SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) July 26, 1999
Commerce Group Corp.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Wisconsin 1-7375 39-1942961
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(State or other (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of Identification No.)
incorporation)
6001 North 91st Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53225-1795
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (414) 462-5310
fax: (414) 462-5312
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS MATERIAL DISCLOSURE
The following news releases were issued on July 26, 1999 and August 2,
1999 respectively:
MyInternet.to Introduced by Commerce Group Corp.'s Subsidiary
MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 26, 1999--Commerce Group Corp.'s (OTC
BB:CGCO) subsidiary Ecomm Group Inc. (Ecomm) Monday announced, ahead of
schedule, the launching of its new MyInternet.to Web Portal.
MyInternet.to is "a one stop gateway to the Internet" and provides full
range of the Web's most popular services with a differentiating twist in
order to compete with popular portals similar to Yahoo! (NASDAQ:YHOO) or
Lycos. Ecomm Chief Executive Officer and Interactive Business Channel
Inc. (IBC) President Matthew Marcus, a manager and developer of
MyInternet.to, stated, "This is the first major step toward acquiring
synergistic Internet companies in order to develop and consolidate
certain fragmented niches of the Internet community."
Ecomm believes that a significant opportunity exists to develop and
consolidate certain fragmented niches of the Internet community into a
Web portal. An Internet portal is a hub or gateway to the Internet, such
as Excite (NASDAQ:XCIT), Lycos (NASDAQ:LCOS), Go2Net and Infoseek
(NASDAQ:SEEK), that provides many services and features for its visitors.
MyInternet.to provides a gateway to the Web's most popular destinations
and services. These gateways and services include free Web-based e-mail
similar to HotMail (NASDAQ:MSFT), free Web page communities similar to
GeoCities (NASDAQ:GCTY), chat communities similar to TalkCity, auctions
similar to e-Bay (NASDAQ:EBAY) and uBid (NASDAQ:UBID), targeted
advertising similar to DoubleClick (NASDAQ:DCLK) and Flycast, a
personalized start page similar to Netscape (NASDAQ:NSCP), Internet
directory similar to Yahoo!, and e-commerce similar to Amazon.com
(NASDAQ:AMZN), OnSale (NASDAQ:ONSL) and Digital River (NASDAQ:DRIV).
Roll Up Strategy
Ecomm seeks to acquire synergistic niche Web sites. Ecomm has invited
Internet companies to participate in its acquisition program which
provides:
- -- An interactive online environment in which content is updated
frequently and visitors are active participants, interacting with both
users and one another;
- -- Content that captures and retains visitors' interest by entertaining,
providing varying perspectives and encouraging users to participate or
take action on the information provided;
- -- Ease of use of the Internet site through its design, communication and
navigation features and tools; and advertising and sponsorship
opportunities through an approach combining brand integration,
animated advertising, product promotion and content area sponsorship.
Strategic Partners
Ecomm has aligned itself with strategic partners Webzter.com and IBC in
order to successfully execute its Internet strategy. Webzter.com will
assist in all aspects of hosting, developing, and managing the new portal
and is a well established specialist in "Internetizing" companies.
Webzter has successfully assisted other public and private companies with
their transformation into Internet-centric companies including Sims
(NASDAQ:SIMS) and GTC Telecommunications (OTC BB:GTCC).
IBC has extensive experience in assisting public companies in all aspects
of Internet business development, marketing, and executing Internet
strategy in exchange for equity ownership. IBC's own investment Web
portal, http://www.ibchannel.com, is one of the leading guides to
investing on the Internet.
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In the past year, IBC has retained equity in a broad stock portfolio of
emerging Internet companies including USURF America (usrf.com),
Webzter.com, WorldPort (WRDP.com), Sims, Intermost.com, Intelliquis.com,
Nutritioncafe.com, FinelineProperties.com, WorldWide Medical, ComTech,
cytation.com and Primesource.
Statements in this release are made pursuant to the "Safe Harbor"
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risk
and uncertainties, including without limitation, continued acceptance of
the company's services, increased levels of competition for the company,
and dependence on the performance of the management of the company.
Commerce's MyInternet.to Enters into an
Affiliate Program with Dell Computer
MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 2, 1999--Commerce Group Corp. (OTC
BB:CGCO) Monday announced that its subsidiary, Ecomm Group Inc.'s new
MyInternet.to Web portal, has been accepted in the Dell Computer
(NASDAQ:DELL) affiliate program. Ecomm will earn a commission on any
orders placed by shoppers who go to the site from the MyInternet.to Web
portal.
The MyInternet.to site has had a tremendous response from visitors.
Commerce and Ecomm expect more affiliations which will add to current
revenue streams. MyInternet.to is continuing to develop other
complementary e-commerce programs designed around specific vertical
e-commerce markets.
Commerce's Joint Venture continues to produce gold mined from its San
Sebastian Gold Mine located in the Republic of El Salvador.
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Although Commerce believes that the
expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and assumptions
upon which forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, it can
give no assurance that such expectations and assumptions will prove to
have been correct.
This Form 8-K includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical
fact, included herein, including without limitation, statements regarding
potential mineralization and reserves, exploration results, and future
plans and objectives of Commerce Group Corp. ("Commerce"), are
forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties.
There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate,
and actual results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from Commerce's expectations are
disclosed under various sections of this and other documents filed from
time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission,
the Boston Stock Exchange, Inc., and the National Association of Security
Dealers Automated Systems.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
COMMERCE GROUP CORP.
(Registrant)
/s/ Edward L. Machulak
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Date: August 5, 1999 By: Edward L. Machulak, President
