's Vice President of
Marketing since 1997. From 1996 to 1997, Mr. Jackson was the Vice President,
Marketing for mFactory, Inc., an advanced multimedia authoring tool company,
where Mr. Jackson assembled and led a team of professionals responsible for all
aspects of product and corporate marketing. From 1994 to 1996, Mr. Jackson was
the Director of Product Marketing for Taligent, Inc. ("Taligent"), a software
company, where Mr. Jackson managed the marketing organization responsible for
various Taligent products. From 1990 to 1994, Mr. Jackson was the Director of
Product Marketing for NeXT Computer, Inc., a desktop computer and software
manufacturer, where Mr. Jackson assembled, managed and led the company's product
marketing team. Mr. Jackson holds a B.S. degree in Computer Science from
California State University, Northridge.
 
    DOUGLAS S. KAPLAN has served as the Company's Vice President and General
Manager of Asia Pacific since 1997. From 1995 to 1997, Mr. Kaplan was the Vice
President of Nikkei BP BizTech Inc. ("Nikkei"), a Japanese business and
technology publisher, which Mr. Kaplan founded. At Nikkei, Mr. Kaplan defined
the company's business plan and developed Nikkei as a consulting and research
company. From 1990 to 1995, Mr. Kaplan was a Representative Director and a
co-founder of CMP Japan, the Japanese subsidiary of CMP Media, Inc., a
technology publisher. At CMP Japan, Mr. Kaplan developed the company's business
plan and implemented the business of consulting with U.S. technology companies
interested in conducting business in Japan. Mr. Kaplan holds a B.A. degree in
Asian Studies and Economics from the University of California, Berkeley.
 
    MARTIN G. LANE-SMITH has served as the Company's Vice President of
Engineering since 1997. From 1991 to 1997, Mr. Lane-Smith was the Vice
President, Engineering of Edify Corporation, a provider of software solutions
for interactive online services, where Mr. Lane-Smith was responsible for all
aspects of product development, product support and the management of the
company's engineering team. Mr. Lane-Smith holds a B.A. degree and an M.A.
degree, each in Natural Sciences (Math and Physics), from the University of
Cambridge.
 
    JITENDRA VALERA has served as the Company's Vice President and General
Manager of Europe since 1997 and has been an employee of the Company since May
1998. From 1996 to May 1998, Mr. Valera was an employee of Protege Software
(Holdings) Limited, a consulting firm providing management services to
 
                                       57
<PAGE>
NetGravity Europe Limited. From 1994 to 1997, Mr. Valera was the Managing
Director of Applix (UK) Ltd., the United Kingdom subsidiary of Applix Inc., a
producer and marketer of enterprise software, where Mr. Valera was responsible
for management of the company. From 1989 to 1993, Mr. Valera held various
positions with Data Logic Ltd. ("Data Logic"), a computer services company,
including, most recently, Director of Sales, Professional Services Division
(International Territory) and Director, International Sales and Marketing,
Professional Services Division. Among Mr. Valera's responsibilities at Data
Logic was establishing sales groups and strategies. Mr. Valera holds a Business
Studies degree from Havering Technical College and an HND degree in Business
Studies from Hatfield Polytechnic.
 
    LARRY C. WEAR has served as the Company's Vice President of Global Services
since October 1998. From the Company's inception until October 1998, Mr. Wear
served as the Company's Vice President of Support and Service. From 1994 to
1995, Mr. Wear was the Director of Customer Support for Mercury Interactive
Corporation, an automated client/server testing software company, where Mr. Wear
was responsible for all customer support, training, consulting and pre-sales
engineering in North America. From 1992 to 1993, Mr. Wear was the Vice President
of Software Development for XALT Software Corporation, a producer of personal
and group productivity tools, where he oversaw the design, development, testing,
porting and release of a suite of products. Mr. Wear holds a B.S.E.E. degree
from the University of California, Davis, and an M.S.E.E. degree from Stanford
University.
 
    J. SCOTT BRIGGS has served as a Director of the Company since December 1998.
Mr. Briggs has also been a consultant to the Company since December 1998. From
June 1975 to July 1997, Mr. Briggs served in various positions, including
president, at Ziff-Davis Inc. ("Ziff-Davis"), an integrated media and marketing
company. Since July 1997, Mr. Briggs has served as a consultant to Ziff-Davis.
Mr. Briggs serves on the boards of directors of several Internet-related private
companies and is a senior advisor to Red Herring Communications. Mr. Briggs
holds a B.A. degree from Williams College.
 
    JOHN D. D. KOHLER has served as a Director of the Company since inception.
In 1996, Mr. Kohler founded Redleaf Venture Management, L.L.C., a venture
management firm, of which he is currently a Managing Member. From 1994 to 1995,
Mr. Kohler was Vice President and General Manager, Customer Solutions, at
Netscape Communications Corporation. From 1991 to 1993, Mr. Kohler was a Vice
President and General Manager at Silicon Graphics. Over the previous 15 years,
Mr. Kohler held executive positions at Hewlett Packard Company, Convergent
Technologies and Unisys Corporation. Mr. Kohler holds a B.A. degree in
International Relations and Economics from the University of California, Los
Angeles.
 
    AMNON LANDAN has served as a Director of the Company since October 1998. He
has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Mercury Interactive
Corporation ("Mercury") since February 1997 and as a director of Mercury since
February 1996. Prior to his current positions, Mr. Landan held various
management positions at Mercury including President from October 1995 to January
1997, President of North American Operations from March 1995 to September 1995
and Chief Operating Officer from August 1993 to March 1995. Mr. Landan holds a
B.S. in Computer Science from the Technion Israel Institute of Technology.
 
    JONATHAN D. LAZARUS has served as a Director of the Company since 1996. From
1985 to August 1996, Mr. Lazarus worked at Microsoft Corporation ("Microsoft"),
where he served most recently as Vice President, Strategic Relations. Mr.
Lazarus has also served as an advisor to Microsoft, the Universal Studios New
Media Group and ZDTV. Mr. Lazarus currently serves on the boards of directors of
Ziff-Davis Inc. and the following private companies: HomeGrocer.com, Inc. and
Vision Solutions, Inc. Mr. Lazarus holds a B.S. degree in Communications from
Temple University.
 
    ALEXANDER R. SLUSKY has served as a Director of the Company since 1997.
Since January 1998, Mr. Slusky has been the Managing Member of Vector Capital
Partners, L.L.C., the General Partner of Vector Capital, L.P. ("Vector
Capital"), a technology equity fund affiliated with Ziff Brothers Investments
("ZBI"). From August 1995 to December 1997, Mr. Slusky was a Principal of ZBI
and from 1996 to April 1998 he was a General Partner of Vector Capital. From
August 1992 to August 1995, Mr. Slusky was an Associate at New Enterprise
Associates ("NEA"), a venture capital fund, and from 1993 until 1995 a Special
Limited
 
                                       58
<PAGE>
Partner of NEA VI, an entity affiliated with NEA. Mr. Slusky serves on the
boards of directors of several private companies. Mr. Slusky holds an A.B.
degree in Economics from Harvard University and an M.B.A. from the Harvard
Business School.
 
Board Committees
 
    The Board of Directors has a Compensation Committee, an Audit Committee and
a New-Hire Option Committee.
 
    COMPENSATION COMMITTEE.  The Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors reviews and makes recommendations to the Board regarding all forms of
compensation provided to the executive officers and directors of the Company and
its subsidiaries, including stock compensation and loans. In addition, the
Compensation Committee reviews and makes recommendations on bonus and stock
compensation arrangements for all employees of the Company. As part of the
foregoing, the Compensation Committee also administers the Company's 1995 Stock
Option Plan, 1998 Stock Plan and 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The current
members of the Compensation Committee are Messrs. Lazarus and Slusky.
 
    AUDIT COMMITTEE.  The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors reviews and
monitors the corporate financial reporting and the internal and external audits
of the Company and its subsidiaries, including, among other things, the
Company's internal audit and control functions, the results and scope of the
annual audit and other services provided by the Company's independent auditors
and the Company's compliance with legal matters that have a significant impact
on the Company's financial reports. The Audit Committee also consults with the
Company's management and the Company's independent auditors prior to the
presentation of financial statements to stockholders and, as appropriate,
initiates inquiries into aspects of the Company's financial affairs. In
addition, the Audit Committee has the responsibility to consider and recommend
the appointment of, and to review fee arrangements with, the Company's
independent auditors. The current members of the Audit Committee are Messrs.
Kohler and Slusky.
 
    NEW-HIRE OPTION COMMITTEE.  The New-Hire Option Committee of the Board of
Directors has the authority to grant options under the Company's 1998 Stock Plan
to newly-hired employees (other than executive officers), in each case in an
amount determined by the New-Hire Option Committee at an exercise price per
share equal to the fair market value of the Company's common stock determined on
the date of grant of such options, and otherwise on the terms and conditions
specified in the 1998 Stock Plan. The current sole member of the New-Hire Option
Committee is Mr. Danner.
 
Director Compensation and Other Arrangements
 
    Directors of the Company do not receive cash compensation for their service
as directors. Each non-employee director automatically receives an option to
purchase 25,000 shares of common stock upon joining the Board of Directors. Each
incumbent non-employee director is automatically granted an option to purchase
an additional 5,000 shares of common stock annually. See "Management--Employee
Benefit Plans."
 
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
 
    The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors currently consists of
Messrs. Lazarus and Slusky. No interlocking relationship exists between any
member of the Company's Board of Directors or the Company's Compensation
Committee and any member of the board of directors or compensation committee of
any other company, and no such interlocking relationship has existed in the
past.
 
                                       59
<PAGE>
Employment Contracts and Change of Control Arrangements
 
    Pursuant to the Founder's Stock Purchase Agreement entered into in September
1995 by and between the Company and John W. Danner, the Company's Chairman of
the Board and Chief Executive Officer, the vesting of the stock purchased under
such agreement will accelerate upon certain changes of control of the Company.
See "Certain Transactions."
 
    Pursuant to various agreements entered into by and between the Company and
each of Stephen E. Recht, the Company's Chief Financial Officer and Secretary,
Susan Atherton, the Company's Vice President of Worldwide Sales, and Jitendra
Valera, the Company's Vice President and General Manager of Europe, upon certain
changes of control, certain benefits will be provided to each of such
individuals under certain circumstances in accordance with their respective
agreements. See "Certain Transactions--Employment and Severance Agreements."
 
Executive Compensation
 
    The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation
during fiscal 1997 and fiscal 1998 of (i) the Company's Chief Executive Officer
and (ii) the Company's four other most highly compensated executive officers
whose salary and bonus for fiscal 1998 exceeded $100,000 (collectively, the
"Named Executive Officers").
 
                           Summary Compensation Table
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     Long-Term
                                                                                   Compensation
                                                                                   -------------
                                                                                      Awards
                                                                                   -------------
                                                            Annual Compensation     Securities
                                                           ----------------------   Underlying       All Other
Name and Principal Positions                      Year     Salary($)    Bonus($)    Options(#)    Compensation($)
- ----------------------------------------------  ---------  ----------  ----------  -------------  ---------------
<S>                                             <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>            <C>
John W. Danner, Chairman of the Board and
  Chief Executive Officer.....................       1998  $  129,327  $       --          226       $      --
                                                     1997     124,280          --           --              --
Stephen E. Recht, Chief Financial Officer and
  Secretary...................................       1998  $  176,183  $       --        5,907       $  17,907(1)
                                                     1997     154,517          --       78,408              --
Rick E. D. Jackson IV, Vice President of
  Marketing (2)...............................       1998  $  167,069  $   22,627       22,952       $      --
                                                     1997      78,462          --      150,000              --
Martin G. Lane-Smith, Vice President of
  Engineering (3).............................       1998  $  194,506  $       --       82,792       $      --
                                                     1997      21,346      25,000      214,603              --
John K. Donnelly, Vice President of North
  American Sales..............................       1998  $   89,719  $  129,004       16,134       $      --
                                                     1997      77,915     143,642       13,976              --
</TABLE>
 
- ----------
(1) Represents forgiveness by the Company of a previously outstanding loan
    pursuant to a debt forgiveness agreement by and between Mr. Recht and the
    Company dated November 20, 1998.
 
(2) Mr. Jackson joined the Company in June 1997; his annualized base salary for
    fiscal 1997 was $150,000.
 
(3) Mr. Lane-Smith joined the Company in November 1997; his annualized base
    salary for fiscal 1997 was $185,000.
 
                                       60
<PAGE>
Option Grants in Fiscal 1998
 
    The following table provides information relating to stock options awarded
to each of the Named Executive Officers during the fiscal year ended December
31, 1998. All such options were awarded under the Company's 1995 Stock Option
Plan and 1998 Stock Plan. No stock appreciation rights were granted to these
individuals during such year.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                      Potential Realized
                                                        Individual Grants                              Value at Assumed
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------         Annual Rates of
                                    Number of      Percent of                                            Stock Price
                                   Securities     Total Options                                          Appreciation
                                   Underlying      Granted to        Exercise                         for Option Term(1)
                                     Options      Employees in       Price Per     Expiration   ------------------------------
Name and Principal Positions       Granted(#)    Fiscal 1998(%)    Share($)(2)(3)   Date(4)         ($)5%          ($)10%
- ---------------------------------  -----------  -----------------  -------------  ------------  -------------  ---------------
<S>                                <C>          <C>                <C>            <C>           <C>            <C>
John W. Danner, Chairman of the
  Board and Chief Executive
  Officer........................         113(5)          0.01%      $   23.69          7/8/98  $    1,683.35  $      4,265.95
                                          113(5)          0.01            0.61         5/26/98          43.35           109.86
 
Stephen E. Recht, Chief Financial
  Officer and Secretary..........         113(5)          0.01           23.69        7/8/2008       1,683.35         4,265.95
                                        5,681            0.69             6.60        4/6/2008      23,580.15        59,756.74
                                          113(5)          0.01            0.50       1/28/2008          35.53            90.05
 
Rick E. D. Jackson IV, Vice
  President of Marketing.........         113(5)          0.01           23.69        7/8/2008       1,683.35         4,265.95
                                       22,726            2.74             6.60        4/6/2008      94,328.91       239,047.98
                                          113(5)          0.01            0.55       1/28/2008          39.09            99.05
 
Martin G. Lane-Smith, Vice
  President of Engineering.......         113(5)          0.01           23.69        7/8/2008       1,683.53         4,266.40
                                       78,021            9.41            11.94       11/3/2008     585,859.83     1,484,683.84
                                        4,545            0.55             6.60        4/6/2008      18,864.95        47,807.49
                                          113(5)          0.01            0.55       1/28/2008          39.09            99.05
 
John K. Donnelly, Vice President
  of North American Sales........         113(5)          0.01           23.69        7/8/2008       1,683.35         4,265.95
                                       15,908            1.84             6.60        4/6/2008      66,029.41       167,331.48
                                          113(5)          0.01            0.55       1/28/2008          39.09            99.05
</TABLE>
 
- ---------
 
(1) The 5% and 10% assumed annual rates of compound stock price appreciation are
    prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
    Commission and do not represent the Company's estimate or projection of the
    future trading prices of its common stock. There can be no assurance that
    the actual stock price appreciation over the ten-year option term will be at
    the assumed 5% and 10% levels or at any other defined level. Actual gains,
    if any, on stock option exercises are dependent on numerous factors,
    including the future performance of the Company, overall market conditions
    and the option holder's continued employment with the Company throughout the
    entire vesting period and option term, which factors are not reflected in
    this table. The potential realizable value is calculated by multiplying the
    exercise price per share by the stated annual appreciation rate compounded
    annually for the option term, subtracting the exercise price per share from
    the product, and multiplying the remainder by the number of shares
    underlying the option granted.
 
