RARE MEDIUM GROUP INC
424B1, 2000-03-16
COMPUTER PROGRAMMING, DATA PROCESSING, ETC.
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<PAGE>

                                                Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1)
                                                Registration Number 333-95829


                                3,000,000 Shares


                         [LOGO] RARE MEDIUM GROUP INC

                                  Common Stock

                               ------------------

     Our common stock is traded on The Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
"RRRR". On March 15, 2000, the last reported sale price for our common stock was
$66.188 per share.

     The underwriters have an option to purchase a maximum of 450,000 additional
shares of our common stock to cover over-allotments of shares.

     Investing in our common stock involves risks. See "Risk Factors" on
page 6.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               Underwriting
                                                             Price to         Discounts and        Proceeds to
                                                              Public           Commissions      Rare Medium Group
                                                        ------------------  ------------------  ------------------
<S>                                                     <C>                 <C>                 <C>
Per Share.............................................        $62.00              $3.10               $58.90
Total.................................................     $186,000,000         $9,300,000         $176,700,000
</TABLE>

     Delivery of the shares of common stock will be made on or about March 21,
2000.

     Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this
prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.

Credit Suisse First Boston

                           Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown

                                                              Robertson Stephens


                 The date of this prospectus is March 15, 2000.

<PAGE>


[Picture of a young smiling boy wearing glasses and a shirt saying
"got lemon?com". The middle left of the page contains the phrase
"Ronald N. Di'Niro, Master Lemonade Merchant." The lower left corner of the
page: Hard work, dedication and an entrepreneurial spirit. It takes more to
expand and thrive in the world of e-commerce.  From venture funding, strategic
consulting and back-end integration to web development and indelible branding,
it's rare to find a company that knows the medium as well as we do. If you want
a partner that can help you master the most powerful tool in business, talk to
Rare Medium. Building the blockbuster companies of the future.(TM)


The lower right corner of the page contains the company logo which reads "rare"
and underneath "rare MEDIUM INC, Master the Internet Revolution(TM)"


At the bottom of the page:

(888) rmedium, www.raremedium.com, Rare Medium Group Inc. (NASDAQ: RRRR),
Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Orange County,
Phoenix, San Antonio, San Francisco, Sydney, Toronoto. (C) 2000 Rare Medium,
Inc.]



<PAGE>

                               ------------------

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   PAGE
                                                   ----
<S>                                                <C>
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY
  REFERENCE.....................................     ii
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY..............................      1
RISK FACTORS....................................      6
THIS PROSPECTUS CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING
  STATEMENTS....................................     16
USE OF PROCEEDS.................................     17
DIVIDEND POLICY.................................     17
CAPITALIZATION..................................     18
DILUTION........................................     19
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING
  DATA..........................................     20
UNAUDITED SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL
  INFORMATION...................................     21
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
  FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
  OPERATIONS....................................     24

<CAPTION>
                                                   PAGE
                                                   ----
<S>                                                <C>
BUSINESS........................................     32
MANAGEMENT......................................     45
DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK................     47
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE.................     51
CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO
  NON-U.S. HOLDERS OF COMMON STOCK..............     53
UNDERWRITING....................................     55
NOTICE TO CANADIAN RESIDENTS....................     57
LEGAL COUNSEL...................................     58
EXPERTS.........................................     58
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL
  INFORMATION...................................     58
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
  STATEMENTS....................................    F-1
</TABLE>

                               ------------------

     YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT OR TO
WHICH WE HAVE REFERRED YOU. WE HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH
INFORMATION THAT IS DIFFERENT. THIS DOCUMENT MAY ONLY BE USED WHERE IT IS LEGAL
TO SELL THESE SECURITIES. THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT MAY ONLY BE ACCURATE
ON THE DATE OF THIS DOCUMENT.

                                       i
<PAGE>

                   INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     The Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") allows us to
"incorporate by reference" information that we file with them, which means that
we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those
documents. Specifically, we incorporate by reference the documents listed below
and any future filings we will make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

     o Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999;

     o Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 18, 2000;

     o Our Definitive Proxy Statement for a Special Meeting of Stockholders held
       on March 16, 1999, filed with the SEC on February 17, 1999;

     o Our Definitive Proxy Statement for an Annual Meeting of Stockholders held
       on August 19, 1999, filed with the SEC on July 12, 1999; and

     o Our Form 10 filed with the SEC on September 16, 1985.

     You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or
telephoning us at the following address:

                             Robert C. Lewis, Esq.
                               Vice President and
                                General Counsel
                            Rare Medium Group, Inc.
                          565 Fifth Avenue, 29th Floor
                               New York, NY 10017
                           Telephone: (212) 883-6940

     This prospectus is part of a Registration Statement we filed with the SEC.
You should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus or
incorporated by reference. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you
with different information. You should not assume that the information in this
prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of the
document. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the
offer is not permitted.

                               ------------------

     Any statement contained in this prospectus or in a document all or a
portion of which is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in
this prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of
this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or
in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this prospectus modifies or supersedes such
statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except
as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

                                       ii
<PAGE>
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

     This summary highlights some of the information from this prospectus and
may not contain all the information that is important to you. You should read
the entire prospectus, including the section entitled "Risk Factors" and our
consolidated financial statements and related notes, before deciding to invest
in our common stock.

     In this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires a different
meaning, all references to "Rare Medium Group," "we," "our," "us" or "our
company" refer to Rare Medium Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All references
to "Rare Medium, Inc." refer to our wholly owned subsidiary, Rare Medium, Inc.
and its subsidiaries.

     Unless otherwise indicated, the information in this prospectus assumes:

     o no exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option;

     o no exercise of outstanding options to purchase our common stock; and

     o no conversion or exercise of our outstanding Series A preferred stock,
       Series 1-A warrants, Series 2-A warrants or any other outstanding
       warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities.

                                  OUR COMPANY

     We are an Internet-focused company that:

     o provides Internet professional services to companies;

     o invests in and develops, manages and operates companies in selected
       Internet-focused market segments; and

     o takes strategic equity positions in companies that we believe possess
       superior Internet-focused business models.

     Our end-to-end Internet professional services offering encompasses the
entire Internet services spectrum, ranging from strategic and creative
consulting to applications development, implementation and hosting. Our
customers include AT&T, Dr. Drew, Epson, Forbes, Microsoft, Nestle, Ritz Carlton
and Weider.

     We also invest in and internally develop, manage and operate companies in
selected Internet-focused market segments. We refer to the companies in which we
are the majority shareholder as our "incubator companies." In addition, we make
minority investments in independently managed companies, in which we co-invest
with well-known financial and industry partners such as Brentwood Associates,
Compaq Computer Corp., Constellation Ventures, GE Capital Corp., Hicks, Muse,
Tate & Furst, Mayfield Partners and Omnicom. Our investment business is
currently focused on Internet companies engaged in the business-to-business
e-commerce, Internet enabling tools, broadband and next generation
communications sectors.

     The widespread acceptance of the Internet as a new global medium has
transformed the way people and businesses share information and conduct
commerce. International Data Corporation, an independent research firm,
forecasts that the number of worldwide Internet users will increase from
196 million in 1999 to 502 million in 2003. We believe this growth will drive
demand for Internet-related services to support this increased usage.
International Data Corporation projects that spending on Internet-related
services will rise from approximately $13 billion in 1999 to more than
$78 billion in 2003.

     We believe the following elements of our Internet solutions distinguish us
as a leading Internet services provider:

     o our vertically focused strategic industry expertise;

     o our broad skill set;

     o our focus on strategic consulting services for venture capital firms and
       their portfolio companies;

     o our efficient deployment of Internet solutions providing clients with
       rapid time to value;

     o our Application Service Provider or "ASP" initiative; and

     o our rapidly developing broadband competency.

                                       1

<PAGE>

     Our goal is to enhance our position as a leading Internet services firm
providing complete e-business solutions. Our strategy to achieve this objective
is to:

     o attract and retain a highly specialized work force;

     o expand and develop industry-specific expertise;

     o leverage our strategic consulting services;

     o enhance the Rare Medium brand;

     o increase repeat and recurring revenues;

     o leverage best practices and create operational efficiencies;

     o leverage our relationship with Apollo, our largest shareholder;

     o develop and maintain additional strategic relationships; and

     o continue to expand geographic coverage.

     We believe the collaboration between our investment and Internet services
businesses allows us to achieve the following significant competitive advantages
in each business:

     Investment Business

     o we are better positioned to identify early promising Internet-focused
       companies that we believe possess superior business models because of our
       knowledge of and presence in the Internet services industry;

     o we are able to deliver high quality Internet services, strategic
       consulting services and business infrastructure services to these
       companies during their most critical growth period, which we believe
       increases the likelihood of their success and return on our investment;

     Internet Services Business

     o in many cases, the companies in which we invest enter into an Internet
       services agreement with us;

     o we believe many of the companies in which we invest are engaged in
       innovative and cutting edge business models and technologies, and by
       providing Internet services to these companies, we are able to increase
       our knowledge and expertise; and

     o our Internet services business is able to attract and retain superior
       Internet professionals by giving them increased opportunities to share in
       any financial success of and work for promising Internet-focused
       companies.

                               ABOUT OUR COMPANY

     Our executive offices are located at 565 Fifth Avenue, 29th Floor, New
York, New York 10017, and our telephone number is (212) 883-6940. Our website is
www.raremediumgroup.com. The website of Rare Medium, Inc. is www.raremedium.com.
The information contained on our website and Rare Medium, Inc.'s website is not
incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this prospectus.

