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EXHIBIT 99
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
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Heidi Hutchinson Stacy Benede Heather Snavely
Senior PR Manager Director of Investor Relations Senior Account Supervisor
FreeShop.com, Inc. FreeShop.com, Inc. Edelman Seattle
(206) 441-9100 x211 (206) 713-7625 (206) 931-5498
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
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FREESHOP.COM ANNOUNCES NEW CORPORATE IDENTITY AND DETAILS OF
TARGETED OFFER NETWORK STRATEGY
SEATTLE, Oct. 16, 2000 FreeShop.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSHP) today announced
a new corporate identity created to better reflect its expanding business,
including its innovative targeted offer network strategy. Now known as Aptimus,
Inc., which means "the most qualified and advantageous fit," the company also
announced significant agreements with NBC Internet, Inc., About, Inc., and
iVillage, Inc. to become members of The Aptimus Network.
Aptimus provides a single-source online marketing solution that includes
more than 75,000 specialized Web sites and email channels, as well as many of
the Top 100 Web properties. The Aptimus Network presents consumers with relevant
offers geared to their specific interests, enabling marketers to reach targeted
audiences when they are most likely to respond. The network operates on a
cost-per-action basis, such that marketers pay only when action is taken on
their offers.
"The Aptimus Network's diverse channels offer marketers unparalleled
access to consumers wherever they are on the Internet," said Tim Choate,
chairman and CEO of Aptimus. "I am confident that by expanding our successful
model to other sites, we can deliver even more qualified customers to marketers,
while providing consumers with the right offers at the right time."
The Aptimus Network connects thousands of marketers and millions of
consumers in an interactive environment. Offers are presented to consumers based
on actions and behavior, so the offer-content matching is driven by consumer
interests and inquiries--not profiling. This results in more precise and timely
targeting, and increased response.
"Aptimus represents the future of online direct marketing, and we are
very excited to be one of Aptimus' first strategic Web site partners," said Will
Lansing, CEO of NBC Internet. "Aptimus will help NBCi execute against our core
business strategy of connecting our high quality user
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base to commerce opportunities from leading brands, helping to add an
incremental revenue stream to our business."
The name "Aptimus" is the abbreviation and combination of two Latin
words, Aptus and Optimus. Aptus means "unusually fitted or qualified." Optimus
means "good, excellent, most beneficial, most advantageous, most valid, and
having the soundest basis." In combination, the word Aptimus means "the most
qualified and advantageous fit." The name change represents the company's
expanded reach and increased ability to target offers based on consumer
interests. In the process, it differentiates between the FreeShop.com Web site,
which remains a powerful platform for marketers, and The Aptimus Network, the
umbrella under which the FreeShop.com site now operates.
"This change will allow us to take the success of FreeShop.com to the
next level," said Choate. "Through The Aptimus Network, we can give each client
access to its optimal audience for response. This new offer network model
leverages our many marketing channels to provide the most cost-effective,
risk-free way for marketers to acquire customers online."
Aptimus has signed agreements with more than 25 major partner sites to
participate in The Aptimus Network. These agreements are designed to put the
right offer in front of the right customer at the right time, and in the right
context. For example, a consumer who enters "backpacking" into a search engine
might see an accompanying offer from an Aptimus client for a free outdoor
products catalog when their search results arrive. Or, a consumer registering
for membership on a horticultural site might receive an offer for a free trial
subscription to a gardening magazine. Aptimus works closely with its marketer
clients and network partners to ensure that offers are matched to immediate
consumer interests to maximize results.
ABOUT APTIMUS
Aptimus is the most powerful online direct marketing network. We provide
a single-source online marketing solution that enables marketers to reach
targeted audiences with specific promotional offers throughout the Internet.
With more than 75,000 specialized Web sites and email channels, as well as many
of the top 100 Web properties, The Aptimus Network presents consumers with
relevant offers geared to their immediate interests, allowing marketers to reach
consumers with the right offers when they are most likely to respond. The
Aptimus Network includes a wide range of partner sites such as NBC Internet,
Inc., About, Inc., iVillage, Inc. and Aptimus-owned sites including FreeShop.com
(www.freeshop.com), Desteo (www.desteo.com); CatalogSite (www.catalogsite.com),
Free Magazine Shop (www.freeshopmagazines.com) and FreeShop Coupons and Deals
(www.freeshopcoupons.com).
Aptimus is headquartered in Seattle, and is publicly traded on NASDAQ
under the symbol FSHP until the week of October 23, 2000, at which time the
symbol will change to APTM. For more information, please visit www.aptimus.com.
This press release contains statements that may constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933
and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include comments
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regarding the ability and anticipated timing for the company to achieve
profitability, the expected results or success of particular programs or
undertakings and the future rate of growth of FreeShop.com. Prospective
investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and actual
results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking
statements. Important factors currently known to management that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements
include, without limitation, fluctuation of the company's operating results, the
ability to compete successfully, the ability of the company to maintain current
client relationships and attract new ones, and the ability to integrate acquired
companies. For additional factors that may cause actual results to differ
materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements, please
see the "Risk Factors" described in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K,
dated March 31, 2000, and in other quarterly reports and filings on file with
the SEC, which Risk Factors are incorporated herein as though fully set forth.
The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking
statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated
events or changes to future operating results.
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