(2) Options were granted at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of
    the Company's common stock.
 
(3) Exercise price may be paid (i) in cash, (ii) by check, (iii) by promissory
    note, (iv) by delivery of already-owned shares of the Company's common stock
    subject to certain conditions, (v) by delivery of a properly executed
    exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to
    promptly deliver to the Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds required
    to pay the exercise price or (vi) by any combination of the foregoing
    methods of payment under applicable law. In addition, the consideration for
    shares acquired upon exercise of options granted under the 1998 Stock Plan
    may consist of a reduction in the amount of any Company liability to the
    optionee.
 
                                       61
<PAGE>
(4) Twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares issuable upon exercise of options
    granted under the Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan or 1998 Stock Plan
    generally become vested on the first anniversary of the vesting commencement
    date and the balance generally vests at the rate of 1/48th of such shares
    for each month thereafter.
 
(5) This option was fully vested on date of grant.
 
Aggregate Option Exercises in Fiscal 1998 and December 31, 1998 Option Values
 
    The following table sets forth, as to the Named Executive Officers,
information concerning stock options exercised during fiscal 1998 and the number
of shares subject to both exercisable and unexercisable stock options as of
December 31, 1998.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           Number of Securities
                                                                          Underlying Unexercised        Value of Unexercised
                                                                                Options at            In-the-Money Options at
                                           Number of                       December 31, 1998(#)       December 31, 1998($)(1)
                                        Shares Acquired     Value      ----------------------------  --------------------------
Name                                    on Exercise(#)   Realized($)(2) Exercisable(3) Unexercisable Exercisable   Unexercisable
- --------------------------------------  ---------------  ------------  -------------  -------------  ------------  ------------
<S>                                     <C>              <C>           <C>            <C>            <C>           <C>
John W. Danner, Chairman of the Board
  and Chief Executive Officer.........           113      $      808          113              --    $         --   $       --
 
Stephen E. Recht, Chief Financial
  Officer and Secretary...............        10,000         183,126      173,692              --       2,702,832           --
                                               9,600         162,000                           --                           --
 
Rick E. D. Jackson IV, Vice President
  of Marketing........................         8,700         146,813      164,252              --       2,445,084           --
 
Martin G. Lane-Smith, Vice President
  of Engineering......................        10,000         168,750      209,374          78,021       3,273,104      316,960
 
John K. Donnelly, Vice President of
  North American Sales................         1,900          32,063       28,097              --         872,367           --
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 
(1) Represents the difference between the fair market value of the shares of
    common stock underlying the options at December 30, 1998, $16 per share (the
    closing price of the common stock on the last trading day of fiscal 1998 as
    reported by the Nasdaq National Market) less the corresponding exercise
    price of such options.
 
(2) The amount set forth represents the difference between the fair market value
    of the shares on the date of exercise and the exercise price of the option.
 
(3) The option shares are immediately exercisable, subject to the Company's
    repurchase option at the original exercise price upon the optionee's
    cessation of service prior to vesting in such option shares. The repurchase
    option generally lapses or the option shares generally vest as follows: 25%
    of the option shares vest upon the completion of one year of service from
    the vesting commencement date and an additional 1/48th of such shares become
    exercisable each month thereafter.
 
Employee Benefit Plans
 
    1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN.  The Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan (the "1995
Plan") was adopted by the Board of Directors in September 1995 and was approved
by the Company's stockholders in October 1995. The 1995 Plan provides for grants
of incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), to employees (including officers
and employee directors) and nonstatutory stock options to employees (including
officers and employee directors) and consultants of the Company. Directors who
are not also employees are not eligible to receive grants under the 1995 Plan
once the Company registers any class of any equity security pursuant to the
Exchange Act. The purposes of the 1995 Plan are to attract and retain the best
available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, to provide
additional incentive to employees and consultants of the Company and its
subsidiaries and to promote the success of the Company's business. The 1995 Plan
is administered by the Board of Directors or by a committee appointed by the
Board which identifies optionees and determines the terms of options granted,
including the exercise price, number of shares subject to the option and the
exercisability thereof.
 
                                       62
<PAGE>
    The terms of options granted under the 1995 Plan may not exceed ten years.
The term of all incentive stock options granted to an optionee who, at the time
of grant, owns stock representing more than 10% of the voting power of all
classes of stock of the Company or a parent or subsidiary of the Company (a "Ten
Percent Stockholder"), may not exceed five years, however. Generally, options
granted under the 1995 Plan vest and become exercisable starting one year after
the date of grant, with 25% of the shares subject to the option becoming
exercisable at that time and an additional 1/48th of such shares becoming
exercisable each month thereafter. Holders of options granted under the 1995
Plan may exercise their options prior to complete vesting of shares, provided
that such holders enter into a restricted stock purchase agreement granting the
Company an option to repurchase any unvested shares at a price per share equal
to the original exercise price per share for the option in the event of a
termination of the optionee's employment or consulting relationship. The
exercise price of incentive stock options granted to an employee under the 1995
Plan must be at least equal to the fair market value of the shares on the date
of grant. The exercise price of any incentive stock option granted to a Ten
Percent Stockholder must equal at least 110% of the fair market value of the
common stock on the date of grant. The exercise price of nonstatutory stock
options granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder under the 1995 Plan must be no less
than 110% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant. The
exercise price of nonstatutory stock options granted to a non-Ten Percent
Stockholder may be no less than 85% of the fair market value of the common stock
on the date of grant for non-Ten Percent Stockholder employees and consultants.
The consideration for exercising any incentive stock option or any nonstatutory
stock option is determined by the Board of Directors and may consist of (i)
cash, (ii) check, (iii) promissory note, (iv) delivery of already-owned shares
of the Company's common stock subject to certain conditions, (v) delivery of a
properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a
broker to promptly deliver to the Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds
required to pay the exercise price or (vi) any combination of the foregoing
methods of payment under applicable law.
 
    No option granted under the 1995 Plan may be transferred by the optionee
other than by will or the laws of descent or distribution, and each option may
be exercised, during the lifetime of the optionee, only by such optionee. An
optionee whose relationship with the Company or any related corporation ceases
for any reason (other than death or permanent and total disability) may exercise
options in the three-month period following such cessation (unless such options
terminate or expire sooner by their terms). In the event of a proposed sale of
all or substantially all of the Company's assets or merger of the Company with
or into another corporation, all outstanding options may either be assumed or an
equivalent option may be substituted by the surviving entity. If such options
are not assumed or substituted, each optionee may exercise options as to all of
the shares subject to the option agreement, including shares as to which such
options would not otherwise be exercisable and the options become fully vested,
or to the extent such options have been exercised and unvested shares remain
subject to a restricted stock purchase agreement, the Company's repurchase
option will lapse entirely. In the event that the options become fully vested in
connection with a sale of assets or merger of the Company, the optionees will be
notified that the options are fully vested for a period of fifteen (15) days
from the date of such notice, and that the options will terminate upon the
expiration of such period.
 
    As of February 5, 1999, 1,527,797 shares of common stock had been issued
upon exercise of options outstanding under the 1995 Plan. Options to purchase
1,473,291 shares of common stock at a weighted average exercise price of $2.67
were also outstanding. The Company has not granted options to purchase common
stock pursuant to the 1995 Plan since the closing of the Company's initial
public offering.
 
    1998 STOCK PLAN.  The Company's 1998 Stock Plan (the "1998 Plan") was
adopted by the Board of Directors on April 23, 1998 and was approved by the
Company's stockholders effective as of May 8, 1998.
 
    The 1998 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, within the
meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), to employees (including officers and employee directors) and for the
grant of nonstatutory stock options and stock purchase rights ("SPRs") to
employees, directors and consultants. As of February 5, 1999, a total of
1,946,575 shares of common stock was available for issuance under the 1998 Plan.
At the beginning of each of the Company's fiscal years during the term of
 
                                       63
<PAGE>
the 1998 Plan, the number of shares available for issuance under the 1998 Plan
will be increased by the least of (i) 1,000,000, (ii) 5% of the outstanding
shares of common stock at that time or (iii) a number determined by the Board.
Unless terminated sooner, the 1998 Plan will terminate automatically in April
2008.
 
    The 1998 Plan may be administered by the Board of Directors or a committee
of the Board (as applicable, the "Administrator"). The Administrator has the
power to determine the terms of the options or SPRs granted, including the
exercise price of the option or SPR, the number of shares subject to each option
or SPR, the exercisability thereof, and the form of consideration payable upon
such exercise. In addition, the Administrator has the authority to amend,
suspend or terminate the 1998 Plan, provided that no such action may affect any
share of common stock previously issued and sold or any option previously
granted under the 1998 Plan.
 
    Options and SPRs granted under the 1998 Plan are generally not transferable
by the optionee, and each option and SPR is exercisable during the lifetime of
the optionee only by such optionee. Options granted under the 1998 Plan must
generally be exercised within three months after the end of optionee's status as
an employee, director or consultant of the Company, or within twelve months
after such optionee's termination by death or disability, but in no event later
than the expiration of the option's term.
 
    In the case of SPRs, unless the Administrator determines otherwise, the
Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement shall grant the Company a repurchase option
exercisable upon the voluntary or involuntary termination of the purchaser's
employment or consulting relationship with the Company for any reason (including
death or disability). The purchase price for Shares repurchased pursuant to the
Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement shall be the original price paid by the
purchaser and may be paid by cancellation of any indebtedness of the purchaser
to the Company. The repurchase option shall lapse at a rate determined by the
Administrator.
 
    The exercise price of all incentive stock options granted under the 1998
Plan must be at least equal to the fair market value of the common stock on the
date of grant. The exercise price of nonstatutory stock options and SPRs granted
under the 1998 Plan is determined by the Administrator, but with respect to
nonstatutory stock options intended to qualify as "performance-based
compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the exercise
price must be at least equal to the fair market value of the common stock on the
date of grant. With respect to any participant who owns stock possessing more
than 10% of the voting power of all classes of the Company's outstanding capital
stock, the exercise price of any incentive stock option granted must equal at
least 110% of the fair market value on the grant date and the term of such
incentive stock option must not exceed five years. The term of all other options
granted under the 1998 Plan may not exceed ten years.
 
    The 1998 Plan provides that in the event of a merger of the Company with or
into another corporation, or a sale of substantially all of the Company's
assets, each option and SPR shall be assumed or an equivalent option substituted
for by the successor corporation. If the outstanding options and SPRs are not
assumed or substituted for by the successor corporation, the Administrator shall
provide for the optionee to have the right to exercise the option or SPR as to
all of the optioned stock, including shares as to which it would not otherwise
be exercisable. If an option or SPR becomes exercisable in full in connection
with a merger or sale of assets, the Administrator shall notify the optionee
that the option or SPR shall be fully exercisable for a period of fifteen (15)
days from the date of such notice, and the option or SPR will terminate upon the
expiration of such period.
 
    As of February 5, 1999, 226 shares of common stock had been issued upon
exercise of options outstanding under the 1998 Plan. As of that date, options to
purchase 732,693 shares of common stock at a weighted average exercise price of
$18.31 were outstanding.
 
    1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN.  The Company's 1998 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan (the "1998 Purchase Plan") was adopted by the Board of Directors
on April 23, 1998 and was approved by the Company's stockholders effective as of
May 8, 1998. As of February 5, 1999, a total of 665,524 shares of common stock
was available for issuance under the 1998 Purchase Plan. At the beginning of
each of the
 
                                       64
<PAGE>
Company's fiscal years during the term of the 1998 Plan, the number of shares
available for issuance under
the 1998 Purchase Plan will be increased by the least of (i) 750,000; (ii) 4% of
the outstanding shares of common stock at that time or (iii) a number determined
by the Board.
 
    The 1998 Purchase Plan, which is intended to qualify under Section 423 of
the Code, contains consecutive, overlapping, twenty-four month offering periods.
Each offering period includes four six-month purchase periods. The offering
periods generally start on the first trading day on or after February 1 and
August 1 of each year. However, the first such offering period commenced on June
12, 1998 (the first trading day after the effective date of the Company's
initial public offering) and ends on the last trading day on or before July 31,
2000.
 
    Employees are eligible to participate if they are customarily employed by
the Company or any participating subsidiary for at least 20 hours per week and
more than five months in any calendar year. However, any employee who (i)
immediately after grant owns stock possessing 5% or more of the total combined
voting power or value of all classes of the capital stock of the Company, or
(ii) whose rights to purchase stock under all employee stock purchase plans of
the Company accrues at a rate which exceeds $25,000 worth of stock for each
calendar year may not be granted an option to purchase stock under the 1998
Purchase Plan. The 1998 Purchase Plan permits participants to purchase common
stock through payroll deductions of up to 10% of the participant's
"compensation." Compensation is defined as the participant's base straight time
gross earnings and commissions and bonuses but excludes payments for overtime,
shift premium, incentive compensation, incentive payments, and other
compensation. The maximum number of shares a participant may purchase during a
single purchase period is 5,000 shares.
 