                                  THE OFFERING

<TABLE>
<S>                                                  <C>
Common stock offered by us.........................  3,000,000 shares

Common stock to be outstanding after this
  offering.........................................  49,312,132 shares

Use of proceeds....................................  The net proceeds from this offering will
                                                     be approximately $175.6 million based on
                                                     the offering price of $62.00 per share.
                                                     We intend to use the net proceeds to
                                                     continue to make venture and incubator
                                                     investments and develop our existing
                                                     incubator companies and to invest in and
                                                     provide working capital for our Internet
                                                     services business.

Nasdaq National Market symbol......................  RRRR

Risk factors.......................................  See the section entitled "Risk Factors"
                                                     beginning on page 6 for a discussion of
                                                     factors you should carefully consider
                                                     before deciding to buy our common stock.
</TABLE>

                                       2

<PAGE>

               SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA

     The following table presents summary consolidated financial and operating
data derived from our consolidated financial statements. You should read this
along with the section of this prospectus entitled "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our consolidated
financial statements and related notes.

     The pro forma balance sheet data give effect to the net proceeds of
$65.7 million resulting from the private placement in January 2000 of
2,500,000 shares of common stock.

     The pro forma, as adjusted, consolidated balance sheet data give effect to
the private placement and this offering of common stock, as if they had occurred
on December 31, 1999.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                ----------------------------------------------
                                                                    1997             1998             1999
                                                                ------------     ------------     ------------
                                                                       (IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
<S>                                                             <C>              <C>              <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Revenues....................................................    $         --     $      4,688     $     36,694
Cost of revenues............................................              --            3,610           19,650
                                                                ------------     ------------     ------------
 Gross profit...............................................              --            1,078           17,044
                                                                ------------     ------------     ------------
Expenses:
 Sales and marketing........................................              --              896            5,450
 General and administrative.................................           1,992            5,674           32,406
 Depreciation and amortization..............................              --           12,584           25,994
                                                                ------------     ------------     ------------
   Total expenses...........................................           1,992           19,154           63,850
                                                                ------------     ------------     ------------
Loss from operations........................................          (1,992)         (18,076)         (46,806)
Interest income (expense), net..............................             493           (1,279)          (1,396)
Equity interest in net loss of investments..................              --               --           (1,468)
Other income................................................              --               --              200
                                                                ------------     ------------     ------------
Loss before taxes and discontinued operation................          (1,499)         (19,355)         (49,470)
 Income tax expense.........................................              --              355               --
                                                                ------------     ------------     ------------
   Loss before discontinued operation.......................          (1,499)         (19,710)         (49,470)
                                                                ------------     ------------     ------------
Discontinued operation:
 Loss from discontinued operation...........................         (11,985)          (5,166)              --
 Gain on restructuring Engelhard/ICC........................              --           24,257               --
                                                                ------------     ------------     ------------
   (Loss) income from discontinued operation................         (11,985)          19,091               --
                                                                ------------     ------------     ------------
Net loss....................................................         (13,484)            (619)         (49,470)
 Deemed dividend attributable to issuance of convertible
   preferred stock..........................................              --               --          (29,879)
 Cumulative dividends and accretion of convertible preferred
   stock to liquidation value...............................              --               --          (13,895)
                                                                ------------     ------------     ------------
Net loss attributable to common stockholders................    $    (13,484)    $       (619)    $    (93,244)
                                                                ------------     ------------     ------------
                                                                ------------     ------------     ------------
Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share:
 Continuing operations......................................    $      (0.07)    $      (0.78)    $      (2.55)
 Discontinued operation.....................................           (0.56)            0.76               --
                                                                ------------     ------------     ------------
Net loss per share..........................................    $      (0.63)    $      (0.02)    $      (2.55)
                                                                ------------     ------------     ------------
                                                                ------------     ------------     ------------
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding............      21,339,635       25,282,002       36,625,457
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1999
                                                                    -----------------------------------------
                                                                                                  PRO FORMA,
                                                                     ACTUAL      PRO FORMA        AS ADJUSTED
                                                                    --------     ------------     -----------
                                                                                         (UNAUDITED)
                                                                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                 <C>          <C>              <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash and cash equivalents.......................................    $ 28,540       $ 94,218        $ 269,793
Investments in affiliates.......................................      26,467         26,467           26,467
Total assets....................................................     160,423        226,101          401,676
Notes payable, less current portion.............................         997            997              997
Total liabilities...............................................      19,208         19,208           19,208
Series A convertible preferred stock (a)........................      36,224         36,224           36,224
Stockholders' equity............................................     104,991        170,669          346,244
</TABLE>

- ------------------

(a) As a result of the issuance of the preferred stock and related warrants, the
    net proceeds were allocated to the preferred stock and additional paid-in
    capital based on the relative fair values of the preferred stock and
    warrants. The amount at December 31, 1999 represents the initial
    $29.9 million allocated to the preferred stock, plus the cumulative in-kind
    dividends, and accretion of the $29.9 million carrying value up to the
    $87.0 million face redemption amount over 13 years.

                                       3

<PAGE>

                        SUMMARY SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATIONS DATA

     The following unaudited supplemental operations data is based on our
unaudited historical operations data, and the unaudited historical operations
data of our wholly owned subsidiary, Rare Medium, Inc. Our Internet services
business is conducted through Rare Medium, Inc. No other business operations are
conducted by or through Rare Medium, Inc.

     With respect to Rare Medium, Inc., the following unaudited supplemental
operations data for each of the periods presented give effect to all Internet
services business acquisitions, as if these acquisitions occurred on January 1,
1999. With respect to Rare Medium Group, Inc., the following unaudited
supplemental operations data for each of the periods presented give effect to
all of these Internet services business acquisitions made through December 31,
1999 and our acquisition in November 1999 of College Media, Inc., one of our
incubator companies, as if these acquisitions occurred on January 1, 1999. The
effect of our other incubator companies acquired during 1999 is not material. A
more detailed presentation of this supplemental operations data for Rare Medium
Group, Inc. and the related adjustments is provided under the section entitled
"Unaudited Supplemental Financial Information."

     The unaudited supplemental data is based upon currently available
information of the acquired companies, without audit, and those assumptions and
estimates which management believes are reasonable. These assumptions and
estimates, however, are subject to change, including adjustments for potential
cost savings or other synergies arising from the acquisitions we made during
1998 and 1999. These statements are presented for comparative purposes only and
do not purport to be indicative of the actual results of operations that might
have occurred or expected future results. You should read the unaudited
supplemental financial data in conjunction with our consolidated financial
statements and the related notes.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
                                                    RARE MEDIUM, INC.     RARE MEDIUM GROUP, INC.
                                                    -----------------     -----------------------
                                                                     (UNAUDITED)
                                                                   (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                 <C>                   <C>
Revenues.........................................        $45,870                 $  50,811
  Cost of revenues...............................         23,367                    29,097
                                                         -------                 ---------
    Gross profit.................................         22,503                    21,714
                                                         -------                 ---------

  Sales and marketing expense....................          4,982                     5,759
  General and administrative expense.............         25,542                    38,728
  Depreciation and amortization..................          1,725                    36,704
                                                         -------                 ---------
                                                          32,249                    81,191
                                                         -------                 ---------
    Loss from operations.........................        $(9,746)                $ (59,477)
                                                         -------                 ---------
                                                         -------                 ---------
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  THREE MONTHS ENDED                       YEAR ENDED
                                ------------------------------------------------------    ------------
                                MARCH 31,    JUNE 30,    SEPTEMBER 30,    DECEMBER 31,    DECEMBER 31,
                                  1999         1999         1999             1999            1999
                                ---------    --------    -------------    ------------    ------------
                                                             (UNAUDITED)
                                                            (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                             <C>          <C>         <C>              <C>             <C>
RARE MEDIUM, INC.
Revenues.....................    $ 6,194     $  8,220       $13,533         $ 17,923        $ 45,870
  Cost of revenues...........      3,199        4,334         6,806            9,028          23,367
                                 -------     --------       -------         --------        --------
     Gross profit............      2,995        3,886         6,727            8,895          22,503
                                 -------     --------       -------         --------        --------

  Sales and marketing
     expense.................        405          529         1,350            2,698           4,982
  General and administrative
     expense.................      3,267        5,193         6,676           10,406          25,542
  Depreciation and
     amortization............        278          340           497              610           1,725
                                 -------     --------       -------         --------        --------
                                   3,950        6,062         8,523           13,714          32,249
                                 -------     --------       -------         --------        --------
     Loss from operations....    $  (955)    $ (2,176)      $(1,796)        $ (4,819)       $ (9,746)
                                 -------     --------       -------         --------        --------
                                 -------     --------       -------         --------        --------
</TABLE>


     Rare Medium, Inc.'s actual revenue was $2.5 million, $5.5 million,
$11.9 million and $17.0 million for the three-month periods ended March 31,
1999, June 30, 1999, September 30, 1999 and December 31, 1999, respectively, and
$36.9 million for the year ended December 31, 1999. Rare Medium, Inc.'s revenue
includes revenues from our consolidated subsidiaries of $0.5 million,
$0.7 million and $0.5 million for the three-month periods ended June 30, 1999,
September 30, 1999 and December 31, 1999, respectively, and $1.7 million for the
year ended December 31, 1999. These revenues are eliminated in the consolidated
financial statements of Rare Medium Group, Inc. The supplemental operations data
for Rare Medium, Inc. are calculated by aggregating all the historical results
of operations of the applicable acquired companies prior to their acquisition
with the results of operations of Rare Medium, Inc.

                                       4

<PAGE>

PRIVATE PLACEMENT

     On January 14, 2000, we sold 2,500,000 shares of our common stock for gross
proceeds of $70.1 million (net proceeds of $65.7 million) in a private
transaction, which we refer to in this prospectus as the "private placement."
The private placement was made to a group of mutual funds managed by Putnam
Investments and Franklin Resources, Inc. On February 11, 2000, we filed a
registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC to register the resale of the
shares sold in the private placement. We refer to that registration statement as
the "resale registration statement."

POTENTIAL ACQUISITIONS AND INVESTMENTS

     We regularly consider possible investments, mergers, acquisition
opportunities and other forms of business combinations, particularly in our
investment business. Historically, we have been involved in numerous
transactions of various magnitudes for consideration which included cash or
securities, including our common stock or combinations thereof. We are
continuing to evaluate and to pursue appropriate investment, acquisition and
combination opportunities as they arise in the expansion of our operations and
investment portfolio. We cannot assure you as to the timing, likelihood or
financial or business effect of any possible transaction.

     As part of our regular on-going evaluation of acquisition opportunities, we
are currently engaged in a number of separate and unrelated preliminary
discussions concerning possible investments and acquisitions. We are in the
early stages of such discussions and have not entered into any definitive
agreements with respect to any of these possible investments or acquisitions.
The consideration for the possible investments or acquisitions may be paid in
cash, through the issuance of common stock, which could significantly increase
the number of shares of common stock outstanding, or other securities, or a
combination thereof. Prior to consummating any such possible acquisition, we,
among other things, will have to initiate and satisfactorily complete our due
diligence investigation, negotiate the financial and other terms, including
price, and conditions of such investments or acquisitions, and obtain
appropriate board of directors, regulatory and other necessary consents and
approvals. We cannot predict if any such acquisition will be completed or, if
completed, will result in a financial or other benefit to us.

                                       5

<PAGE>

                                  RISK FACTORS

     You should carefully consider the risks described below before deciding
whether to invest in shares of our common stock. The risks and uncertainties
described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and
uncertainties not presently known to us may also impair our operations and
business.

     If we do not successfully address any of the risks described below, there
could be a material adverse effect on our financial condition, operating results
and business, and the trading price of our common stock may decline and you may
lose all or part of your investment. We cannot assure you that we will
successfully address these risks.

WE HAVE REPORTED OPERATING LOSSES AND WE CANNOT ASSURE YOU THAT WE WILL ATTAIN
PROFITABILITY.

     We had a loss before discontinued operations of $19.7 and $49.5 million for
the years ended December 31, 1998 and 1999, respectively. Although we have
experienced recent revenue growth, and had revenues of $36.7 million for the
year ended December 31, 1999 compared to $4.7 million for the year ended
December 31, 1998, this growth may not be sustainable or indicative of future
operating results. In addition, we have incurred substantial costs to expand and
integrate our operations. We intend to continue to invest heavily in
acquisitions, infrastructure and marketing. Our ongoing integration costs will
include the combination of the financial, information and communications systems
of the various companies that we have acquired and may acquire in the future.
Our ongoing expansion costs will include the leasing of additional office space,
the purchase and leasing of new computer and communications equipment and the
hiring of additional employees. As a result of these and other costs, we may
continue to incur operating losses in the future, and we cannot assure you that
we will attain profitability.

WE HAVE A LIMITED OPERATING HISTORY, WHICH MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT TO PREDICT
WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL ULTIMATELY HAVE SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS OPERATIONS.

     Our business has a limited operating history. Our prospects must be
considered in light of the risks and difficulties frequently encountered by
companies expanding into a new and rapidly evolving area such as Internet
services, including, but not limited to, an untested business model and the
management of growth. You should evaluate our business operations in view of the
risks, uncertainties, delays and difficulties associated with starting a new
business, many of which may be beyond our control. We cannot assure you that we
will be successful in meeting the challenges and addressing the risks that we
face in a new and rapidly expanding market such as Internet services and other
Internet related products and services and making venture investments and
developing incubator companies.

COMPETITION FOR INTERNET SERVICES IS INTENSE WITH LOW BARRIERS TO ENTRY WHICH
MAY AFFECT OUR FINANCIAL CONDITION, OPERATING RESULTS AND BUSINESS.

     The market for Internet services is relatively new, intensely competitive,
rapidly evolving and subject to rapid technological change. While relatively
new, the market is already highly competitive and characterized by an increasing
number of entrants who have introduced or developed products and services
similar to those offered by us. We expect competition not only to persist but to
increase. Increased competition may result in price reductions, reduced margins
and loss of market share.

     Our competitors can be divided into the following groups:

     o Internet services providers;

     o large systems integrators;

     o specialty systems integrators;

     o strategy consulting firms; and

     o interactive marketing firms.

     Many of our current and potential competitors have longer operating
histories, larger installed customer bases, greater name recognition, longer
relationships with clients and significantly greater financial, technical,

                                       6

<PAGE>

marketing and public relations resources than we do. At any time our current and
potential competitors could increase their resource commitments to our markets.
We expect to face additional competition from new market entrants in the future
as the barriers to entry into our business are also relatively low. Our current
or future competitors may also be better positioned to address technological and
market developments or may react more favorably to technological changes. We
compete on the basis of a number of factors, including the attractiveness of the
Internet services offered, the breadth and quality of these services, creative
design and systems engineering expertise, pricing, technological innovation and
understanding clients' strategies and needs. Many of these factors are beyond
our control. Existing or future competitors may develop or offer strategic
Internet services that provide significant technological, creative, performance,
price or other advantages over the services offered by us. As a result, our
financial condition, operating results and business could be adversely affected
and the value of your investment could be reduced significantly.

COMPETITION FOR VENTURE INVESTMENTS IS INTENSE.

     We face competition from numerous other capital providers seeking to
acquire interests in Internet-related businesses, including:

     o other Internet companies;

     o venture capital firms;

     o large corporations; and

     o other capital providers who also offer support services to companies.

     Traditionally, venture capital and private equity firms have dominated
investments in emerging technology companies, and many of these types of
competitors may have greater experience and financial resources than we have. In
addition to competition from venture capital and private equity firms, several
public companies such as CMGI, Internet Capital Group and Safeguard Scientifics,
as well as private companies such as Idealab!, devote significant resources to
providing capital together with other resources to Internet companies.
Additionally, corporate strategic investors, including Fortune 500 and other
significant companies, are developing Internet strategies and capabilities. Many
of these competitors have greater financial resources and brand name recognition
than we do, and the barriers to entry for companies wishing to provide capital
and other resources to entrepreneurs and their emerging technology companies are
minimal. We expect that competition from both private and public companies with
business models similar to our own will intensify. Among other adverse
consequences, this competition may diminish the pool of potential investment
opportunities and raise the cost of making future investments. As a result, our
financial condition, operating results and business could be adversely affected
and the value of your investment could be reduced significantly.

WE GENERALLY DO NOT HAVE LONG-TERM SERVICE CONTRACTS AND OUR NEED TO ESTABLISH
RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEW CLIENTS CREATES AN UNCERTAIN REVENUE STREAM.

     Our clients generally retain us on a project by project basis, rather than
under long-term contracts. As a result, a client may or may not engage us for
further services once a project is completed. Establishment and development of
relationships with additional companies and other users of information
technology and securing repeat engagements with existing clients are important
components of our business operations. The absence of long-term contracts and
the need for new clients create an uncertain revenue stream. A client that
accounts for a significant portion of our revenues in a given period may not
generate a similar amount of revenues, if any, in subsequent periods. We cannot
assure you that we will be able to add new major clients or to secure new
engagements with existing clients. In addition, some of our existing clients may
unilaterally reduce the scope of, or terminate, existing projects. We cannot
assure you that we will be able to maintain our business relationship with or
avoid a material reduction in the use of our services by any of our significant
existing clients.

                                       7

<PAGE>

WE MAY NEED ADDITIONAL CAPITAL WHICH MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE TO US. THE RAISING OF
ANY ADDITIONAL CAPITAL MAY DILUTE YOUR OWNERSHIP IN OUR COMPANY.

     We may need to raise additional funds through public or private debt or
equity financings in order to:

     o take advantage of opportunities, including more rapid expansion or
       acquisitions of, or investments in, businesses or technologies;

     o develop new services; or

     o respond to competitive pressures.

     Any additional capital raised through the sale of equity would dilute your
ownership percentage in our company. Furthermore, we cannot assure you that any
additional financing we may need will be available on terms favorable to us, or
at all. In such case, our financial condition, operating results and business
may be materially and adversely affected.

OUR RECENT ACQUISITIONS HAVE CREATED FINANCIAL AND OTHER CHALLENGES, WHICH, IF
NOT ADDRESSED OR RESOLVED, COULD HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR FINANCIAL
CONDITION, OPERATING RESULTS AND BUSINESS.

     We acquired or made controlling equity investments in three businesses
during 1998 and 22 businesses during 1999. To the extent our management must
devote significant time and attention to the integration of technology,
operations, businesses and personnel as a result of our services and incubator
acquisitions, our business may suffer. In addition, our senior management faces
the difficult and potentially time consuming challenge of implementing uniform
standards, controls, procedures and policies throughout our current and future
acquisitions. We could also experience financial or other setbacks if any of the
acquired businesses experienced problems in the past of which our management is
not presently aware. For example, if an acquired business had dissatisfied
customers or had any performance problems, our reputation could suffer as a
result of our association with that business. In addition, we may experience
disputes with the sellers of acquired businesses and may fail to retain key
acquired personnel. To the extent any customer or other third party asserts any
material legal claims against any of the acquired companies, our financial
condition, operating results and business could be materially and adversely
affected.

OUR ACQUISITION STRATEGY MAY RESULT IN INCREASED EXPENSES, DIFFICULTIES IN
INTEGRATING ACQUIRED COMPANIES AND DIVERSION OF MANAGEMENT'S ATTENTION.