    Amounts deducted and accumulated by the participant are used to purchase
shares of common stock at the end of each purchase period. The price of stock
purchased under the 1998 Purchase Plan is 85% of the lower of the fair market
value of the common stock (i) at the beginning of the offering period or (ii) at
the end of the purchase period; provided, however, that under certain
circumstances, the purchase price may be adjusted to a price not less than 85%
of the lower of the fair market value on the common stock on (i) the date the
Company's stockholders approve an increase in shares reserved for issuance under
the 1998 Purchase Plan or (ii) at the end of the purchase period. In the event
the fair market value at the end of a purchase period is less than the fair
market value at the beginning of the offering period, the participants will be
withdrawn from the current offering period following exercise and automatically
re-enrolled in a new offering period. The new offering period will use the lower
fair market value as of the first date of the new offering period to determine
the purchase price for future purchase periods. Participants may end their
participation at any time during an offering period, and they will be paid their
payroll deductions to date. Participation ends automatically upon termination of
employment with the Company.
 
    Rights granted under the 1998 Purchase Plan are not transferable by a
participant other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution, or as
otherwise provided under the 1998 Purchase Plan. The 1998 Purchase Plan provides
that, in the event of a merger of the Company with or into another corporation
or a sale of substantially all of the Company's assets, each outstanding option
may be assumed or substituted for by the successor corporation. If the successor
corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the outstanding options, the
offering period then in progress will be shortened and a new exercise date will
be set that is before the date of the Company's proposed sale or merger. The
1998 Purchase Plan will terminate in April 2008. The Board of Directors has the
authority to amend or terminate the 1998 Purchase Plan, except that no such
action may adversely affect any outstanding options under the 1998 Purchase
Plan.
 
    As of February 5, 1999, 78,071 shares of common stock had been purchased
under the 1998 Purchase Plan at a purchase price per share of $7.65.
 
    1998 DIRECTOR OPTION PLAN.  The 1998 Director Option Plan (the "Director
Plan") was adopted by the Board of Directors on April 23, 1998 and was approved
by the Company's stockholders effective as of May 8, 1998. The Director Plan
provides for the grant of nonstatutory stock options to non-employee directors.
The Director Plan has a term of ten years, unless terminated sooner by the
Board. As of February 5, 1999, a total
 
                                       65
<PAGE>
of 200,000 shares of common stock was available for issuance under the Director
Plan. At the beginning of each of the Company's fiscal years during the term of
the Director Plan, the number of shares available for issuance under the
Director Plan will be the lesser of (i) 200,000 or (ii) a number determined by
the Board.
 
    The Director Plan provides that each non-employee director shall
automatically be granted an option to purchase 25,000 shares of common stock
(the "First Option") on the later of (i) the effective date of the Director Plan
or (ii) the date which such person first becomes a non-employee director. In
addition to the First Option, each non-employee director shall automatically be
granted an option to purchase 5,000 shares (a "Subsequent Option") on the date
of each of the Company's annual meeting of stockholders, if on such date he or
she shall have served on the Board for at least six months. Each First Option
and Subsequent Option shall have a term of 10 years. The shares subject to the
First Option and Subsequent Option shall vest as to 25% of the optioned stock
one year from the date of grant, and 1/48 of the optioned stock shall vest each
month thereafter, provided the person continues to serve as a director on such
dates. Holders of options granted under the Director Plan may exercise their
options prior to complete vesting of shares, subject to such holders entering
into restricted stock purchase agreements granting the Company an option to
repurchase, any unvested shares at a price per share equal to the original
exercise price per share for the option in the event of a termination of the
optionee's directorship. The exercise price of each First Option and each
Subsequent Option shall be 100% of the fair market value per share of the common
stock on the date of grant.
 
    In the event of a merger of the Company or the sale of substantially all of
the assets of the Company, each option may be assumed or an equivalent option
substituted for by the successor corporation. If an option is assumed or
substituted for by the successor corporation, it shall continue to vest as
provided in the Director Plan. However, if a non-employee director's status as a
director of the Company or the successor corporation, as applicable, is
terminated other than upon a voluntary resignation by the non-employee director,
each option granted to such non-employee director shall become fully vested and
exercisable upon such termination date. If the successor corporation does not
agree to assume or substitute for the option, each option shall become fully
vested and exercisable for a period of fifteen days from the date the Board
notifies the optionee of the option's full exercisability, after which period
the option shall terminate. Options granted under the Director Plan must be
exercised within three months of the end of the optionee's tenure as a director
of the Company, or within twelve months after such director's termination by
death or disability, but in no event later than the expiration of the option's
ten-year term. Options granted under the Director Plan are generally not
transferable by the optionee other than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution, and each option is exercisable, during the lifetime of the
optionee, only by such optionee.
 
    As of February 5, 1995, no shares of common stock have been issued upon
exercise of options outstanding under the Director Plan. As of that date,
options to purchase 125,000 shares of common stock at a weighted average
exercise price of $11.08 were outstanding.
 
    401(K) PLAN.  The Company participates in a tax-qualified employee savings
and retirement plan (the "401(k) Plan") which covers all of the Company's
full-time employees who are at least 21 years of age. Pursuant to the 401(k)
Plan, eligible employees may defer up to 20% of their pre-tax earnings, subject
to the Internal Revenue Service's annual contribution limit. The 401(k) Plan
permits additional discretionary matching contributions by the Company on behalf
of all participants in the 401(k) Plan in such a percentage amount as may be
determined annually by the Board of Directors. To date, the Company has made no
such matching contributions. The 401(k) Plan is intended to qualify under
Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, so that
contributions by employees or by the Company to the 401(k) Plan, and income
earned on plan contributions, are not taxable to employees until withdrawn from
the 401(k) Plan, and so that contributions by the Company, if any, will be
deductible by the Company when made. The trustee under the 401(k) Plan, at the
direction of each participant, invests the assets of the 401(k) Plan in any of a
number of investment options.
 
                                       66
<PAGE>
Limitation of Liability and Indemnification Matters
 
    The Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended,
limits the liability of directors to the maximum extent not prohibited by
Delaware law. Delaware law provides that a corporation's certificate of
incorporation may contain a provision eliminating or limiting the personal
liability of a director for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary
duties as directors, except for liability (i) for any breach of their duty of
loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not
in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of
law, (iii) for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or
redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal
benefit.
 
    The Company's Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that the Company shall
indemnify its directors, officers and employee benefit plan fiduciaries, and may
indemnify its employees and agents to the fullest extent permitted by law. The
Company believes that indemnification under its Amended and Restated Bylaws
covers at least negligence and gross negligence on the part of indemnified
parties. The Company's Amended and Restated Bylaws also permit the Company to
advance expenses incurred by an indemnified director or officer in connection
with the defense of any action or proceeding arising out of such director's or
officer's status or service as a director or officer of the Company upon an
undertaking by such director or officer to repay such advances if it is
ultimately determined that such director or officer is not entitled to such
indemnification.
 
    The Company has entered into agreements to indemnify its directors and
officers, in addition to the indemnification provided for in the Company's
Amended and Restated Bylaws. These agreements, among other things, indemnify the
Company's directors and officers for certain expenses (including attorneys' fees
and associated legal expenses), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement
amounts if such settlement is approved in advance by the Company, which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld, actually and reasonably incurred by any such
person in any action, suit, proceeding or alternative dispute resolution
mechanism arising out of such person's services as a director or officer of the
Company, any subsidiary of the Company or any other company or enterprise to
which the person provides services at the request of the Company. The Company
believes that these provisions and agreements are necessary to attract and
retain qualified directors and officers.
 
    At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving any
director, officer, employee benefit plan fiduciary, employee or agent of the
Company where indemnification will be required or permitted. The Company is not
aware of any threatened litigation or proceeding that might result in a claim
for such indemnification.
 
                                       67
<PAGE>
                              CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
 
    Since the Company's inception in September 1995, there were no transaction
or series of similar transactions to which the Company was or is a party in
which the amount involved exceeded or exceeds $60,000 and in which any Director,
executive officer, holder of more than 5% of any class of the Company's voting
securities or any member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons
had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than the
transactions described below.
 
Equity and Convertible Debt Financings
 
    INITIAL SALES OF COMMON STOCK TO FOUNDERS.  In September 1995, the Company
issued and sold 1,636,363 shares of common stock to John W. Danner, the
Company's Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and 818,181 shares
of common stock to Thomas A. Shields, the Company's former Vice President, Chief
Technology Officer, for an aggregate purchase price of $150,000 or approximately
$0.06 per share. In March 1997, the Company repurchased 89,212 and 356,850
shares of such common stock from Messrs. Danner and Shields, respectively, for
an aggregate purchase price of $98,134 or $0.22 per share. Mr. Shields resigned
from the Company in November 1998. See "--Employment and Severance Agreements."
 
    COMMON STOCK AND BRIDGE NOTE FINANCING.  From September through November
1995, the Company issued and sold an aggregate of 818,181 shares of common stock
for an aggregate purchase price of $49,999.98, or approximately $0.06 per share,
and issued bridge notes in the aggregate amount of $450,000, the principal and
interest of which were convertible into Preferred Stock (the "Common Stock and
Bridge Note Financing"). The investors in the common stock and Bridge Note
Financing included, among others, (1) a trust controlled by Alden E. and Ann
Danner, parents of John W. Danner, which trust purchased 163,636 shares of
common stock and lent the Company $90,000 at an annual simple interest rate of
5.91%, which principal and interest converted into Series A Preferred Stock in
the Company's Series A Preferred Stock financing (the "Series A Preferred Stock
Financing"); (2) Thomas A. Shields, Sr., the father of the Company's former Vice
President, Chief Technology Officer, who purchased 81,818 shares of common stock
and lent to the Company $45,000 at an annual simple interest rate of 5.91%,
which principal and interest converted into Series A Preferred Stock in the
Series A Preferred Stock Financing; and (3) a trust controlled by John D. D.
Kohler, a Director of the Company, which trust purchased 163,636 shares of
common stock and lent the Company $90,000 at an annual simple interest rate of
5.91%, which principal and interest converted into Series A Preferred Stock in
the Series A Preferred Stock Financing.
 
    SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK FINANCING.  In January and April 1996, the Company
issued and sold an aggregate of 4,404,578 shares of Series A Preferred Stock for
an aggregate purchase price of $4,448,623.78, or $1.01 per share. The investors
in such shares included, among others, (1) Vector Capital, L.P. ("Vector
Capital"), a general partner of which is Vector Capital Partners, L.L.C., of
which Alexander R. Slusky, a Director of the Company, is the Managing Member,
which limited partnership purchased 500,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock;
(2) a trust controlled by Alden E. and Ann Danner, parents of John W. Danner,
which trust purchased 90,623 shares of Series A Preferred Stock; (3) a trust
controlled by Thomas A. Shields, Sr., which trust purchased 45,117 shares of
Series A Preferred Stock; (4) a trust controlled by John D. D. Kohler, which
trust purchased 90,609 shares of Series A Preferred Stock; (5) Larry C. Wear,
Vice President of Global Services, who purchased 49,504 shares of Series A
Preferred Stock; and (6) certain entities affiliated with an institutional
investor that was a holder of more than 5% of the Company's securities and that
held a seat on the Board of Directors of the Company until March 1998, which
entities purchased 3,073,738 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, all of which
stock was sold by such investor and its affiliated entities in March 1998 to
other institutional investors in the Company for an aggregate selling price of
approximately $3,688,485. Upon consummation of the Company's initial public
offering in June 1998, the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock
automatically converted into an aggregate of 2,494,147 shares of common stock.
 
                                       68
<PAGE>
    SERIES B PREFERRED STOCK FINANCING.  In March 1997, the Company issued and
sold an aggregate of 4,307,969 shares of Series B Preferred Stock at an
aggregate purchase price of $4,299,999.24, or approximately $1.00 per share. The
investors in such shares included, among others, (1) Vector Capital which
purchased 3,506,487 shares of Series B Preferred Stock; (2) Redleaf Venture I,
L.P. and Redleaf Associates I, L.P. (together, "Redleaf"), the general partner
of which is Redleaf Venture Management, L.L.C. of which John D. D. Kohler, a
Director of the Company, is a Managing Member, which limited partnerships
purchased an aggregate of 300,556 shares of Series B Preferred Stock; (3)
Jonathan D. Lazarus, a Director of the Company, who purchased 75,139 shares of
Series B Preferred Stock; and (4) certain entities affiliated with an
institutional investor that was a holder of more than 5% of the Company's
securities and that held a seat on the Board of Directors of the Company until
March 1998, which entities purchased 400,741 shares of Series B Preferred Stock,
all of which stock was sold by such investor and its affiliated entities in
March 1998 to other institutional investors in the Company for an aggregate
selling price of approximately $480,889. Upon consummation of the Company's
initial public offering, the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock
automatically converted into an aggregate of 1,958,158 shares of common stock.
 
    SERIES C PREFERRED STOCK FINANCING.  In November 1997 and March 1998, the
Company issued and sold an aggregate of 3,887,978 shares of Series C Preferred
Stock for aggregate net proceeds to the Company of $8,683,000, or approximately
$2.24 per share. The investors in such shares included, among others, (1) London
Pacific Life & Annuity Company, an owner of more than 5% of the Company's common
stock, which purchased 2,437,241 shares of Series C Preferred Stock and (2)
Vector Capital, which purchased 669,571 shares of Series C Preferred Stock. Upon
consummation of the Company's initial public offering, the outstanding shares of
Series C Preferred Stock automatically converted into an aggregate of 1,767,261
shares of common stock.
 
Registration Rights Agreement
 
    Certain holders of common stock have certain registration rights with
respect to their shares of common stock pursuant to a Second Amended and
Restated Registration Rights Agreement by and among the Company and certain of
its stockholders dated as of November 25, 1997. See "Description of Capital
Stock--Registration Rights of Certain Holders."
 