     A key component of our growth strategy is to acquire Internet related
businesses that complement or enhance our business, on acceptable terms. We
expect the competition for acquisition candidates to continue to increase. We
cannot assure you that we will be able to identify and successfully compete for
attractive acquisition candidates or complete acquisitions at reasonable
purchase prices, in a timely manner or at all. In addition, some of our
competitors have greater financial resources than we do and may be able to more
effectively complete acquisitions, which could result in increased prices for
acquisition targets and a diminished pool of companies available for
acquisition.

     Some of the other risks that we may encounter in implementing our
acquisition growth strategy include:

     o expenses and difficulties in identifying potential targets and the costs
       associated with uncompleted acquisitions;

     o expenses, delays and difficulties of integrating acquired companies into
       our existing organization;

     o diversion of management's attention;

     o expenses of amortizing acquired companies' intangible assets;

     o issuances of equity securities to pay for acquisitions may be dilutive to
       existing stockholders;

     o impact on our financial condition due to the timing of acquisitions; and

     o expense of any undisclosed or potential legal liabilities of acquired
       companies.

     If realized, any of these risks could have a material adverse effect on our
financial condition, operating results and business.

                                       8

<PAGE>

WE MAY SUFFER ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES IF DEEMED TO BE AN INVESTMENT COMPANY.

     We may suffer adverse consequences if deemed to be an investment company
under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Some equity investments made by us may
constitute investment securities under the 1940 Act. A company may be deemed to
be an investment company if it owns investment securities with a value exceeding
40% of its total assets, subject to certain exclusions. Investment companies are
subject to registration under, and compliance with, the 1940 Act unless a
particular exclusion or SEC safe harbor applies. If we were to be deemed an
investment company, we would become subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act.
As a consequence, we would be prohibited from engaging in business or issuing
our securities as we have in the past and might be subject to civil and criminal
penalties for noncompliance. In addition, certain of our contracts might be
voidable, and a court-appointed receiver could take control of our company and
liquidate our business.

     Although our investment securities currently comprise less than 40% of our
assets, fluctuations in the value of these securities or of our other assets may
cause this limit to be exceeded. Unless an exclusion or safe harbor were
available to us, we would have to attempt to reduce our investment securities as
a percentage of our total assets in order to avoid becoming subject to the
requirements of the 1940 Act. This reduction can be attempted in a number of
ways, including the disposition of investment securities and the acquisition of
non-investment security assets. If we were required to sell investment
securities, we may sell them sooner than we otherwise would. These sales may be
at depressed prices, and we may never realize anticipated benefits from, or may
incur losses on, these investments. Some investments may not be sold due to
contractual or legal restrictions or the inability to locate a suitable buyer.
Moreover, we may incur tax liabilities when we sell assets. We may also be
unable to purchase additional investment securities that may be important to our
operating strategy. If we decide to acquire non-investment security assets, we
may not be able to identify and acquire suitable assets and businesses.

WE MAY FACE DIFFICULTIES MANAGING OUR GROWTH.

     Our recent growth has required a greater amount of our managerial and
operational resources. A key part of our strategy is to grow, both by hiring
more personnel and through acquisitions, which will continue to require a
substantial amount of our resources. To manage future growth, our management
must continue to improve our operational and financial systems and expand,
train, retain and manage our employee base. We cannot assure you that we will be
able to manage our growth effectively. If our systems, procedures and controls
are inadequate to support our operations, our expansion would be impaired. Any
inability to manage growth effectively could have a material adverse effect on
our financial condition, operating results and business.

WE MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY IN MANAGING OUR INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS AND EXPANSION,
WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR OPERATING RESULTS AND BUSINESS.

     A key element of our strategy is to expand our business into international
markets. In addition to our domestic operations, we have operations in
Australia, Canada, Singapore and the United Kingdom. We intend to commence
operations in Tokyo in the near future. Our management may have difficulty in
managing our international operations because of distance, as well as language
and cultural differences. We cannot assure you that we will be able to market
and operate our services successfully in foreign markets.

     Other risks related to our international operations include:

     o fluctuations in currency exchange rates;

     o difficulties arising from staffing and managing foreign operations;

     o state-imposed restrictions on the repatriation of funds;

     o legal and regulatory requirements of different countries, such as
       differing tax or labor laws; and

     o potential political and economic instability.

     If any of these risks materialize, we may not be able to successfully
promote our services or perform client engagements in international markets. As
a result, our growth and ability to compete effectively may be

                                       9

<PAGE>

hindered and our financial condition, operating results and business could be
materially and adversely affected.

OUR VENTURE INVESTMENTS ARE RISKY.

     A key element of our strategy is to make minority equity investments in
Internet start-up companies. As of December 31, 1999, we have made venture
investments in 15 companies, with our equity stakes in these companies ranging
from 1% to 33%. As of December 31, 1999, the aggregate cost of our venture
investments totaled approximately $26.7 million. Decreases in the value of these
companies will have an adverse effect on our business. Because we own less than
a majority of the shares of these companies, we are not involved in the
day-to-day operations of any of these companies and may not be able to control
the policies or directions that these companies take.

     All of the companies in which we have made venture investments are in the
early stages of development, and we cannot assure you that these companies will
be able to successfully achieve their business goals in a timely manner or at
all. Our strategy is to realize capital return on our investments in these
companies by liquidating these investments through sales of equity or otherwise.
We cannot assure you that we will realize any return on any of these
investments. Moreover, the trading price of our common stock may be adversely
affected if we do not realize any return on these investments, or if that return
is lower than the market expects. The failure of one or more of these companies
in which we have invested, and the timing of any dispositions of our investments
in these companies, could have a material adverse effect on our financial
condition, operating results and business and on the trading value of our common
stock.

OUR BUSINESS DEPENDS UPON THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR INCUBATOR COMPANIES, WHICH IS
UNCERTAIN.

     A key element of our strategy is to internally develop and operate majority
owned subsidiaries. Of our approximately $105.0 million in total net assets as
of December 31, 1999, approximately $16.9 million, or approximately 16.1%,
consisted of investments in and net assets of our incubator companies.

     Many of our incubator companies are in the early stages of their
development, and we cannot assure you that these companies will be able to
successfully achieve their business goals in a timely manner or at all. Our
strategy is to realize capital return on our investment in these companies by
liquidating the investments through sales of equity or otherwise. We cannot
assure you that we will realize any return on any of these investments.
Moreover, the trading price of our common stock may be adversely affected if we
do not realize any return on these investments, or if that return is lower than
the market expects. The failure of one or more of our incubator companies could
have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, operating results and
business and on the trading value of our common stock.

THE LOSS OF EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT OR OTHER KEY PERSONNEL MAY HARM OUR ABILITY TO
OBTAIN AND RETAIN CLIENT ENGAGEMENTS AND COMPETE EFFECTIVELY.

     Our business operations depend largely on the skills of our key management
and technical personnel as well as key management and technical personnel of
companies we have acquired. Many of our executive officers have recently joined
us, and many of our key personnel have worked together for a relatively short
period. If one or more members of our executive management or other key
personnel were unable or unwilling to continue in their present positions, these
persons would be very difficult to replace. In addition, if any of these persons
joined a competitor or formed a competing company, some of our clients might
choose to use the services of that competitor or new company instead of ours.
Furthermore, our clients or other companies seeking management talent may hire
away some members of our executive management or other key personnel. This could
result in the loss of our client relationships or new business opportunities and
impede our ability to implement our business strategy. In addition, except for
Glenn S. Meyers, our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, we do not
maintain key man insurance for any of our employees.

                                       10

<PAGE>

WE ARE DEPENDENT ON OUR ABILITY TO RECRUIT, TRAIN AND RETAIN HIGHLY QUALIFIED
INTERNET PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY.

     We believe continued hiring of new personnel will be required to support
our business. Our business operations depend in large part on our ability to
identify, hire, train and retain highly qualified Internet professionals who can
provide the technical, strategic consulting, creative, marketing and audience
development skills required by clients. There is a shortage of these highly
qualified personnel and we compete with other companies for this limited pool of
persons. We cannot assure you that we will be able to attract, train, or retain
qualified personnel. Failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on
our financial condition, operating results and business.

FLUCTUATIONS IN OUR FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE TRADING
PRICE OF OUR COMMON STOCK.

     Our operating results may fluctuate as a result of a variety of factors,
many of which are outside of our control, including:

     o the number, size and scope of our client engagements;

     o reductions, cancellations or completions of major projects;

     o the loss of significant clients or a change of scope in a significant
       client engagement;

     o the opening or closing of an office;

     o our relative mix of business;

     o changes in pricing by us or our competitors;

     o the efficiency with which we utilize our billable professionals, plan and
       manage our existing and new client engagements and manage our future
       growth;

     o variability in market demand for Internet services;

     o our ability to retain and attract qualified professionals;

     o our ability to complete fixed-fee engagements within the assigned budget;

     o costs related to expansion of our business;

     o increased competition;

     o marketing budget decisions by our clients; and

     o general economic conditions.

     As a result of these possible fluctuations, period-to-period comparisons of
our operating results may not be reliable indicators of future performance. A
high percentage of our expenses, including those related to employee
compensation and facilities, are fixed. If the number and size of our projects
decreases in any period, then our revenues and operating results may also
decrease. In some quarters, our operating results may fall below the
expectations of securities analysts and investors due to many factors, including
those described above. In such event, the trading price of the common stock
would likely decline and the decline could be significant.

THE PRICE OF OUR COMMON STOCK HAS BEEN VOLATILE.

     The market price of our common stock has been, and is likely to continue to
be, volatile, experiencing wide fluctuations. In recent years, the stock market
has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations which have
particularly affected the market prices of equity securities of many companies
providing Internet-related products and services. Some of these fluctuations
appear to be unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of such
companies. Future market movements may materially and adversely affect the
market price of our common stock.

                                       11

<PAGE>

OUR FIXED PRICE CONTRACTS INVOLVE FINANCIAL RISK.

     Many of our contracts are currently on a fixed price basis, rather than a
time and materials basis. Further, the average size of our contracts is
currently increasing, which results in a corresponding increase in our exposure
to the financial risks of fixed price contracts. We assume greater financial
risk on fixed price contracts than on time and materials engagements because our
source of revenue remains fixed while our costs may be rising. We have only a
limited history in estimating our costs for our engagements, particularly for
larger projects. We have had to commit unanticipated resources to complete some
of our projects, resulting in lower gross margins on such contracts. We may
experience similar situations in the future. In addition, we typically assume
the fixed price contracts of the companies we acquire. If we fail to estimate
accurately the resources and time required for an engagement, to manage client
expectations effectively or to complete fixed price engagements within our
budget, on time and to our clients' satisfaction, we would be exposed to cost
overruns, potentially leading to losses on these engagements.

OUR REVENUES COULD BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY THE LOSS OF MAJOR CLIENTS.

     We derive a significant portion of our revenues from a limited number of
clients. In 1999, we estimate that our five largest clients accounted for
approximately 14% of our revenues. The loss of major clients could significantly
reduce our revenues, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial
condition, operating results and business.

FAILURE TO DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN OUR BRAND COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR
OPERATIONS AND BUSINESS.

     We believe that maintaining and strengthening the Rare Medium brand is an
important aspect of attracting and maintaining clients. The importance of brand
recognition will increase as competition in the market for Internet services
increases. Building a brand requires a successful marketing effort and
successful delivery of product to clients. A single event involving client
dissatisfaction could tarnish the perception of Rare Medium as a whole despite
any efforts to maintain and strengthen the Rare Medium brand name. We cannot
assure you that the strategy adopted and expenses incurred by us will result in
a stronger brand.

OUR SUCCESS DEPENDS UPON STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS.

     We have established strategic relationships with AT&T, IBM, Macromedia,
Microsoft and Oracle which may be terminated at any time. The loss of any of
these or other strategic relationships would deprive us of the opportunity to:

     o gain early access to leading-edge technology;

     o cooperatively market products with these vendors;

     o cross-sell additional services; or

     o gain enhanced access to vendor training and support.

OUR BUSINESS DEPENDS ON THE GROWING DEMAND FOR INTERNET SOLUTIONS.

     If the usage and volume of commercial transactions on the Internet does not
continue to increase, demand for our services may decrease and our financial
condition, operating results and business could be materially and adversely
affected. Our future success depends on the continued expansion of, and reliance
of consumers and businesses on, the Internet and related technical solutions.
The Internet may not be able to support an increased number of users or an
increase in the volume of data transmitted over it. As a result, the performance
or reliability of the Internet may be adversely affected as use increases. The
improvement of the Internet in response to increased demands will require timely
improvement of the high speed modems and other communications equipment that
form the Internet infrastructure. The Internet has already experienced outages
and delays as a result of damage to portions of its infrastructure. The
effectiveness of the Internet may also decline due to delays in the development
or adoption of new technical standards and protocols designed to support
increased levels of activity. We cannot assure you that the infrastructure,
products or

                                       12

<PAGE>

services necessary to maintain and expand the Internet will be developed. Other
factors that may adversely affect Internet usage or e-commerce adoption include:

     o actual or perceived lack of security of information;

     o congestion of Internet traffic or other usage delays;

     o inconsistent quality of service;

     o increases in Internet access costs;

     o increases in government regulation of the Internet;

     o uncertainty regarding intellectual property ownership;

     o reluctance to adopt new business methods;

     o costs associated with the obsolescence of existing infrastructure; and

     o economic viability of e-commerce models.

OUR BUSINESS OPERATIONS DEPEND ON OUR ABILITY TO ADAPT TO TECHNOLOGICAL
INNOVATIONS.

     Our business operations depend, in part, on our ability to keep pace with
rapid technological change, new products and services embodying new processes
and technologies and industry standards and practices. Failure to respond to
these changes could render our existing service practices and methodologies
obsolete. We cannot assure you that we will be able to respond quickly,
cost-effectively or sufficiently to these developments.

MISAPPROPRIATION OF OUR TRADEMARKS AND OTHER PROPRIETARY RIGHTS COULD HARM OUR
REPUTATION, AFFECT OUR COMPETITIVE POSITION AND COST US MONEY.

     We believe our trademarks and other proprietary rights are important to our
success and competitive position. If we are unable to protect our trademarks and
other proprietary rights against unauthorized use by others, our reputation
among existing and potential clients could be damaged and our competitive
position adversely affected. We have registered or are registering certain of
our trademarks in the United States and abroad. We attempt to limit access to
and distribution of our proprietary information as well as proprietary
information licensed from third-parties.

     Our strategies to deter misappropriation could be inadequate in light of
the following risks:

     o non-recognition or inadequate protection of our proprietary rights in
       certain foreign countries;

     o undetected misappropriation of our proprietary information or materials;
       and

     o development of similar software or applications by our competitors.

     We cannot assure you that these strategies will be adequate to deter
misappropriation of our proprietary information and material. If any of these
risks materialize, we could be required to pay significant amounts to defend our
rights or pay damages, and our managerial resources could be diverted.

OTHER PARTIES MAY CLAIM THAT WE HAVE INFRINGED UPON THEIR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
RIGHTS, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL COSTS TO US AND A DIVERSION OF OUR RESOURCES.

     It is possible that third parties, including our clients, may claim we are
infringing upon their intellectual property rights. While we believe that
currently there is no basis for such a claim, we cannot assure you that an
infringement claim will not be brought against us in the future. The material
and adverse consequences of a successful infringement claim against us are as
follows:

     o liability for litigation costs and damages;

     o we may be enjoined from using specific intellectual property in the
       future;

     o we may incur costs for licensing specific intellectual property from
       others;

     o we may incur significant costs associated with the development of
       non-infringing alternatives; and

                                       13

<PAGE>

     o we may have to indemnify clients with respect to losses as a result of
       our infringement of the intellectual property.

     Even if we are successful in defending against an infringement claim, we
may incur substantial costs defending ourselves. Additionally, these claims
could divert needed resources, management's attention and could harm our
reputation.

WE MAY BE SUBJECT TO LEGAL LIABILITY TO OUR CLIENTS.

     Many of our engagements involve the development and implementation of
Internet services that are important to our clients' businesses. Our failure or
inability to meet a client's expectations in the performance of services could
injure our business reputation or result in a claim for substantial damages
against us regardless of our responsibility for such failure. In addition, the
services we provide for our clients may include confidential or proprietary
client information. Although we have implemented policies to prevent such client
information from being disclosed to unauthorized parties or used
inappropriately, any such unauthorized disclosure or use could result in a claim
against us for substantial damages. Our contractual provisions attempting to
limit such damages may not be enforceable in all instances or may otherwise fail
to protect us from liability for damages. Moreover, we do not currently have
errors and omissions insurance.

OUR BUSINESS COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY YEAR 2000 ISSUES.

     Year 2000 risks exist because of the potential occurrence of computer
system or related processing failures caused by the inability of the computers
to recognize date-related data arising from the use of two digits rather than
four digits to define a particular year. Currently, our systems have functioned
properly with respect to dates starting in the Year 2000 and our clients have
not reported experiencing any Year 2000 problems. However, there may still be
Year 2000 problems that affect us or our clients, and any potential future Year
2000 problem may cause us to incur material financial losses, liability to our
clients or damage to our reputation.

OUR BUSINESS IS SUBJECT TO GENERAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS.

     Our revenues and results of operations will be subject to fluctuations
based upon the general economic conditions in the United States and, to a lesser
extent, abroad. If there is a general economic downturn or a recession in the
United States, we expect that business enterprises, including our customers and
potential customers, would substantially and immediately reduce their budgets or
delay implementation of Internet-focused business solutions. A deterioration in
existing economic conditions could therefore materially and adversely affect our
financial condition, operating results and business.

GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION OF THE INTERNET COULD IMPACT OUR OPERATIONS.

     Currently, we are not subject to any direct governmental regulation other
than the securities laws and regulations applicable to all publicly owned
companies and laws and regulations applicable to businesses generally. Few laws
or regulations are directly applicable to access to, or commerce on, the
Internet. Due to the increasing popularity and use of the Internet, it is likely
that a number of laws and regulations may be adopted at the local, state,
national or international levels with respect to the Internet, including the
possible levying of tax on e-commerce transactions. Any new legislation could
inhibit the growth in use of the Internet and decrease the acceptance of the
Internet as a communications and commercial medium, which could in turn decrease
the demand for our services or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our
future operating performance and business.

APOLLO BENEFICIALLY OWNS A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF OUR VOTING STOCK.