Employment and Severance Agreements
 
    JITENDRA VALERA EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT.  In May 1998, the Company and Mr.
Valera, the Company's Vice President and General Manager of Europe, entered into
an employment agreement under which Mr. Valera is entitled to receive severance
benefits under certain circumstances. In the event Mr. Valera is involuntarily
terminated from the Company or a successor Company without cause within 12
months of a Change of Control, defined to include (i) the acquisition of the
Company, (ii) the merger or consolidation of the Company with any other
corporation, (iii) a sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets or
(iv) the acquisition by any person of beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the
total voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities, Mr. Valera
would be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to 18 months of Mr. Valera's base
salary as in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control, which lump sum
payment would equal approximately $204,188, based on Mr. Valera's current base
salary. In the event of any other involuntary termination of Mr. Valera's
employment with less than six months notice, Mr. Valera would be entitled to
continued monthly payment of his base salary for six months following such
notice.
 
    SUSAN ATHERTON EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT.  In April 1998, the Company and Ms.
Atherton, the Company's Vice President of Worldwide Sales, entered into an
employment agreement under which Ms. Atherton is entitled to receive severance
benefits under certain circumstances. Pursuant to her employment agreement, Ms.
Atherton was granted an option to purchase up to 176,802 shares of the Company's
common stock, subject to the Company's standard vesting provisions. In the event
Ms. Atherton is involuntarily terminated by the Company or a successor company
without cause within 12 months of a Change of Control, defined to include (i)
the acquisition of the Company, (ii) the merger or consolidation of the Company
with any other
 
                                       69
<PAGE>
corporation or (iii) a sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets,
Ms. Atherton would be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to 18 months of Ms.
Atherton's base salary as in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control,
which lump sum payment would equal approximately $159,386, based on Ms.
Atherton's current base salary.
 
    STEPHEN E. RECHT EMPLOYMENT AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT.  In March 1998, the
Company and Mr. Recht, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company,
entered into an employment and severance agreement under which Mr. Recht is
entitled to receive certain benefits generally in the event Mr. Recht is
involuntarily terminated by the Company or a successor company without cause (i)
upon the acquisition of the Company, (ii) upon the merger or consolidation of
the Company with any other corporation, (iii) upon a sale of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets (each a "Change of Control") or (iv)
within 12 months of a Change of Control. Upon such a termination, Mr. Recht
would be entitled to (i) a total of 18 monthly payments equal to Mr. Recht's
monthly base salary as in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control,
currently $14,681, and (ii) reimbursements for a period of 18 months for the
cost of Mr. Recht's group health and dental plan coverage.
 
    The Company also has granted options to certain of its executive officers
which are described further in the Management section under "Executive
Compensation" and "Option Grants in Fiscal 1998."
 
    PROTEGE SOFTWARE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT.  In March 1997, the
Company and Protege Software (Holdings) Limited ("Protege") entered into a
professional services agreement (the "Professional Services Agreement") under
which Protege agreed to act as general manager for the Company in Europe. In
addition, Protege agreed to perform certain professional services for the
Company. In connection with the Professional Services Agreement, Jitendra Valera
the Company's Vice President and General Manager of Europe, served in such
capacity via the Professional Services Agreement as an employee of Protege from
March 1997 through May 1998. In May 1998, the Company and Protege amended the
Professional Services Agreement to, among other things, allow the Company to
hire Mr. Valera directly. Effective May 1998, Mr. Valera became an employee of
NetGravity Europe Limited and continued to serve as the Company's Vice President
and General Manager of Europe. See "Management--Executive Officers and
Directors." The Professional Services Agreement was terminated by the Company in
December 1998.
 
    ASIA PACIFIC VENTURES CO. CONSULTANT AND REPRESENTATIVE AGREEMENT.  In June
1998, the Company and Asia Pacific Ventures Co. ("Asia Pacific Ventures")
entered into a consultant and representative agreement (the "Consultant and
Representative Agreement") under which Asia Pacific Ventures agreed to advise
and represent the Company in Asia. In connection with the Consultant and
Representative Agreement, Douglas Kaplan, then an employee of Asia Pacific
Ventures, served as the Company's Vice President and General Manager of Asia
Pacific. See "Management--Executive Officers and Directors." The Consultant and
Representative Agreement was terminated by the Company in September 1998. Mr.
Kaplan is now an employee of the Company and continues to serve as its Vice
President and General Manager of Asia Pacific.
 
    THOMAS A. SHIELDS SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS.  In
December 1998, the Company and Mr. Shields, the Company's former Vice President,
Chief Technology Officer, entered into a separation agreement and release of all
claims pursuant to which Mr. Shields terminated his employment with the Company
(the "Termination Agreement"). Pursuant to the Termination Agreement, Mr.
Shields received a severance payment of $110,000 and will continue to be a
consultant to the Company until May 1999. In addition, pursuant to the
Termination Agreement, Mr. Shields generally agreed to release the Company from
any claims arising out of or relating to his employment with or his resignation
from the Company, and the Company agreed to release Mr. Shields from any claims
arising out of or relating to his employment with the Company.
 
                                       70
<PAGE>
                       PRINCIPAL AND SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
 
    The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial
ownership of the Company's common stock as of February 5, 1999 and as adjusted
to reflect the sale of the 4,080,000 shares of common stock offered hereby for
(i) each person or entity who is known by the Company to own beneficially 5% or
more of the Company's outstanding common stock, (ii) each director of the
Company, (iii) each of the Named Executive Officers, (iv) each of the selling
stockholders and (v) all directors and executive officers of the Company as a
group. Each individual or entity named below has agreed with the Company and/or
the underwriters to not sell any common stock of the Company during the period
ending 90 days after the date of this prospectus.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     Shares Beneficially Owned                Shares Beneficially Owned
                                                       Prior to the Offering     Number of       After the Offering
                                                     -------------------------  Shares Being  -------------------------
Name and Address                                       Number     Percent(1)      Offered       Number     Percent(1)
- ---------------------------------------------------  ----------  -------------  ------------  ----------  -------------
<S>                                                  <C>         <C>            <C>           <C>         <C>
Vector Capital, L.P.(2) ...........................   2,047,029         14.9%        25,000    2,022,029         11.9%
  3000 Sand Hill Road
  Building 4, Suite 235
  Menlo Park, CA 94025
London Pacific Life & Annuity Company(3) ..........   1,377,467         10.0             --    1,377,467          8.1
  3109 Poplarwood Court, Suite 300
  Raleigh, NC 24604
Thomson U.S. Inc. .................................     470,360          3.3        470,360           --            *
  Two Mill Road
  P.O. Box 4679
  Wilmington, DE 19807
John W. Danner(4)..................................   1,294,632          9.4        200,000    1,094,632          6.4
J. Scott Briggs(5).................................      25,000        *                 --       25,000        *
John D. D. Kohler(6)...............................     482,013          3.5         75,000      407,013          2.4
Amnon Landan(7)....................................      25,000        *                 --       25,000        *
Jonathan D. Lazarus(8).............................      77,335        *                 --       77,335        *
Alexander R. Slusky(2)(9)..........................   2,072,029         15.0         25,000    2,047,029         12.0
Stephen E. Recht(10)...............................     171,805          1.2         25,000      146,805        *
Rick E. D. Jackson IV(11)..........................     154,252          1.1         10,000      144,252        *
Martin G. Lane-Smith(12)...........................     212,023          1.5         20,000      192,023          1.1
John K. Donnelly(13)...............................      26,113        *              1,200       24,913        *
Jitendra Valera(14)................................      90,755        *                 --       90,755        *
Michael W. Davies(15)..............................      90,112        *             10,000       80,112        *
Larry C. Wear(16)..................................     168,374          1.2         25,000      143,374        *
All directors and executive officers as a group
  (15 people)(17)..................................   5,066,470         34.2        391,200    4,675,270         25.9
</TABLE>
 
- ----------
*   Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1% of the outstanding shares of
    common stock.
 
(1) Applicable percentage ownership is based on 13,770,325 shares of common
    stock outstanding as of February 5, 1999 and 16,988,765 shares outstanding
    immediately following the completion of this offering (assuming no exercise
    of the underwriters' over-allotment option and no exercise of options after
    February 5, 1999). Beneficial ownership of shares is determined in
    accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and
    generally includes shares as to which a person holds sole or shared voting
    or investment power. Shares of common stock subject to options that are
    presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of February 5, 1999 are
    deemed to be beneficially owned by the person holding such options for the
    purpose of computing the percentage ownership of such person but are not
    treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership
    of any other person. Unless otherwise noted, the address for the
    stockholders named in this table is NetGravity, Inc., 1900 S. Norfolk
    Street, Suite 150, San Mateo, California 94403.
 
                                       71
<PAGE>
(2) Includes 2,047,029 shares beneficially owned by Vector Capital, L.P.
    ("Vector Capital"), Vector Capital Partners, L.L.C. ("VCP"), PBK Holdings,
    Inc. ("PBK"), Alexander R. Slusky and Philip B. Korsant. Mr. Slusky is the
    Managing Member of VCP, which is a general partner of Vector Capital. Mr.
    Korsant is the president and sole shareholder of PBK, a general partner of
    Vector Capital. Messrs. Slusky and Korsant disclaim beneficial ownership of
    such shares except to the extent of their pecuniary interests in such shares
    via VCP and PBK, respectively. The offered shares are being sold by VCP.
 
    Subsequent to February 5, 1999, Vector Capital distributed 75,000 shares of
    common stock to VCP and 399,516 shares to PBK. In turn, PBK distributed
    394,722 of the shares it received from Vector Capital to Ziff Asset
    Management, L.P. ("ZAM"), of which PBK is the general partner. ZAM has sold
    all 394,722 shares. As of March 26, 1999, Vector Capital, VCP and PBK
    beneficially owned approximately 1,572,513, 75,000 and 4,794 shares of
    common stock, respectively. In the aggregate, based on shares outstanding as
    of February 5, 1999, such shares represent 12.0% of the shares outstanding
    prior to the offering and 9.6% of the shares outstanding upon completion of
    the offering, assuming the sale of 25,000 shares by VCP in the offering.
    Messrs. Slusky and Korsant disclaim beneficial ownership of such shares
    except to the extent of their pecuniary interests in such shares via VCP and
    PBK, respectively.
 
(3) This information was obtained from a Schedule 13G filed pursuant to the
    Exchange Act.
 
(4) Includes 113 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of a stock option
    exercisable within 60 days of February 5, 1999.
 
(5) Consists of 25,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of a stock
    option exercisable within 60 days of February 5, 1999.
 
(6) Includes 187,389 shares held by the Kohler Family Trust, of which Mr. Kohler
    is a trustee (the "Kohler Trust"). Also includes 3,303 shares held by
    Redleaf Associates I, L.P. and 266,321 shares held by Redleaf Venture I,
    L.P. (collectively, the "Redleaf Limited Partnerships") and 25,000 shares
    issuable upon exercise of a stock option held by Mr. Kohler exercisable
    within 60 days of February 5, 1999. Mr. Kohler, a Director of the Company,
    is the Managing Member of Redleaf Venture Management, L.L.C., the General
    Partner of the Redleaf Limited Partnerships ("Redleaf Venture Management").
    Mr. Kohler disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by the Redleaf
    Limited Partnerships except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.
    The offered shares are being sold by the Kohler Trust.
 
    Subsequent to February 5, 1999, the Redleaf Limited Partnerships distributed
    all of the shares of common stock held by them to their respective limited
    partners, including the Kohler Trust, which received 78,761 shares in the
    Redleaf Venture I, L.P. distribution, and to Redleaf Venture Management,
    which received 50,917 shares in the Redleaf Venture I, L.P. distribution. As
    of March 26, 1999, Mr. Kohler, the Kohler Trust and Redleaf Venture
    Management beneficially owned approximately 25,000, 266,150 and 50,917
    shares of common stock, respectively. In the aggregate, based on shares
    outstanding as of February 5, 1999, such shares represent 2.5% of the shares
    of common stock outstanding prior to the offering and 1.6% of the shares
    outstanding upon completion of the offering, assuming the sale of 75,000
    shares by the Kohler Trust in the offering.
 
(7) Consists of 25,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of a stock
    option exercisable within 60 days of February 5, 1999.
 
(8) Consists of 52,335 shares of common stock held by Lazarus Family Investments
    LLC, of which Mr. Lazarus is a Managing Member, and 25,000 shares of common
    stock issuable upon exercise of a stock option exercisable within 60 days of
    February 5, 1999.
 
(9) Includes 25,000 shares of common stock issuable to Mr. Slusky upon exercise
    of stock options exercisable within 60 days of February 5, 1999.
 
(10) Includes 161,692 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options exercisable
    within 60 days of February 5, 1999.
 
(11) Consists of 154,252 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock
    options exercisable within 60 days of February 5, 1999.
 
(12) Includes 106,699 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock
    options exercisable within 60 days of February 5, 1999.
 
                                       72
<PAGE>
(13) Includes 23,745 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock
    options exercisable within 60 days of February 5, 1999.
 
(14) Includes 88,905 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock
    options exercisable within 60 days of February 5, 1999.
 
(15) Consists of 90,112 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock
    options exercisable within 60 days of February 5, 1999.
 
(16) Includes 104,769 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock
    options exercisable within 60 days of February 5, 1999.
 
(17) Includes 1,032,171 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock
    options exercisable within 60 days of February 5, 1999.
 
                                       73
<PAGE>
                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
General
 
    The Company is authorized to issue 50,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001
par value, and 5,000,000 shares of undesignated Preferred Stock, $0.001 par
value. Immediately after the completion of this offering and assuming no
exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option, based on the capitalization
of the Company as of February 5, 1999, there will be an aggregate of 16,988,765
shares of common stock outstanding, 2,330,984 shares of common stock will be
issuable upon exercise of outstanding options and no shares of Preferred Stock
will be issued and outstanding.
 
    The following description of the Company's capital stock and certain
provisions of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and
Bylaws, as amended, does not purport to be complete and is subject to and
qualified in its entirety by the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws, which are included as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which
this prospectus forms a part, and by applicable provisions of Delaware law.
 
Common Stock
 
    As of February 5, 1999, there were 13,770,325 shares of common stock
outstanding that were held of record by approximately 316 stockholders. Based on
shares outstanding as of February 5, 1999, there will be 16,988,765 shares of
common stock outstanding (assuming no exercise of the underwriters'
over-allotment option and no exercise of options then outstanding) after giving
effect to the sale of common stock offered to the public hereby. The holders of
common stock are entitled to one vote per share held of record on all matters
submitted to a vote of stockholders. Holders of common stock do not have
cumulative voting rights, and, therefore, holders of a majority of the shares
voting for the election of directors can elect all of the directors. In such
event, the holders of the remaining shares will not be able to elect any
directors.
 
    Holders of the common stock are entitled to receive such dividends as may be
declared from time to time by the Board of Directors out of funds legally
available therefor, subject to the terms of any existing or future agreements
between the Company and its debtholders. The Company has never declared or paid
cash dividends on its capital stock, expects to retain future earnings, if any,
for use in the operation and expansion of its business, and does not anticipate
paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition, the Company's
bank line of credit agreement contains a restrictive covenant that limits the
Company's ability to pay cash dividends or make stock repurchases without the
prior written consent of the lender. See "Dividend Policy." In the event of the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of common
stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets legally available for
distribution after payment of all debts and other liabilities and subject to the
prior rights of holders of Preferred Stock then outstanding, if any.
 
Preferred Stock
 
    The Company is authorized to issue 5,000,000 shares of undesignated
Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors has the authority to issue the Preferred
Stock in one or more series and to fix the price, rights, preferences,
privileges and restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, dividend rates,
conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, redemption prices,
liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting a series or the
designation of such series, without any further vote or action by the Company's
stockholders. The issuance of Preferred Stock, while providing desirable
flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate
purposes, could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in
control of the Company without further action by the stockholders and may
adversely affect the market price of, and the voting and other rights of, the
holders of common stock. The issuance of Preferred Stock with voting and
conversion rights may adversely affect the voting power of the holders of common
stock, including the loss of voting control to others. The Company has no
current plans to issue any shares of Preferred Stock.
 
                                       74
<PAGE>
Antitakeover Effects of Provisions of Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and
  Delaware Law
 
    The Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the "Certificate")
provides that all stockholder actions must be effected at a duly called annual
or special meeting and may not be effected by written consent. The Company's
Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that, except as otherwise required by law,
special meetings of the stockholders can only be called pursuant to a resolution
adopted by a majority of the Board of Directors or by the chief executive
officer of the Company. In addition, the Amended and Restated Bylaws establish
an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an
annual meeting of stockholders, including proposed nominations of persons for
election to the Board. Stockholders at an annual meeting may only consider
proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before
the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or by a stockholder
who was a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is
entitled to vote at the meeting and who has delivered timely written notice in
proper form to the Company's Secretary of the stockholder's intention to bring
such business before the meeting. The Certificate and the Amended and Restated
Bylaws provide that the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of
the total votes eligible to be cast in the election of directors is required to
amend, alter, change or repeal certain of their provisions.
 
    The foregoing provisions of the Company's Certificate and Amended and
Restated Bylaws are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and
stability in the composition of the Board of Directors and in the policies
formulated by the Board of Directors and to discourage certain types of
transactions which may involve an actual or threatened change of control of the
Company. Such provisions are designed to reduce the vulnerability of the Company
to an unsolicited acquisition proposal and, accordingly, could discourage
potential acquisition proposals and could delay or prevent a change in control
of the Company. Such provisions are also intended to discourage certain tactics
that may be used in proxy fights but could, however, have the effect of
discouraging others from making tender offers for the Company's shares and,
consequently, may also inhibit fluctuations in the market price of the Company's
shares that could result from actual or rumored takeover attempts. These
provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in the management of
the Company. See "Risk Factors--Our corporate governance structure may delay or
prevent our acquisition by another company."
 
Effect of Delaware Antitakeover Statute
 
    The Company is subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation
Law ("Section 203") which, subject to certain exceptions, prohibits a Delaware
corporation from engaging in any business combination with any interested
stockholder for a period of three years following the date that such stockholder
became an interested stockholder, unless: (i) prior to such date, the board of
directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the
transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested
stockholder; (ii) upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the
stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned
at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the
transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of
shares outstanding those shares owned (x) by persons who are directors and also
officers and (y) by the employee stock plans in which employee participants do
not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to
the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or (iii) on or
subsequent to such date, the business combination is approved by the board of
directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and
not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the
outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.
 
    Section 203 defines business combination to include: (i) any merger or
consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder; (ii) any
sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition involving the interested stockholder
of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation; (iii) subject to certain
exceptions, any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the
corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder; (iv)
any transaction involving the corporation which has the effect of increasing the
proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation
beneficially owned by the interested
 
                                       75
<PAGE>
stockholder; or (v) the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of
any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by
or through the corporation. In general, Section 203 defines an interested
stockholder as any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the
outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated
with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person. See "Risk
Factors--Our corporate governance structure may delay or prevent our acquisition
by another company."
 
Registration Rights of Certain Holders
 
    After this offering, the holders of 4,099,406 shares of common stock may be
entitled upon expiration of lock-up agreements with the Underwriters to certain
rights with respect to the registration of such shares under the Securities Act.
Under the terms of the agreement between the Company and the holders of such
registrable securities, if the Company proposes to register any of its
securities under the Securities Act, either for its own account or for the
account of other securities holders exercising registration rights, such holders
are entitled to notice of such registration and are entitled to include shares
of such common stock therein. Holders of registration rights may also require
the Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act at the
Company's expense with respect to their shares of common stock, and the Company
is required to use its best efforts to effect such registration. Further,
holders may require the Company to file registration statements on Form S-3 at
the Company's expense when such form becomes available for use to the Company.
All such registration rights are subject to certain conditions and limitations,
including the right of the underwriters of an offering to limit the number of
shares to be included in such registration.
 
Transfer Agent
 
    The Transfer Agent and Registrar for the common stock is ChaseMellon
Shareholder Services. Its address is 235 Montgomery Street, 23rd Floor, San
Francisco, California 94109, and its telephone number at this location is (415)
743-1444.
 
Listing
 
    The Company's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the
trading symbol "NETG."
 
                                       76
<PAGE>
                        SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
    Upon completion of this offering, based on shares outstanding as of February
5, 1999, the Company will have outstanding an aggregate of 16,988,765 shares of
common stock, assuming no exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option
and no exercise of outstanding options. Of these shares, the 4,080,000 shares
sold in this offering (assuming no exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment
option) will be freely tradeable without restriction or further registration
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), unless such
shares are purchased by "affiliates" of the Company as that term is defined in
Rule 144 under the Securities Act ("Affiliates"). In addition, the 3,450,000
shares sold in the Company's initial public offering in June 1998 are currently
eligible to be resold immediately in the public market without restriction. Of
the remaining shares, all are freely tradeable, except for 6,053,123 shares of
common stock held by existing stockholders, which shares are either shares
subject to contractual lock-up restrictions and/or "restricted securities" as
that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act ("Restricted Shares").
Restricted Shares may be sold in the public market only if registered or if they
qualify for an exemption from registration under Rules 144 or 144(k) promulgated
under the Securities Act, which rules are summarized below.
 
    Giving effect to the contractual restrictions described below and the
provisions of Rules 144 and 144(k), shares will be available for sale in the
public market as follows: (i) 10,935,692 shares will be eligible for immediate
sale on the date of this prospectus, (ii) 386 Restricted Shares will be eligible
for sale at various times during the two month period beginning March 26, 1999
and (iii) 6,052,737 shares will be eligible for sale upon expiration of the
lock-up agreements 90 days after the date of this prospectus, in some cases
subject to the volume limitations described below.
 
    All officers and directors of the Company, and the holders of five percent
or more of the Company's common stock have agreed not to sell, make any short
sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise transfer or dispose
of, any shares of common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable
or exchangeable for common stock for a period of 90 days after the date of this
prospectus, without the prior written consent of BancBoston Robertson Stephens.
BancBoston Robertson Stephens currently has no plans to release any portion of
the securities subject to lock-up agreements. When determining whether or not to
release shares from the lock-up agreements, BancBoston Robertson Stephens will
consider, among other factors, the stockholder's reasons for requesting the
release, the number of shares for which the release is being requested and
market conditions at the time.
 
    In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, a person (or persons
whose shares are aggregated) who has beneficially owned Restricted Shares for at
least one year (including the holding period of any prior owner except an
Affiliate) would be entitled to sell within any three-month period a number of
shares that does not exceed the greater of: (i) one percent of the number of
shares of common stock then outstanding (which will equal approximately 169,887
shares immediately after this offering); or (ii) the average weekly trading
volume of the common stock on the Nasdaq National Market during the four
calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to such
sale. Sales under Rule 144 are also subject to certain manner of sale provisions
and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information
about the Company. Under Rule 144(k), a person who is not deemed to have been an
Affiliate of the Company at any time during the 90 days preceding a sale, and
who has beneficially owned the shares proposed to be sold for at least two years
(including the holding period of any prior owner except an Affiliate), is
entitled to sell such shares without complying with the manner of sale, public
information, volume limitation or notice provisions of Rule 144; therefore,
unless otherwise restricted, "144(k) shares" may be sold immediately upon the
completion of this offering.
 
    Upon completion of this offering, the holders of 4,099,406 shares of common
stock, or their transferees, may be entitled to certain rights with respect to
the registration of such shares under the Securities Act. See
 
                                       77
<PAGE>
"Description of Capital Stock--Registration Rights of Certain Holders."
Registration of such shares under the Securities Act would result in such shares
becoming freely tradeable without restriction under the Securities Act (except
for shares purchased by Affiliates) immediately upon the effectiveness of such
resignation.
 
    The Company files registration statements on Form S-8 under the Securities
Act covering shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the Company's
1995 Plan, 1998 Plan, 1998 Director Plan and 1998 Purchase Plan. Accordingly,
shares registered under such registration statements are available, subject to
Rule 144 volume limitations applicable to Affiliates, for sale in the open
market upon exercise, unless such shares are subject to vesting restrictions
with the Company or the lock-up agreements described above. As of February 5,
1999, options to purchase 1,473,291 shares of common stock were outstanding
under the 1995 Plan, options to purchase 732,693 shares of common stock were
outstanding under the Company's 1998 Plan and options to purchase 125,000 shares
of common stock were outstanding under the 1998 Director Plan. See
"Management--Employee Benefit Plans."
 
                                       78
<PAGE>
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
    The underwriters named below, acting through their representatives,
BancBoston Robertson Stephens Inc., NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC and
FAC/Equities, a division of First Albany Corporation, have severally agreed with
us and the selling stockholders, subject to the terms and conditions of the
underwriting agreement, to purchase the number of shares of common stock set
forth opposite their respective names below. The underwriters are committed to
purchase and pay for all shares if any are purchased.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     Number
                                   Underwriter                                     of Shares
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ----------
<S>                                                                                <C>
BancBoston Robertson Stephens Inc................................................   2,040,000
NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC............................................   1,224,000
First Albany Corporation.........................................................     816,000
                                                                                   ----------
    Total........................................................................   4,080,000
                                                                                   ----------
                                                                                   ----------
</TABLE>
 
    The underwriters' representatives have advised us that the underwriters
propose to offer the shares of common stock to the public at the public offering
price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and to certain dealers at
such price less a concession of not in excess of $1.04 per share, of which $0.10
may be reallowed to other dealers. After the public offering, the public
offering price, concession, and reallowance to dealers may be reduced by the
underwriters' representatives. No such reduction shall change the amount of
proceeds to be received by us as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.
 
    We have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable during the 30-day
period after the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to 612,000 additional
shares of common stock at the same price per share as will be paid for the
4,080,000 shares that the underwriters have agreed to purchase. To the extent
that the underwriters exercise such option, each of the underwriters will have a
firm commitment to purchase approximately the same percentage of such additional
shares that the number of shares of common stock to be purchased by it shown in
the above table represents as a percentage of the 4,080,000 shares offered
hereby. If purchased, such additional shares will be sold by the underwriters on
the same terms as those on which the 4,080,000 shares are being sold.
 
    The underwriting agreement contains covenants of indemnity among the
underwriters and us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act of 1933 and liabilities arising from breaches of
representations and warranties contained in the underwriting agreement.
 
    The Company, our directors, officers and certain of our other stockholders
have each agreed that, without the prior written consent of BancBoston Robertson
Stephens Inc. on behalf of the underwriters, during the period ending 90 days
after the date of this prospectus, we will not, directly or indirectly:
 
    - offer to sell, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract
      to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option,
      right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of,
      directly or indirectly, any shares of common stock or any securities
      convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock (whether
      such shares or any such securities are then owned by such person or are
      thereafter acquired directly from us); or
 
    - engage in any hedging or other arrangement that transfers to another, in
      whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of common
      stock;
 
whether any such transaction described above is to be settled by delivery of
common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.
 
    The restrictions described in the previous paragraph do not apply to
 
    - the sale to the underwriters of the shares of common stock under the
      underwriting agreement;
 
                                       79
<PAGE>
    - the issuance by the Company of shares of common stock upon the exercise of
      an option or a warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the
      date of this prospectus which is described in the prospectus;
 
    - transactions by any person other than the Company relating to shares of
      common stock or other securities acquired in open market transactions
      after the completion of the offering of the shares of common stock; or
 
    - issuances of shares of common stock or options to purchase shares of
      common stock pursuant to our employee benefit plans in existence on the
      date of the prospectus and consistent with past practices.
 
    The underwriters have informed us that they do not intend to confirm sales
to any accounts over which they exercise discretionary authority.
 
Stabilization Disclosure
 
    The underwriters' representatives have advised us that, pursuant to
Regulation M under the Securities Act of 1933, certain persons participating in
the offering may engage in transactions, including stabilizing bids, syndicate
covering transactions or the imposition of penalty bids which may have the
effect of stabilizing or maintaining the market price of the common stock at a
level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. A
"stabilizing bid" is a bid for or the purchase of the common stock on behalf of
the underwriters for the purpose of fixing or maintaining the price of the
common stock. A "syndicate covering transaction" is the bid for or the purchase
of the common stock on behalf of the underwriters to reduce a short position
incurred by the underwriters in connection with the offering. A "penalty bid" is
an arrangement permitting the underwriters' representatives to reclaim the
selling concession otherwise accruing to an underwriter or syndicate member in
connection with the offering if the common stock originally sold by such
underwriter or syndicate member is purchased by the underwriters'
representatives in a syndicate covering transaction and has therefore not been
effectively placed by such underwriter or syndicate member. The underwriters'
representatives have advised us that such transactions may be effected on the
Nasdaq National Market or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at
any time.
 