     After giving effect to this offering, assuming no exercise of the
underwriters' over-allotment option and assuming that all currently outstanding
shares of our Series A convertible preferred stock are converted and all Series
1-A and Series 2-A warrants are exercised, affiliates of Apollo would own
approximately 44% of our outstanding common stock. Additionally, Apollo's
ownership interest in our company may increase upon its conversion of additional
shares of Series A convertible preferred stock or its exercise of additional
Series

                                       14

<PAGE>

1-A warrants received as in-kind dividends on its shares of Series A convertible
preferred stock. Apollo currently owns all of the 907,820 outstanding shares of
our Series A convertible preferred stock. As long as Apollo owns at least
100,000 shares of these securities, we are precluded from taking various
corporate actions and entering into various transactions, without Apollo's
consent. These corporate actions and transactions are described in our proxy
statement for the stockholders' meeting held on August 19, 1999. In addition, as
long as Apollo owns at least 100,000 shares of our Series A convertible
preferred stock, the holders of the Series A convertible preferred stock, voting
as a separate class, have the right to elect two of the members of our board of
directors and have certain approval rights with respect to additional members of
our board of directors in the event that the size of our board of directors is
increased.

     Because of Apollo's large percentage of ownership and its rights as the
holder of Series A convertible preferred stock, Apollo may have significant
influence over our management and policies, such as the election of our
directors, the appointment of new management and the approval of any other
action requiring the approval of our stockholders, including any amendments to
our certificate of incorporation and mergers or sales of all or substantially
all of our assets. In addition, the level of Apollo's ownership of our shares of
common stock and these rights could have the effect of discouraging or impeding
an unsolicited acquisition proposal.

WE DO NOT INTEND TO PAY DIVIDENDS IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

     We currently expect to retain our future earnings, if any, for use in the
operation and expansion of our business. We do not anticipate paying any cash
dividends in the foreseeable future.

YOU MAY DISAGREE WITH THE WAYS IN WHICH WE MAY ALLOCATE THE PROCEEDS FROM THIS
OFFERING.

     Our management will have substantial discretion in the allocation of the
proceeds from this offering. Currently, there is no specific plan as to the use
of these proceeds, as they will be used for our investment business, the
development of our incubator companies and working capital for our Internet
services business. As a result, you will have to rely on the judgment and
discretion of our management to allocate the proceeds properly. We cannot assure
you that you will agree with their decisions as to the application of the
proceeds. See section entitled "Use of Proceeds."

THE ISSUANCE OF PREFERRED STOCK OR ADDITIONAL COMMON STOCK MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT
OUR STOCKHOLDERS.

     Our board has the authority to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of our
preferred stock and to determine the terms, including voting rights, of those
shares without any further vote or action by our stockholders. The voting and
other rights of the holders of our common stock will be subject to, and may be
adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of any preferred stock that may
be issued in the future. Similarly, our board may issue additional shares of
common stock without any further vote or action by stockholders, which would
have the effect of diluting common stockholders. An issuance could occur in the
context of another public or private offering of shares of common stock or
preferred stock or in a situation where the common stock or preferred stock is
used to acquire the assets or stock of another company. The issuance of common
stock or preferred stock, while providing desirable flexibility in connection
with possible acquisitions, investments and other corporate purposes, could have
the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control.

ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS COULD MAKE A THIRD-PARTY ACQUISITION OF OUR COMPANY
DIFFICULT.

     We are a Delaware corporation. The Delaware General Corporation Law
contains provisions that could make it more difficult for a third party to
acquire control of our company. In addition, we have a classified board of
directors, with each board member serving a staggered three-year term. The
existence of a classified board could make it more difficult for a third-party
to acquire control of our company. See the section entitled "Description of Our
Capital Stock."

                                       15

<PAGE>

INVESTORS IN THIS OFFERING WILL EXPERIENCE IMMEDIATE AND SUBSTANTIAL DILUTION.

     If you purchase common stock in this offering, you will pay more for your
shares than stockholders who purchased their shares from us prior to this
offering. Accordingly, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution of
approximately $57.64 per share representing the difference between the price per
share to be paid by new investors and the net consolidated tangible book value
per share after giving effect to this offering. See the section entitled
"Dilution."

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE COULD CAUSE OUR STOCK PRICE TO DECLINE.

     The market price of our common stock could decline as a result of future
sales of substantial amounts of our common stock, or the perception that such
sales could occur. Furthermore, certain of our existing stockholders have the
right to require us to register their shares, and the holders of our Series A
convertible preferred stock and Series 1-A and 2-A warrants have the right to
require us to register the shares of common stock underlying these securities,
which may facilitate their sale of shares in the public market. We are required
to use our diligent efforts to register before May 13, 2000, 2,500,000 shares of
our common stock for resale by the investors in the private placement. On
February 11, 2000, we filed a registration statement to register the resale of
these securities. See the section entitled "Shares Eligible for Future Sale."

              THIS PROSPECTUS CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     This prospectus contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. These statements may be found in the sections of this prospectus
entitled "Prospectus Summary," "Risk Factors," "Use of Proceeds," "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and
"Business" and in this prospectus generally. Our actual results could differ
materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as of
result of various factors, including all the risks discussed in the section
entitled "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this prospectus.

     We urge you to consider that statements which use the terms "believe," "do
not believe," "expect," "plan," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate" and similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These
statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and because
our business is subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other risk factors.
See the section entitled "Risk Factors." Investors should not rely on these
statements as an estimate or prediction of future performance. Actual results
will most likely differ from those reflected in these statements, and the
differences could be substantial. We disclaim any obligation to publicly update
these statements, or disclose any difference between our actual results and
those reflected in these statements. The information constitutes forward-
looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995.

                                       16

<PAGE>

                                   USE OF PROCEEDS

     Our net proceeds from this offering will be $175.6 million (approximately
$202.1 million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full)
based on the offering price of $62.00 per share and after deducting estimated
underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated expenses.

     We expect to use the net proceeds from this offering to continue to make
venture and incubator investments and develop our existing incubator companies
and to invest in and provide working capital for our Internet services business.
As of the date of this prospectus, we cannot specify with certainty all of the
particular uses for the net proceeds we will have upon completion of this
offering. Accordingly, our management will have broad discretion in the
application of the net proceeds.

     Pending such uses, we intend to invest the net proceeds in
interest-bearing, investment-grade instruments, certificates of deposit, or
direct or guaranteed obligations of the United States.

                                DIVIDEND POLICY

     We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the
foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain future earnings, if any, to
finance operations, to make investments and to expand our business. Any future
determination to pay cash dividends will be at the discretion of the board of
directors and will be dependent upon our financial condition, operating results,
capital requirements, Delaware law considerations and other factors that our
board of directors considers.

                                       17

<PAGE>

                                 CAPITALIZATION

     The following table sets forth our capitalization as of December 31, 1999.

     Our capitalization is presented:

     o on an actual basis;

     o on a pro forma basis to give effect to the net proceeds of $65.7 million
       resulting from the private placement in January 2000 of 2,500,000 shares
       of common stock, and

     o on a pro forma, as adjusted basis to give effect to the sale of 3,000,000
       shares of common stock in this offering and 2,500,000 shares in the
       private placement.

     The table excludes:

     o shares issuable as a result of the underwriters exercising their
       over-allotment option;

     o shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding
       as of December 31, 1999 under our director, officer and employee stock
       option plans;

     o shares of common stock reserved for future grants under our director,
       officer and employee stock option plans; and

     o shares of common stock issuable upon conversion and exercise of our
       outstanding Series A convertible preferred stock, Series 1-A warrants,
       and Series 2-A warrants or any other outstanding warrants or convertible
       or exchangeable securities.

     We urge you to read this table together with the sections of this
prospectus entitled "Selected Consolidated Financial and Operating Data,"
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations," "Description of Our Capital Stock" and the consolidated financial
statements included in this prospectus.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1999
                                                                          -----------------------------------------
                                                                                                       PRO FORMA,
                                                                           ACTUAL       PRO FORMA      AS ADJUSTED
                                                                          ---------    ------------    ------------
                                                                                               (UNAUDITED)
                                                                                       (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                       <C>          <C>             <C>
Cash and cash equivalents..............................................   $  28,540     $   94,218      $  269,793
                                                                          ---------     ----------      ----------
                                                                          ---------     ----------      ----------
Notes payable, less current portion....................................   $     997     $      997      $      997
Series A convertible preferred stock(a)................................      36,224         36,224          36,224
Stockholders' equity:
  Preferred stock, $.01 par value, authorized 10,000,000 shares; issued
     907,820 shares as Series A convertible preferred stock............          --             --              --
  Common stock, $.01 par value, authorized 200,000,000 shares;
     42,893,357 shares issued actual; 45,393,357 shares issued pro
     forma, and 48,393,357 shares issued pro forma, as adjusted........         429            454             484
  Additional paid-in capital...........................................     252,075        317,728         493,273
  Accumulated other comprehensive income...............................         936            936             936
  Note receivable from shareholder.....................................        (230)          (230)           (230)
  Accumulated deficit..................................................    (148,048)      (148,048)       (148,048)
  Treasury stock.......................................................        (171)          (171)           (171)
                                                                          ---------     ----------      ----------
Total stockholders' equity.............................................     104,991        170,669         346,244
                                                                          ---------     ----------      ----------
Total capitalization...................................................   $ 142,212     $  207,890      $  383,465
                                                                          ---------     ----------      ----------
                                                                          ---------     ----------      ----------
</TABLE>

     -----------------------
     (a) As a result of the issuance of the preferred stock and related
         warrants, the net proceeds were allocated to the preferred stock and
         additional paid-in capital based on the relative fair values of the
         preferred stock and warrants. The amount at December 31, 1999
         represents the initial $29.9 million allocated to the preferred stock,
         plus the cumulative in-kind dividends, and accretion of the $29.9
         million carrying value up to the $87.0 million face redemption amount
         over 13 years.

                                       18

<PAGE>

                                        DILUTION

     As of December 31, 1999, our consolidated net tangible book value was
approximately $24.7 million, or approximately $0.58 per share of common stock.
"Consolidated net tangible book value per share" represents the total amount of
our consolidated tangible assets reduced by the amount of our consolidated
liabilities and divided by the number of shares of common stock outstanding.
After giving effect to the sale of 3,000,000 shares of common stock in this
offering and application of the net proceeds from this offering (based on the
public offering price of $62.00 per share), and after deducting estimated
underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated expenses of this offering,
our net tangible book value at December 31, 1999 would have been approximately
$200.3 million, or $4.36 per share. This represents an immediate increase in
combined net tangible book value of approximately $3.78 per share to existing
shareholders and an immediate dilution of $57.64 per share to new investors.

     Dilution per share represents the difference between the price per share to
be paid by new investors and the net consolidated tangible book value per share
immediately after this offering. The following table illustrates this per share
dilution:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                <C>      <C>
Public offering price per share.................................................................            $62.00
Consolidated net tangible book value per share before the offering..............................   $0.58
Increase per share attributable to new investors................................................    3.78
                                                                                                   -----
Consolidated net tangible book value per share after the offering...............................              4.36
                                                                                                            ------
Dilution per share to new investors.............................................................            $57.64
                                                                                                            ------
                                                                                                            ------
</TABLE>

                                       19

<PAGE>

               SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA

     We derived the selected historical and consolidated financial and operating
data presented below from our historical financial statements and related notes
included in this prospectus. You should read the selected consolidated financial
and operating data together with our historical financial statements and the
section of this prospectus entitled "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations."

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                         -----------------------------------------
                                                                            1997           1998           1999
                                                                         -----------    -----------    -----------
                                                                             (IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
<S>                                                                      <C>            <C>            <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Revenues..............................................................   $        --    $     4,688    $    36,694
Cost of revenues......................................................            --          3,610         19,650
                                                                         -----------    -----------    -----------
  Gross profit........................................................            --          1,078         17,044
                                                                         -----------    -----------    -----------
Expenses:
  Sales and marketing.................................................            --            896          5,450
  General and administrative..........................................         1,992          5,674         32,406
  Depreciation and amortization.......................................            --         12,584         25,994
                                                                         -----------    -----------    -----------
    Total expenses....................................................         1,992         19,154         63,850
                                                                         -----------    -----------    -----------
Loss from operations..................................................        (1,992)       (18,076)       (46,806)
Interest income (expense), net........................................           493         (1,279)        (1,396)
Equity interest in net loss of investments............................            --             --         (1,468)
Other income..........................................................            --             --            200
                                                                         -----------    -----------    -----------
Loss before taxes and discontinued operation..........................        (1,499)       (19,355)       (49,470)
  Income tax expense..................................................            --            355             --
                                                                         -----------    -----------    -----------
    Loss before discontinued operation................................        (1,499)       (19,710)       (49,470)
                                                                         -----------    -----------    -----------
Discontinued operation:
  Loss from discontinued operation....................................       (11,985)        (5,166)            --
  Gain on restructuring Engelhard/ICC.................................            --         24,257             --
                                                                         -----------    -----------    -----------
    (Loss) income from discontinued operation.........................       (11,985)        19,091             --
                                                                         -----------    -----------    -----------
Net loss..............................................................       (13,484)          (619)       (49,470)
  Deemed dividend attributable to issuance of convertible preferred
    stock.............................................................            --             --        (29,879)
  Cumulative dividends and accretion of convertible preferred stock to
    liquidation value.................................................            --             --        (13,895)
                                                                         -----------    -----------    -----------
Net loss attributable to common stockholders..........................   $   (13,484)   $      (619)   $   (93,244)
                                                                         -----------    -----------    -----------
                                                                         -----------    -----------    -----------
Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share:
  Continuing operations...............................................   $     (0.07)   $     (0.78)   $     (2.55)
  Discontinued operation..............................................         (0.56)          0.76             --
                                                                         -----------    -----------    -----------
Net loss per share....................................................   $     (0.63)   $     (0.02)   $     (2.55)
                                                                         -----------    -----------    -----------
                                                                         -----------    -----------    -----------
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding......................    21,339,635     25,282,002     36,625,457
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1999
                                                                                             -----------------------
                                                                                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
                                                                                             -----------------------
<S>                                                                                          <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash and cash equivalents.................................................................          $  28,540
Investments in affiliates.................................................................             26,467
Total assets..............................................................................            160,423
Notes payable, less current portion.......................................................                997
Total liabilities.........................................................................             19,208
Series A convertible preferred stock......................................................             36,224
Stockholders' equity......................................................................            104,991
</TABLE>

                                       20

<PAGE>

                  UNAUDITED SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     The following unaudited supplemental financial information is based on our
historical financial statements, and the unaudited historical financial
statements of our wholly owned subsidiary, Rare Medium, Inc. Our Internet
services business is conducted through Rare Medium, Inc. No other business
operations are conducted by or through Rare Medium, Inc.

     With respect to Rare Medium, Inc., the following unaudited supplemental
operations data for each of the periods presented give effect to all Internet
services business acquisitions, as if these acquisitions occurred on January 1,
1999. With respect to Rare Medium Group, Inc., the following unaudited
supplemental operations data for the year ended December 31, 1999, give effect
to all of these Internet services business acquisitions made through December
31, 1999 and our acquisition in November 1999 of College Media, Inc., one of our
incubator companies, as if these acquisitions occurred on January 1, 1999. The
effect of our other incubator companies acquired during 1999 is not material.

     The unaudited supplemental information is based upon currently available
information of the acquired companies, without audit, and those assumptions and
estimates which management believes are reasonable. These assumptions and
estimates, however, are subject to change, including adjustments for potential
cost savings or other synergies arising from the acquisitions we made during
1998 and 1999. These statements are presented for comparative purposes only and
do not purport to be indicative of the actual results of operations that might
have occurred or expected future results. You should read the unaudited
supplemental financial data in conjunction with our consolidated financial
statements and the related notes.

                                       21

<PAGE>

                               RARE MEDIUM GROUP, INC.
                          SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATIONS DATA
                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
                                  (UNAUDITED)
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            RARE MEDIUM
                                                            GROUP, INC.    ACQUISITIONS    ADJUSTMENTS
                                                            HISTORICAL      (NOTE 1)        (NOTE 2)      SUPPLEMENTAL
                                                            -----------    ------------    -----------    ------------
<S>                                                         <C>            <C>             <C>            <C>
Revenues.................................................    $  36,694       $ 14,117       $      --       $ 50,811
  Cost of revenues.......................................       19,650          9,447              --         29,097
                                                             ---------       --------       ---------       --------
     Gross profit........................................       17,044          4,670              --         21,714
                                                             ---------       --------       ---------       --------
  Sales and marketing expense............................        5,450            309              --          5,759
  General and administrative expense.....................       32,406          6,322              --         38,728
  Depreciation and amortization..........................       25,994            287          10,423         36,704
                                                             ---------       --------       ---------       --------
                                                                63,850          6,918          10,423         81,191
                                                             ---------       --------       ---------       --------
     Loss from operations................................    $ (46,806)      $ (2,248)      $ (10,423)      $(59,477)
                                                             ---------       --------       ---------       --------
                                                             ---------       --------       ---------       --------
</TABLE>

NOTE 1: ACQUISITIONS

     During the year ended December 31, 1999, Rare Medium Group, Inc. acquired
the following companies (the "acquired companies"). Each of these acquisitions
was accounted for as a purchase, with the excess of the purchase price over the
fair value of the net assets acquired allocated to goodwill. The results of
operations of each of the acquired companies prior to the date of their
acquisition during the year ended December 31, 1999 are included.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  NAME OF ACQUIRED COMPANY                     DATE OF ACQUISITION    PERCENTAGE INTEREST
- ------------------------------------------------------------   -------------------    -------------------
<S>                                                            <C>                    <C>
Rare Medium Group, Inc.
     College Media, Inc.....................................   November 1999                   74%

Rare Medium, Inc.
     Hype!, Inc.............................................   March 1999                     100%
     FS3, Inc...............................................   April 1999                     100%
     Big Hand, Inc..........................................   April 1999                     100%
     Struthers Martin, Inc..................................   May 1999                       100%
     Globallink Communications, Inc.........................   June 1999                      100%
     Fire Engine Red, Inc...................................   July 1999                      100%
     Atension, Inc..........................................   August 1999                    100%
     Evit Caretni Interactive, Inc..........................   December 1999                  100%
     Carlyle Media Group Limited............................   December 1999                  100%
</TABLE>

NOTE 2: ADJUSTMENTS

     Depreciation and amortization has been adjusted to reflect additional
amortization of goodwill of $10,423 arising from the acquisitions of the
acquired companies as if they had occurred on January 1, 1999. A summary of the
allocation of purchase price is as follows in thousands:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                       <C>
Aggregate purchase price and acquisition costs (includes assumed fair value of common stock issued in
  connection with acquisitions that included common stock as consideration)............................   $44,790
Book value of net liabilities assumed..................................................................     4,319
                                                                                                          -------
Excess of cost over net assets acquired................................................................   $49,109
                                                                                                          -------
                                                                                                          -------
</TABLE>

     Goodwill is amortized on a straight-line basis over 3 years. The allocation
of purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed has, in some
cases, been made using estimated fair values. These estimates may be subject to
adjustment to reflect actual amounts, primarily in the case of accrued
liabilities. Any subsequent adjustments are not expected to be material.