Regulation M/Passive Market Disclosure
 
    In connection with this offering, certain underwriters and selling group
members (if any) who are qualified market makers on the Nasdaq National Market
may engage in passive market making transactions in our common stock on the
Nasdaq National Market in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, during the business day prior to
the pricing of the offering before the commencement of offers or sales of the
common stock. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price
limitations and must be identified as such. In general, a passive market maker
must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid of
such security; if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market
maker's bid, however, such bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits
are exceeded.
 
                                       80
<PAGE>
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
    The validity of the common stock offered hereby will be passed upon for the
Company by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation, Palo
Alto, California. Certain legal matters in connection with the offering will be
passed upon by Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP,
Menlo Park, California.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
    The consolidated financial statements and related schedule of NetGravity,
Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1998 and for each of the years
in the three-year period ended December 31, 1998, have been included herein and
in the Registration Statement in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP,
independent certified public accountants, appearing elsewhere herein, and upon
the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
    Effective March 1997, the Company's Board of Directors engaged KPMG LLP
("KPMG") as the Company's principal accountants to audit the Company's financial
statements. Prior to such engagement, KPMG and the Company discussed matters
including the application of accounting principles and auditing standards. Such
discussions occurred in the normal course of business, and KPMG's responses were
not a condition to its engagement by the Company. Ernst & Young LLP ("Ernst &
Young") served as the Company's independent auditors from the Company's
inception until the Company's dismissal of Ernst & Young effective March 1997,
which dismissal was approved by the Company's Board of Directors. Ernst & Young
performed the first full fiscal year audit of the Company's financial statements
for the then fiscal year ended March 31, 1996 (the "March 31, 1996 Audit"),
which was the only audit of the Company performed by Ernst & Young. The report
of Ernst & Young on the financial statements of the Company prepared in
connection with the March 31, 1996 Audit did not contain an adverse opinion or
disclaimer of opinion and was not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit
scope or accounting principles. Furthermore, in connection with the March 31,
1996 Audit and during the subsequent interim period prior to the dismissal of
Ernst & Young, there were no disagreements between Ernst & Young and the Company
on any matters of accounting principles or practices, financial statement
disclosure or auditing scope or procedure which, if not resolved to the
satisfaction of Ernst & Young, would have caused Ernst & Young to make reference
to the subject matter of such disagreements in connection with its report.
 
                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
    The Company is subject to the information requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance therewith is
obligated to file reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). The Company has filed
with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (the "Registration
Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the
securities offered hereby. This prospectus does not contain all of the
information set forth in the Registration Statement and the exhibits and
schedules thereto. For further information with respect to the Company and the
common stock, reference is made to the Registration Statement and the exhibits
and schedules filed as a part thereof. Statements contained in this prospectus
as to the contents of any contract or any other document referred to are not
necessarily complete. In each instance, reference is made to the copy of such
contract or document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and each
such statement is qualified in all respects by such reference. The Registration
Statement, including exhibits and schedules thereto, as well as all reports,
proxy statements and other information filed by the Company with the Commission
pursuant to the Exchange Act may be inspected without charge at the public
reference facilities maintained by the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further
information about the public reference room. Information concerning the Company
is also available for inspection at the offices of the Nasdaq National Market,
Reports Section, 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006. The Commission
maintains a Web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and
other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the
Commission. The address of the Commission's Web site is http://www.sec.gov. The
Company intends to furnish its stockholders with annual reports containing
audited consolidated financial statements and to make available quarterly
unaudited summary financial information for the first three fiscal quarters of
each fiscal year.
 
                                       81
<PAGE>
                       NETGRAVITY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                         <C>
Independent Auditors' Report..............................................   F-2
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1997 and 1998..............   F-3
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years ended December 31,
  1996, 1997 and 1998.....................................................   F-4
 
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) for the Years
  ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998..................................   F-5
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years ended December 31,
  1996, 1997 and 1998.....................................................   F-6
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements................................   F-7
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-1
<PAGE>
                          Independent Auditors' Report
 
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
NetGravity, Inc. and Subsidiaries:
 
    We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of NetGravity,
Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1998, and the related
consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity (deficit), and cash
flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1998.
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated
financial statements based on our audits.
 
    We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
    In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of
NetGravity, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1998, and the
results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the
three-year period ended December 31, 1998, in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
                                                       [LOGO]
                                               KPMG LLP
 
San Francisco, California
January 27, 1999
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-2
<PAGE>
                       NETGRAVITY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                          Consolidated Balance Sheets
                       (In thousands, except share data)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                   December 31,
                                                                                               --------------------
                                                                                                 1997       1998
                                                                                               ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                                            <C>        <C>
                                           Assets
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents..................................................................  $   5,637  $  10,236
  Short-term investments.....................................................................         --     10,563
  Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $223 and $202 at December 31, 1997 and 1998,
   respectively..............................................................................      2,739      6,311
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets..................................................        155        778
                                                                                               ---------  ---------
    Total current assets.....................................................................      8,531     27,888
Property and equipment, net..................................................................      1,356      3,473
Other assets, net............................................................................         --      2,059
                                                                                               ---------  ---------
                                                                                               $   9,887  $  33,420
                                                                                               ---------  ---------
                                                                                               ---------  ---------
                            Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
  Current portion of notes payable...........................................................  $   1,140  $     618
  Accounts payable...........................................................................        305        898
  Accrued liabilities........................................................................      1,344      2,867
  Deferred revenue...........................................................................      3,520      5,800
                                                                                               ---------  ---------
    Total current liabilities................................................................      6,309     10,183
Notes payable, less current portion..........................................................        727      1,109
 
Commitments
 
Stockholders' equity:
  Convertible preferred stock; $0.001 par value; 26,540,194 shares authorized; 11,149,788
   shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 1997; 5,000,000 shares authorized; none
   issued and outstanding at December 31, 1998...............................................         11         --
  Common stock, $0.001 par value; 35,000,000 shares authorized; 3,979,125 shares issued and
   outstanding at December 31, 1997; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 13,589,894 shares issued
   and outstanding at December 31, 1998......................................................          4         14
  Additional paid-in capital.................................................................     16,209     46,817
  Deferred stock compensation................................................................     (1,669)    (1,706)
  Accumulated deficit........................................................................    (11,704)   (22,997)
                                                                                               ---------  ---------
    Total stockholders' equity...............................................................      2,851     22,128
                                                                                               ---------  ---------
                                                                                               $   9,887  $  33,420
                                                                                               ---------  ---------
                                                                                               ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
                                      F-3
<PAGE>
                       NETGRAVITY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                     Consolidated Statements of Operations
 
                     (In thousands, except per share data)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       Year Ended December 31,
                                                                                   -------------------------------
                                                                                     1996       1997       1998
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                                <C>        <C>        <C>
Revenues:
  Software licenses..............................................................  $   1,262  $   2,901  $   4,115
  Software upgrades..............................................................        107      1,123      2,394
  Consulting and support.........................................................        570      2,334      4,637
  Transactional services.........................................................         --         --        411
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
    Total revenues...............................................................      1,939      6,358     11,557
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
Cost of revenues:
  Cost of software licenses......................................................         --         76         63
  Cost of consulting and support.................................................        702      2,496      4,521
  Cost of transactional services.................................................         --         --        644
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
    Total cost of revenues.......................................................        702      2,572      5,228
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
    Gross profit.................................................................      1,237      3,786      6,329
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
Operating costs and expenses:
  Research and development.......................................................      1,764      3,033      4,639
  Selling and marketing..........................................................      2,839      6,073     10,351
  General and administrative.....................................................      1,315      1,552      3,172
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
    Total operating costs and expenses...........................................      5,918     10,658     18,162
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
    Loss from operations.........................................................     (4,681)    (6,872)   (11,833)
Other income (expense), net......................................................         54        (10)       540
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
    Net loss.....................................................................  $  (4,627) $  (6,882) $ (11,293)
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
Basic and diluted net loss per share.............................................  $   (2.19) $   (2.46) $   (1.28)
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
Shares used in per share calculation.............................................      2,111      2,799      8,823
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
                                      F-4
<PAGE>
                       NETGRAVITY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
           Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
                                 (In Thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         Preferred Stock           Common Stock       Additional
                                                                      ----------------------  ----------------------    Paid-In
                                                                       Shares      Amount      Shares      Amount       Capital
                                                                      ---------  -----------  ---------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                                   <C>        <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>
Balances as of December 31, 1995....................................         --          --       4,364           5          178
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options.............         --          --         310      --               62
Repurchases of common stock.........................................         --          --        (439)         (1)         (27)
Compensation expense related to non-employee option grants..........         --          --          --          --            8
Issuance of Series A preferred stock, net of issuance costs of
  $15...............................................................      4,405           4          --          --        4,429
Net loss............................................................         --          --          --          --           --
                                                                      ---------         ---   ---------         ---   -----------
Balances as of December 31, 1996....................................      4,405           4       4,235           4        4,650
Issuance of common stock for cash...................................         --          --          17          --            4
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options.............         --          --         301      --               67
Compensation expense related to non-employee option grants..........         --          --          --          --          120
Deferred compensation related to grants of stock options............         --          --          --          --        1,784
Amortization of deferred compensation...............................         --          --          --          --           --
Repurchases of common stock in connection with revaluation..........         --          --        (446)     --              (98)
Repurchases of common stock.........................................         --          --        (126)         --          (26)
Issuance of Series B preferred stock, net of issuance costs of
  $18...............................................................      4,308           4          --          --        4,277
Issuance of Series C preferred stock, net of issuance costs of
  $566..............................................................      2,437           3          --          --        5,431
Net loss............................................................         --          --          --          --           --
                                                                      ---------         ---   ---------         ---   -----------
Balances as of December 31, 1997....................................     11,150   $      11       3,979   $       4    $  16,209
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options.............         --          --         204          --           73
Repurchases of common stock.........................................         --          --        (102)         --          (23)
Issuance of Series C preferred stock, net of issuance costs of $1...      1,451           2          --          --        3,247
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of warrants..................     --          --              28      --                7
Issuance of restricted common stock for cash........................     --          --              11      --                2
Conversion of Preferred Stock to Common.............................    (12,601)        (13)      6,220           7            6
Issuance of common stock in initial public offering.................         --          --       3,250           3       25,869
Deferred compensation related to grants of stock options............         --          --          --          --        1,427
Amortization of deferred stock compensation.........................         --          --          --          --           --
Net loss............................................................         --          --          --          --           --
                                                                      ---------         ---   ---------         ---   -----------
Balances as of December 31, 1998....................................         --          --      13,590   $      14    $  46,817
                                                                      ---------         ---   ---------         ---   -----------
                                                                      ---------         ---   ---------         ---   -----------
 
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                      Total
                                                                        Deferred                   Stockholders'
                                                                          Stock      Accumulated      Equity
                                                                      Compensation     Deficit      (Deficit)
                                                                      -------------  ------------  ------------
<S>                                                                   <C>            <C>           <C>
Balances as of December 31, 1995....................................           --           (195)          (12)
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options.............           --             --            62
Repurchases of common stock.........................................           --             --           (28)
Compensation expense related to non-employee option grants..........           --             --             8
Issuance of Series A preferred stock, net of issuance costs of
  $15...............................................................           --             --         4,433
Net loss............................................................           --         (4,627)       (4,627)
                                                                      -------------  ------------  ------------
Balances as of December 31, 1996....................................           --         (4,822)         (164)
Issuance of common stock for cash...................................           --             --             4
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options.............           --             --            67
Compensation expense related to non-employee option grants..........           --             --           120
Deferred compensation related to grants of stock options............       (1,784)            --            --
Amortization of deferred compensation...............................          115             --           115
Repurchases of common stock in connection with revaluation..........           --             --           (98)
Repurchases of common stock.........................................           --             --           (26)
Issuance of Series B preferred stock, net of issuance costs of
  $18...............................................................           --             --         4,281
Issuance of Series C preferred stock, net of issuance costs of
  $566..............................................................           --             --         5,434
Net loss............................................................           --         (6,882)       (6,882)
                                                                      -------------  ------------  ------------
Balances as of December 31, 1997....................................    $  (1,669)    $  (11,704)   $    2,851
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options.............           --             --            73
Repurchases of common stock.........................................           --             --           (23)
Issuance of Series C preferred stock, net of issuance costs of $1...           --             --         3,249
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of warrants..................       --             --                 7
Issuance of restricted common stock for cash........................       --             --                 2
Conversion of Preferred Stock to Common.............................           --             --            --
Issuance of common stock in initial public offering.................           --             --        25,872
Deferred compensation related to grants of stock options............       (1,427)            --            --
Amortization of deferred stock compensation.........................        1,390             --         1,390
Net loss............................................................           --        (11,293)      (11,293)
                                                                      -------------  ------------  ------------
Balances as of December 31, 1998....................................    $  (1,706)    $  (22,997)   $   22,128
                                                                      -------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                      -------------  ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
                                      F-5
<PAGE>
                       NETGRAVITY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                     (In thousands, except per share data)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                   Year Ended December 31,
                                                                                               -------------------------------
                                                                                                 1996       1997       1998
                                                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                                            <C>        <C>        <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net loss...................................................................................  $  (4,627) $  (6,882) $ (11,293)
  Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:................
    Depreciation.............................................................................        172        540        965
    Amortization of intangibles..............................................................         --         --        222
    Amortization of deferred stock compensation..............................................         --        115      1,390
    Compensation from grant of non-employee stock options....................................          8        120         --
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
      Accounts receivable, net...............................................................     (1,218)    (1,521)    (3,572)
      Prepaid expenses and other assets......................................................       (178)        27       (623)
      Accounts payable.......................................................................        239         48        593
      Accrued liabilities....................................................................        635        678      1,523
      Deferred revenue.......................................................................      1,718      1,802      2,280
                                                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
        Net cash used in operating activities................................................     (3,251)    (5,073)    (8,515)
                                                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
Cash flows from investing activities:
  Capital expenditures.......................................................................       (810)    (1,201)    (3,082)
  Purchases of short-term investments........................................................     (2,705)    (2,466)   (10,563)
  Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments.........................................      2,705      2,466         --
  Acquisition of intangibles.................................................................         --         --     (2,000)
  Other assets...............................................................................        (44)        44       (281)
                                                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
        Net cash used in investing activities................................................       (854)    (1,157)   (15,926)
                                                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
Cash flows from financing activities:
  Proceeds from notes payable................................................................        683      1,185      1,000
  Repayment of notes payable.................................................................       (450)        --     (1,140)
  Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock, net.............................................      4,433      9,715      3,249
  Proceeds from issuance of common stock.....................................................         62         71     25,954
  Repurchases of common stock................................................................        (28)      (124)       (23)
                                                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
        Net cash provided by financing activities............................................      4,700     10,847     29,040
                                                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents....................................................        595      4,617      4,599
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year...............................................        425      1,020      5,637
                                                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year.....................................................  $   1,020  $   5,637  $  10,236
                                                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
    Cash paid for interest...................................................................  $      18  $      91  $     118
                                                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
Non-cash financing activities:
    Deferred compensation cost on employee stock option grants...............................  $      --  $   1,784  $   1,427
                                                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
                                      F-6
<PAGE>
                       NETGRAVITY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
                        December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998
 
(1) Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
    DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
 
    NetGravity, Inc. (the Company), a Delaware corporation, was incorporated in
September 1995. The Company is a leading provider of interactive marketing
solutions. The Company maintains its US headquarters in California. The Company
incorporated a subsidiary in the UK in April 1997 for its European operations
and incorporated subsidiaries in Japan in April 1998 and in Hong Kong in October
1998 for its Asia Pacific operations.
 
    PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION
 
    The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of
the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and
transactions have been eliminated on consolidation.
 
    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
    Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments with remaining maturities of
three months or less at the date of purchase.
 
    INVESTMENTS
 
    The Company has adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS")
No. 115, ACCOUNTING FOR CERTAIN INVESTMENTS IN DEBT AND EQUITY SECURITIES. SFAS
No. 115 requires entities to classify investments in debt and equity securities
with readily determined fair values as "held-to-maturity," "available-for-sale"
or "trading" and establishes accounting and reporting requirements for each
classification. Management determines the appropriate classification of
investment securities at the time of purchase and reevaluates such designation
as of each balance sheet date. As of December 31, 1998, all investment
securities were designated as "available-for-sale." Available-for-sale
securities are carried at fair value based on quoted market prices, with
unrealized gains and losses, if material, reported as a component of accumulated
other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders' equity.
 
    Realized gains and losses and declines in value judged to be
other-than-temporary for available-for-sale securities are included in the
consolidated statements of operations. There have been no such gains, losses or
declines through December 31, 1998. The cost of securities sold is based on the
specific identification method. Interest and dividends on securities classified
as available-for-sale are included in interest income.
 
    PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
    Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation.
Depreciation of property and equipment is provided over the estimated useful
lives of the respective assets, estimated to be three years on a straight-line
method.
 
    SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT COSTS
 
    In accordance with SFAS No. 86, ACCOUNTING FOR THE COSTS OF COMPUTER
SOFTWARE TO BE SOLD, LEASED, OR OTHERWISE MARKETED, development costs related to
the software products are expensed as incurred until the technological
feasibility of the product has been established. Technological feasibility in
the Company's
 
                                      F-7
<PAGE>
                       NETGRAVITY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
                        December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998
 
(1) Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(Continued)
circumstances occurs when a working model is completed. The Company believes its
process for developing software is essentially completed concurrent with the
establishment of technological feasibility and, accordingly, no research and
development costs have been capitalized to date.
 
    REVENUE RECOGNITION
 
    The Company records an account receivable and deferred revenue upon shipment
and invoicing of a software license to a customer. The Company recognizes
software license revenue upon completion of the product installation which the
Company's management has generally determined to occur at the point in time at
which customers begin "serving ads" utilizing the Company's software. A portion
of the initial software license fee is attributed to the customer's right to
receive, at no additional charge, software upgrades released during the
subsequent twelve months. Revenues attributable to software upgrades are
deferred and recognized ratably over the period covered by the software license
agreement, generally one year. Revenue from consulting services are recognized
as the services are performed. Customer-support revenue is deferred and
recognized ratably over the period covered by the customer support agreement,
generally one year.
 
    Revenue from transactional services is primarily comprised of fees from
AdCenter advertising management outsourcing services, as well as fees from the
Company's Global Profile Service, which licenses the use of data to customers.
Fees derived from transactional services are recognized as the services are
rendered.
 
    In October 1997, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
issued Statement of Position 97-2, SOFTWARE REVENUE RECOGNITION (SOP 97-2).
Effective January 1, 1998, the Company adopted SOP 97-2. SOP 97-2 generally
requires revenue earned on software arrangements involving multiple elements
such as software products, upgrades, enhancements, post-contract customer
support, installation and training to be allocated to each element based on the
relative fair values of the elements. The fair value of an element must be based
on evidence which is specific to the vendor. The revenue allocated to software
products, including specified upgrades or enhancements, generally is recognized
upon delivery of the products. The revenue allocated to unspecified upgrades and
updates and post contract customer support generally is recognized as the
services are performed. If evidence of the fair value for all elements of the
arrangement do not exist, all revenue from the arrangement is deferred until
such evidence exists or until all elements are delivered. There was no material
change to the Company's accounting for revenues as a result of the adoption of
SOP 97-2.
 
    In February 1998, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee (AcSEC) of
the AICPA issued SOP 98-4, "DEFERRAL OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF SOP 97-2". The SOP
defers the effective date for applying the provisions regarding vendor-specific
objective evidence ("VSOE") of fair value until the AcSEC can reconsider what
constitutes such VSOE. There was no material change to the Company's accounting
for revenues as a result of the adoption of SOP 98-4.
 
    In December 1998, AcSEC issued SOP 98-9 "SOFTWARE REVENUE RECOGNITION, WITH
RESPECT TO CERTAIN ARRANGEMENTS", which requires recognition of revenue using
the "residual method" in a multiple element arrangement when fair value does not
exist for one or more of the delivered elements in the arrangement. Under the
"residual method", the total fair value of the undelivered elements is deferred
and subsequently recognized in accordance with SOP 97-2. The Company does not
expect a material change to its accounting for revenues as a result of the
provisions of SOP 98-9.
 
                                      F-8
<PAGE>
                       NETGRAVITY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
                        December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998
 
(1) Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(Continued)
    Advances on commissions are paid upon receipt of a firm sales order for an
initial software license. These advances totaled $0 and $259,000 at December 31,
1997 and 1998, respectively, and are included in other current assets in the
accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Advances on commissions are expensed
as selling and marketing expenses when the related deferred revenue is
recognized.
 
    INCOME TAXES
 
    The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income
taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax
consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement
carrying amount of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax
bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates
expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary
differences are expected to be recovered or settled.
 
    CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK
 
    Accounts receivable potentially subject the Company to concentrations of
credit risk. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers'
financial condition and generally does not require collateral for accounts
receivable. When required, the Company maintains allowances for credit losses,
and to date such losses have been within management's expectations.
 
    FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
    The fair values of the Company's cash, cash equivalents, accounts
receivable, accounts payable and notes payable approximate their carrying values
due to the short maturity or variable-rate structure of those instruments.
 
    ACCOUNTING FOR IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS
 
    The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or
changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not
be recoverable. Recoverability of assets held and used is measured by a
comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future net cash flows expected
to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the
impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying
amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed
of are reported at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less cost to
sell.
 
    USE OF ESTIMATES
 
    The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
    STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
 
    The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation arrangements using the
intrinsic-value method pursuant to APB Opinion No. 25. As such, compensation
expense is recorded on the date of grant when the
 
                                      F-9
<PAGE>
                       NETGRAVITY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
                        December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998
 
(1) Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(Continued)
fair value of the underlying common stock exceeds the exercise price for stock
options or the purchase price for issuance or sales of common stock. Pursuant to
SFAS No. 123, the Company discloses the pro forma effects of using the fair
value method of accounting for stock-based compensation arrangements.
 
    COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
 
    NetGravity has no significant components of other comprehensive loss and,
accordingly, the comprehensive loss is the same as net loss for all periods.
 
    ADVERTISING EXPENSE
 
    The cost of advertising is expensed as incurred. Such costs are included in
selling and marketing expense and totalled approximately $783,000, $831,000 and
$1,033,000 during the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997, and 1998,
respectively.
 
    FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS
 
    The functional currency of the Company's UK, Japan and Hong Kong
subsidiaries is the US dollar. Resulting foreign currency gains and losses are
included in operating results and have not been significant in any period
presented.
 
    PER SHARE INFORMATION
 
    Basic and diluted net loss per share are computed using the weighted average
number of outstanding shares of common stock.
 
    Net loss per share for the year ended December 31, 1998 does not include the
effect of approximately 1,989,545 stock options with a weighted average exercise
price of $4.21 per share, or 463,468 shares of common stock issued and subject
to repurchase by the Company at a weighted average price of $0.22 per share,
because their effects are anti-dilutive.
 
    Net loss per share for the year ended December 31, 1997 does not include the
effect of approximately 11,150,000 (5,563,000 on an as-if converted basis)
shares of convertible preferred stock outstanding, 1,312,399 stock options with
a weighted average exercise price of $0.22 per share, 15,908 common stock
warrants with a weighted average exercise price of $0.22 per share, or 1,171,546
shares of common stock issued and subject to repurchase by the Company at a
weighted average price of $0.22 per share, because their effects are
anti-dilutive.
 
    RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
 
    The FASB recently issued SFAS No. 133, ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES. SFAS No. 133 establishes accounting and reporting
standards for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments
embedded in other contracts (collectively referred to as derivatives), and for
hedging activities. It requires that an entity recognize all derivatives as
either assets or liabilities in the statement of financial position and measure
those instruments at fair value. For a derivative not designated as a hedging
instrument, changes in the fair value of the derivative are recognized in
earnings in the period of change. The Company must adopt SFAS No. 133 by July 1,
1999. Management does not believe the adoption of SFAS No. 133 will have a
material effect on the financial position or results of operations of the
Company.
 
                                      F-10
<PAGE>
                       NETGRAVITY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
                        December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998
 
(2) Balance Sheet Components
 
    SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
 
    The following is a summary of short-term investments (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             December 31,
                                                                         --------------------
                                                                           1997       1998
                                                                         ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                      <C>        <C>
Cash equivalents:
  Money market funds...................................................  $   5,637  $  10,236
                                                                         ---------  ---------
 
Short-term investments:
  Corporate Bonds......................................................         --     10,563
                                                                         ---------  ---------
                                                                         $   5,637  $  20,799
                                                                         ---------  ---------
                                                                         ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    Through December 31, 1998, the difference between the fair value and the
amortized cost of available-for-sale securities was not significant; therefore,
no unrealized gains or losses have been recorded in stockholders' equity. As of
December 31, 1998, the average portfolio duration and contractual maturity was
less than three months.
 
    PURCHASE OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS
 
    In September 1998, the Company entered into an agreement with MatchLogic,
Inc., a subsidiary of Excite, Inc.  As part of this agreement, the Company paid
MatchLogic $2 million for the limited, non-exclusive right to use certain of
MatchLogic's proprietary consumer profile databases for certain purposes. This
transaction has been accounted for as a purchase of an intangible asset. The
cost of this intangible asset has been capitalized, is included in other assets
on the Company's consolidated balance sheet, and is being amortized over a
three-year period.
 
    PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
    Property and equipment consisted of the following as of December 31, 1997
and 1998 (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              1997       1998
                                                                            ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                         <C>        <C>
Computer equipment and software...........................................  $   1,837  $   3,228
Furniture and fixtures....................................................        236        423
Leasehold improvements....................................................         --      1,343
                                                                            ---------  ---------
                                                                                2,073      4,994
Accumulated depreciation..................................................       (717)    (1,521)
                                                                            ---------  ---------
  Property and equipment, net.............................................  $   1,356  $   3,473
                                                                            ---------  ---------
                                                                            ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
(3) Notes Payable
 
    The Company had a revolving credit facility with a bank in the amount of
$1.0 million which bore interest at the prime rate (8.50% as of December 31,
1997) plus 0.75%, and expired in May 1998.
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>
                       NETGRAVITY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
                        December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998
 
(3) Notes Payable (Continued)
Borrowings were limited to the lesser of $1.0 million or 70% of the net amount
of eligible accounts receivable and were secured by the Company's accounts
receivable. As of December 31, 1997 and December 31, 1998, borrowings under this
credit facility were $655,000 and $0, respectively.
 
    The Company has an equipment line of credit with a bank that provides up to
$1.0 million, bears interest at the prime rate (7.75% as of December 31, 1998),
and expires in June 2000. The line of credit is secured by the Company's fixed
assets. As of December 31, 1997 and 1998, $584,000 and $350,000, respectively,
were outstanding under this agreement with the principal amount due in 30
monthly installments of $19,467 beginning December 31, 1997.
 
    The Company also has a second equipment line of credit with the same bank
that provides up to $1.2 million, bears interest at the prime rate, and expires
in June 2000. The line of credit is secured by the Company's fixed assets. As of
December 31, 1997 and 1998, $628,000 and $377,000, respectively, were
outstanding under this agreement with the principal amount due in 30 monthly
installments of $20,933 beginning December 31, 1997.
 
    In September 1998, the Company secured a revolving credit facility with a
bank in the amount of $4.0 million, which bears interest at the prime rate and
expires in May 1999. Borrowings are limited to the lesser of $4.0 million or 80%
of the net amount of eligible accounts receivable, and are secured by the
Company's assets. The credit facility has a non-revolving sub-facility for up to
$1.5 million for purchases of equipment, bears interest at the prime rate, and
expires in December 2004. The line of credit is secured by the Company's
accounts receivable. As of December 31, 1998, $1.0 million was outstanding under
this agreement with the principal and interest due in 60 monthly installments
beginning in May 1999.
 
    As of December 31, 1998, the Company was in compliance with the financial
covenants on all of the aforementioned credit facilities. The terms of the
aforementioned credit facilities include financial covenants related to certain
financial ratios and tangible asset requirements.
 
    The aggregate principal payments on long-term debt for each of the years in
the five-year period subsequent to December 31, 1998 are as follows: 1999,
$618,000; 2000, $442,000; 2001, $200,000; 2002, $200,000; 2003, $200,000;
Thereafter $67,000.
 
(4) Income Taxes
 
    The domestic and foreign components of loss before income taxes are as
follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   Year Ended December 31,
                                                               -------------------------------
                                                                 1996       1997       1998
                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                            <C>        <C>        <C>
Domestic.....................................................  $  (4,627) $  (6,244) $  (8,586)
Foreign......................................................         --       (638)    (2,707)
                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
    Loss before income taxes.................................  $  (4,627) $  (6,882) $ (11,293)
                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    The difference between the amount of income tax benefit recorded and the
amount of income tax benefit calculated using the U.S. federal statutory rate of
34% is due to net operating losses not being benefited.
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>
                       NETGRAVITY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
                        December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998
 
(4) Income Taxes (Continued)
    The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant
portions of the deferred tax assets as of December 31, 1997 and 1998 are
presented below (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           Year Ended December
                                                                                   31,
                                                                           --------------------
                                                                             1997       1998
                                                                           ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                        <C>        <C>
Deferred tax assets:
Various accruals and reserves not deductible for tax purposes............  $     229  $     340
Property and equipment...................................................        134        264
Capitalized start-up expenditures........................................         89         51
Net operating loss carryforward..........................................      4,446      8,079
Research and development credit carryforward.............................        265        590
                                                                           ---------  ---------
    Total deferred tax assets............................................      5,163      9,324
Valuation allowance......................................................     (5,163)    (9,324)
                                                                           ---------  ---------
    Net deferred tax assets..............................................  $      --  $      --
                                                                           ---------  ---------
                                                                           ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    As of December 31, 1998, NetGravity Europe Limited and NetGravity Asia
Pacific K.K. had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $2,700,000
and $900,000 in the UK and Japan, respectively. The UK net operating loss can be
carried forward indefinitely. The Japan net operating loss will expire in the
year 2003, if not utilized.
 
    As of December 31, 1998, the Company has a net operating loss carryforward
for U.S. federal and state income tax purposes of approximately $15.9 million.
In addition, the Company had U.S. federal and state research and development
credit carryforwards of approximately $318,000 and $272,000, respectively. The
Company's U.S. federal net operating loss and research and development credit
carryforwards will expire in the years 2010 through 2018, if not utilized. The
Company's state net operating loss carryforwards will expire in the year 2003.
The state research and development credit can be carried forward indefinitely.
 
    U.S. federal and state tax laws impose substantial restrictions on the
utilization of net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards in the event of
an "ownership change" as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code.
The Company had such an ownership change, as defined, in March 1997.
Accordingly, $6.0 million of each of the Company's U.S. federal and state net
operating loss carryforwards are each limited in their annual usage to
approximately $700,000 per year. The Company has not yet determined whether any
ownership change, as defined, has occurred since 1997.
 
(5) Stockholders' Equity
 
    INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
 
    In July 1998, the Company completed its initial public offering (IPO) in
which it sold 3,250,000 shares and raised approximately $25.9 million in
proceeds, net of offering costs of approximately $1.3 million. In connection
with the IPO, all outstanding shares of preferred stock automatically converted
into approximately 6,220,000 shares of common stock.
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>
                       NETGRAVITY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
                        December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998
 
(5) Stockholders' Equity (Continued)
    STOCK SPLIT
 
    The Company's Board of Directors approved a 1-for-2.2 reverse split of the
Company's common stock (approved by the stockholders effective as of May 8,
1998) which was effected at the effectiveness of the IPO. All common share
amounts in the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been adjusted
retroactively.
 
    COMMON STOCK
 
    In connection with the Board of Directors' revaluation of the Company's fair
value in March 1997, the Company repurchased and retired approximately 446,000
shares of common stock previously held by two of the Company's founders, at an
average purchase price of $0.22 per share. Additionally, the Company adjusted
the conversion price of Series A convertible preferred stock to $1.78 per share
of common stock; previously the conversion price was $2.22 per share of common
stock. Approximately 494,340 additional shares of common stock (after giving
effect to the 1-for-2.2 reverse stock split) were in-substance issuable to the
holders of Series A convertible preferred stock due to the reduction in the
conversion price. The fair value of the assumed in-substance dividend on
reported basic and diluted net loss per share for fiscal 1997 was not
significant.
 
    Common stock issued to certain individuals is subject to repurchase at the
option of the Company, at the original issuance price, in the event an
individual ceases to be employed by the Company. Such shares are subject to
repurchase on a pro rata basis over a four-year period from the date of
issuance. As of December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, there were approximately
1,688,000, 628,000 and 218,000 shares, respectively, subject to repurchase, at a
weighted average price of $0.07 per share. During 1996, 1997 and 1998,
approximately 439,000, 126,000 and 102,000 shares, respectively, were
repurchased.
 
    The Company's Board of Directors adopted the 1998 Stock Plan (the "1998
Plan") on April 23, 1998 (approved by the stockholders effective as of May 8,
1998). The 1998 Plan provides for the grant of incentive and nonstatutory stock
options and stock purchase rights to employees, directors and consultants. A
total of 2,000,000 shares of common stock, plus annual increases equal to the
lesser of (i) 1,000,000 shares, (ii) 5% of the outstanding shares, or (iii) a
lesser amount determined by the Board of Directors, were reserved for issuance
pursuant to the 1998 Plan.
 
    The Company's Board of Directors adopted the 1998 Employee Stock Purchase
Plan (the "1998 Purchase Plan") on April 23, 1998 (approved by the stockholders
effective as of May 8, 1998). A total of 200,000 shares of common stock were
reserved for issuance under the 1998 Purchase Plan, plus annual increases equal
to the lesser of (i) 750,000 shares, (ii) 4% of the outstanding shares on such
date, or (iii) a lesser amount determined by the Board of Directors.
 
    The Company's Board of Directors also adopted the 1998 Director Option Plan
(the "Director Plan") on April 23, 1998 (approved by the stockholders effective
as of May 8, 1998). The Director Plan provides for the grant of nonstatutory
stock options to non-employee directors of the Company or affiliates thereof. A
total of 200,000 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under the
Director Plan plus annual increases to maintain 200,000 shares of common stock
reserved for additional option grants.
 
    As of December 31, 1998, a total of 2,727,570 shares of common stock were
authorized for issuance under the 1995 Stock Option Plan (the Plan). Options may
be granted at an exercise price not less than 100%
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>
                       NETGRAVITY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
                        December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998
 
(5) Stockholders' Equity (Continued)
of the fair market value, as determined by the Board of Directors, for incentive
stock options and 85% of fair market value for nonqualified stock options at the
grant date. All options are granted at the discretion of the Company's Board of
Directors and have a term not greater than 10 years from the date of grant.
Options issued are generally immediately exercisable and generally vest 25% on
the first anniversary date and 1/48th of the shares each month thereafter, so
that all the shares are vested 48 months after the vesting commencement date.
 
    A summary of the status of the Company's options under the Plan is as
follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            Year ended                Year ended                Year ended
                                                        December 31, 1996         December 31, 1997         December 31, 1998
                                                     ------------------------  ------------------------  ------------------------
                                                                   Weighted-                 Weighted-                 Weighted-
                                                                    average                   average                   average
                                                      Number of    exercise     Number of    exercise     Number of    exercise
                                                       options       price       options       price       options       price
                                                     -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                  <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Outstanding at beginning of year...................       5,000    $    0.07      456,509    $    0.22    1,312,399    $    0.22
Granted at market value............................     833,418         0.22      475,193         0.22      368,388    $   12.13
Granted at less than market value..................          --           --      845,092         0.22      643,468    $    5.85
Exercised..........................................    (309,418)        0.22     (301,009)        0.22     (204,036)   $    0.36
Canceled...........................................     (72,491)        0.22     (163,386)        0.22     (129,311)   $    1.84
                                                     -----------               -----------               -----------
Options at end of year.............................     456,509         0.22    1,312,399         0.22    1,990,908    $    4.21
                                                     -----------               -----------               -----------
                                                     -----------               -----------               -----------
Weighted-average fair value of options granted
  during the year with exercise prices equal to
  market value at date of grant....................   $    0.07                 $    0.07                 $   12.13
                                                     -----------               -----------               -----------
                                                     -----------               -----------               -----------
Weighted-average fair value of options granted
  during the year with exercise prices less than
  market value at date of grant....................          --                 $    2.05                 $    8.07
                                                     -----------               -----------               -----------
                                                     -----------               -----------               -----------
</TABLE>
 
    The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding
as of December 31, 1998:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                       Options outstanding
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
                                Weighted-average
                                    remaining
                                contractual life       Options
 Exercise Price      Number          (years)           vested
- -----------------  ----------  -------------------  -------------
<S>                <C>         <C>                  <C>
      $0.22         1,037,993            8.50           332,675
      $0.55            73,374            9.09             5,368
      $6.60           409,866            9.28             4,734
   $7.15-11.94        374,427            9.57                --
  $13.31-$23.69        95,135            9.12            10,735
     $26.06               113            4.52               113
                   ----------                       -------------
                    1,990,908                           353,625
                   ----------                       -------------
                   ----------                       -------------
</TABLE>
 
    The Company uses the intrinsic value-based method to account for all its
employee stock-based compensation arrangements. Accordingly, no compensation
cost has been recognized for its stock options in the accompanying consolidated
financial statements because the fair value of the underlying common stock
 
                                      F-15
<PAGE>
                       NETGRAVITY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
                        December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998
 
(5) Stockholders' Equity (Continued)
equals or exceeds the exercise price of the stock options at the date of grant,
except with respect to certain options granted in 1997 and 1998. The Company has
recorded deferred stock compensation expense of $1,784,000 and $1,427,000 for
the difference at the grant date between the exercise price and the fair value
of the common stock underlying the options granted in 1997 and 1998,
respectively. Amortization of deferred compensation of approximately $115,000
and $1,390,000 was recognized in 1997 and 1998, respectively.
 
    Had compensation cost for the Company's stock-based compensation plans been
determined consistent with the fair value approach set forth in SFAS No. 123,
ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION, the Company's net losses for the years
ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, would have been as follows (in
thousands, except per share amounts):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             Year Ended December 31,
                                                                         -------------------------------
                                                                           1996       1997       1998
                                                                         ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                      <C>        <C>        <C>
Net loss--as reported..................................................  $  (4,627) $  (6,882) $ (11,293)
Net loss--pro forma....................................................  $  (4,635) $  (6,883) $ (11,085)
Basic and diluted net loss per share--as reported......................  $   (2.19) $   (2.46) $   (1.28)
Basic and diluted net loss per share--pro forma........................  $   (2.20) $   (2.46) $   (1.26)
</TABLE>
 
    The fair value of options granted during the years ended December 31, 1996
and 1997 is estimated on the date of grant using the minimum value method with
the following weighted-average assumptions: no dividend yield, risk-free
interest rates of 6.0% and 6.1% for 1996 and 1997, respectively, and expected
lives of 5 years.
 
    The fair value of options granted during the year ended December 31, 1998 is
estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with
the following weighted-average assumptions: no dividend yield, risk free
interest rate of 5.2%, expected lives of 5 years, and an expected volatility of
80%.
 
    WARRANTS
 
    In March 1997, in connection with a lease termination agreement, the Company
issued the building landlord a warrant to purchase 6,818 shares of common stock
at a purchase price of $0.22 per share. There warrants were exercised in June
1998. The value of the warrant was not significant at the date of grant.
 
    In October 1997, in connection with certain consulting activities, the
Company committed to deliver a warrant to purchase 9,090 shares of common stock
at a purchase price of $0.22 per share. These warrants were exercised in May
1998. The value of the warrant was not significant at the date of grant.
 
    In January 1998, in connection with a non-employee compensation matter, the
Company committed to deliver a warrant to purchase 11,742 shares of common stock
at a purchase price of $0.22 per share. These warrants were exercised in May
1998. The value of the warrant was not significant at the date of grant.
 
                                      F-16
<PAGE>
                       NETGRAVITY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
                        December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998
 
(6) Commitments
 
    The Company leases its facilities under various noncancellable operating
lease agreements that expire on various dates through 2005. As of December 31,
1998, the remaining future minimum payments for these facilities are as follows
(in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                            Operating
Years Ending December 31,                                                                    Leases
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------------
<S>                                                                                      <C>
1999...................................................................................     $   1,396
2000...................................................................................         1,367
2001...................................................................................         1,363
2002...................................................................................         1,398
Thereafter,............................................................................         3,558
                                                                                               ------
                                                                                            $   9,082
                                                                                               ------
                                                                                               ------
</TABLE>
 
    Total rent expense, including month to month arrangements, was approximately
$149,000, $313,000 and $800,000 for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and
1998, respectively.
 
(7) Segment Information
 
    The Company has adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 131, DISCLOSURE ABOUT
SEGMENTS OF AN ENTERPRISE AND RELATED INFORMATION. SFAS No. 131 establishes
standards for the reporting by public business enterprises of information about
operating segments, products and services, geographic areas, and major
customers. The method for determining what information to report is based on the
way that management organizes the operating segments within the Company for
making operating decisions and assessing financial performance.
 
    The Company's chief operating decision maker is considered to be the
Company's Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"). The CEO reviews financial information
presented on a consolidated basis accompanied by disaggregated information about
revenues by geographic region for purposes of making operating decisions and
assessing financial performance. The consolidated financial information reviewed
by the CEO is identical to the information presented in the accompanying
consolidated statement of operations. Therefore, the Company operates in a
single operating segment: interactive marketing software and services.
 
    Revenue and asset information regarding operations in the different
geographic regions is as follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               North
                                                              America        Europe         Asia      Consolidated
                                                            ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
<S>                                                         <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
Revenues:
  1996....................................................         1,939            --            --   $    1,939
  1997....................................................         6,358            --            --        6,358
  1998....................................................         8,263         1,980         1,314       11,577
Identifiable assets:
  1997....................................................         9,139           748            --   $    9,887
  1998....................................................        30,587         1,513         1,320       33,420
</TABLE>
 
    No single customer accounted for greater than 10% of revenues in any period
reported.
 
                                      F-17
<PAGE>
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