                                       22

<PAGE>

                               RARE MEDIUM, INC.
                          SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATIONS DATA
                                  (UNAUDITED)
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    THREE MONTHS ENDED                      YEAR ENDED
                                                  ------------------------------------------------------    ------------
                                                  MARCH 31,    JUNE 30,    SEPTEMBER 30,    DECEMBER 31,    DECEMBER 31,
                                                    1999         1999         1999             1999            1999
                                                  ---------    --------    -------------    ------------    ------------
<S>                                               <C>          <C>         <C>              <C>             <C>
Revenues.......................................    $ 6,194     $  8,220       $13,533         $ 17,923        $ 45,870
  Cost of revenues.............................      3,199        4,334         6,806            9,028          23,367
                                                   -------     --------       -------         --------        --------
     Gross profit..............................      2,995        3,886         6,727            8,895          22,503
                                                   -------     --------       -------         --------        --------
  Sales and marketing expense..................        405          529         1,350            2,698           4,982
  General and administrative expense...........      3,267        5,193         6,676           10,406          25,542
  Depreciation and amortization................        278          340           497              610           1,725
                                                   -------     --------       -------         --------        --------
                                                     3,950        6,062         8,523           13,714          32,249
                                                   -------     --------       -------         --------        --------
     Loss from operations......................    $  (955)    $ (2,176)      $(1,796)        $ (4,819)       $ (9,746)
                                                   -------     --------       -------         --------        --------
                                                   -------     --------       -------         --------        --------
</TABLE>

     Rare Medium, Inc.'s actual revenue was $2.5 million, $5.5 million, $11.9
million and $17.0 million for the three-month periods ended March 31, 1999,
June 30, 1999, September 30, 1999 and December 31, 1999, respectively, and $36.9
million for the year ended December 31, 1999. Rare Medium, Inc.'s revenue
includes revenue from our consolidated subsidiaries of $0.5 million, $0.7
million and $0.5 million for the three-month periods ended June 30, 1999,
September 30, 1999, and December 31, 1999, respectively, and $1.7 million for
the year ended December 31, 1999. These revenues are eliminated in the
consolidated financial statements of Rare Medium Group, Inc. The supplemental
operations data for Rare Medium, Inc. are calculated by aggregating all of the
historical results of operations of the applicable acquired companies prior to
their acquisition with the results of operations of Rare Medium, Inc.

                                       23

<PAGE>

                    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                 FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     The following discussion of our financial condition and results of
operations should be read together with our consolidated financial statements
and the related notes thereto included in another part of this prospectus. This
discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated
in those forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including
those set forth in the section of this prospectus entitled "Risk Factors."

OVERVIEW

     We are an Internet-focused company that:

     o provides Internet professional services to companies;

     o invests in and develops, manages and operates companies in selected
       Internet-focused market segments; and

     o takes strategic equity positions in companies that we believe possess
       superior Internet-focused business models.

     Our end-to-end Internet professional services offering encompasses the
entire Internet services spectrum, ranging from strategic and creative
consulting to applications development, implementation and hosting. Our
customers include AT&T, Dr. Drew, Epson, Forbes, Microsoft, Nestle, Ritz Carlton
and Weider.

     We also invest in and internally develop, manage and operate companies in
selected Internet-focused market segments. In addition, we make minority
investments in independently managed companies, in which we co-invest with
well-known financial and industry partners such as Brentwood Associates, Compaq
Computer Corp., Constellation Ventures, GE Capital Corp., Hicks, Muse, Tate &
Furst, Mayfield Partners and Omnicom. Our investment business is currently
focused on Internet companies engaged in the business-to-business e-commerce,
Internet enabling tools, broadband and next generation communications sectors.
Our investment in these businesses amounted to $54.5 million at December 31,
1999.

     Our operating results are primarily driven by the Internet services
business of Rare Medium, Inc. We evaluate the performance of Rare Medium, Inc.
as a separate segment. Revenue, operating loss and loss before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization are used to measure and evaluate our financial
results and make relative comparisons to other entities that operate within the
Internet services industry. Rare Medium, Inc.'s revenue, including revenue from
services provided to our consolidated subsidiaries, increased to $36.9 million
in 1999 from $4.7 million in 1998. Loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization increased from $1.9 million to $6.3 million in 1999. These
increases reflect the increase in our billable employees, as a result of our
acquisitions and aggressive hiring strategy, and the increase in our cost
associated with the geographic expansion into select markets. Our sequential
revenue increased 43% from $11.9 million for the third quarter ended
September 30, 1999 to $17.0 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31,
1999.

     During the year ended December 31, 1999, we acquired 22 businesses, 9 of
which are in our Internet services business, for $3.2 million of cash and an
aggregate of 4,977,923 shares of common stock which were issued in private
placements. Some of the shares issued in connection with these transactions are
held in escrow as security for covenants contained in the respective merger
agreements. Each of these transactions has been accounted for under the purchase
method of accounting. The purchase prices, which totaled $51.2 million in stock
and cash, were allocated to net tangible assets, which consisted primarily of
cash, accounts receivable, property and equipment, accounts payable and notes
payable. Intangible assets, which consist primarily of goodwill, of
$57.3 million resulting from these transactions are being amortized over a
three-year period.

     Many of our Internet service contracts are currently on a fixed price
basis, rather than a time and materials basis. We recognize revenues from fixed
price contracts based on our estimate of the percentage of each project
completed in a reporting period. To the extent our estimates are inaccurate, the
revenues and operating profits, if any, we report for periods during which we
are working on a project may not accurately

                                       24

<PAGE>

reflect the final results of the project and we would be required to make
adjustments to such estimates in a subsequent period.

     Our Internet services clients generally retain us on a project by project
basis, rather than under long-term contracts. As a result, a client may or may
not engage us for further services once a project is completed. Establishment
and development of relationships with additional companies and other corporate
users of information technology and securing repeat engagements with existing
clients are important components of our success.

     Cost of revenues includes salaries, payroll taxes and related benefits and
other direct costs associated with the generation of revenues. Sales and
marketing expense represent the actual costs associated with our marketing and
advertising. General and administrative expenses include facilities costs,
recruiting, training, finance, legal, and and other corporate costs as well as
salaries and related employee benefits for those employees that support such
functions.

     Prior to March 1999, our name was ICC Technologies, Inc. On April 15, 1998,
ICC acquired Rare Medium, Inc., an Internet services business and shortly
thereafter changed its name to Rare Medium Group, Inc. Following this
acquisition, all non-Internet-related operations were divested and the chief
executive officer of Rare Medium, Inc. became the chief executive officer of
Rare Medium Group, Inc. As a result of these transactions, the results of
operations of the non-Internet-related business for all periods have been
accounted for as a discontinued operation. Accordingly, our discussion in the
section entitled "Results of Operations" focuses on our Internet-related
businesses, and operating results for 1998 are presented on a pro forma basis to
give effect to these transactions, including the operating results of these
Internet-related businesses for the three months ended March 31, 1998. The
amounts shown for the year ended December 31, 1999 include our operations as
they are reported. For information related to the operations of the non-
Internet-related businesses during the first, second and third quarters of 1998,
refer to our Forms 10-Q filed for the applicable quarters.

     Our board of directors has approved an equity participation plan that
allows our Compensation Committee to incentivize our employees by allocating to
them up to 20% of any profit we might recognize when and if our investments in
portfolio and incubator companies become liquid, subject to vesting and other
requirements. We will have the right to pay such amount either in cash, in our
common stock or a combination thereof. Although we expect the Compensation
Committee to make allocations of awards under this plan in the first half of
2000, no awards have been made as of the date of this prospectus. Depending on
the structure of the awards under this plan, we may be required to record
compensation expense in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles.

                                       25

<PAGE>

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998

                       CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                  YEAR ENDED
                                                                                                 DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                            -----------------------
                                                                                               1998          1999
                                                                                            -----------    --------
                                                                                             UNAUDITED      ACTUAL
                                                                                             PRO FORMA
                                                                                                (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                                         <C>            <C>
Revenues.................................................................................    $   5,830     $ 36,694
Cost of Revenues.........................................................................        4,489       19,650
                                                                                             ---------     --------
  Gross profit...........................................................................        1,341       17,044
                                                                                             ---------     --------
Expenses:
  Sales and marketing....................................................................          896        5,450
  General and administrative.............................................................        6,210       32,406
  Depreciation and amortization..........................................................       12,628       25,994
                                                                                             ---------     --------
  Total expenses.........................................................................       19,734       63,850
                                                                                             ---------     --------
Loss from operations.....................................................................      (18,393)     (46,806)
Interest expense, net....................................................................       (1,383)      (1,396)
Equity interest in net loss of investments...............................................           --       (1,468)
Other income.............................................................................           --          200
                                                                                             ---------     --------
Loss before taxes and discontinued operation.............................................      (19,776)     (49,470)
                                                                                             ---------     --------
Income tax expense.......................................................................          355           --
                                                                                             ---------     --------
Loss before discontinued operation.......................................................      (20,131)     (49,470)
Discontinued operation:
  Loss from discontinued operation.......................................................       (5,166)          --
  Gain on restructuring of Englehard/ICC.................................................       24,257           --
                                                                                             ---------     --------
Income from discontinued operation.......................................................       19,091           --
                                                                                             ---------     --------
Net loss.................................................................................       (1,040)     (49,470)
Deemed dividend attributable to issuance of convertible preferred stock..................           --      (29,879)
Cumulative dividends and accretion of convertible preferred stock to liquidation value...           --      (13,895)
                                                                                             ---------     --------
Net loss attributable to common stockholders.............................................    $  (1,040)    $(93,244)
                                                                                             ---------     --------
                                                                                             ---------     --------
</TABLE>

REVENUES

     Revenue for the year ended December 31, 1999 increased to $36.7 million
from $5.8 million for the year ended December 31, 1998, an increase of
$30.9 million or 529%. The increase reflects the growth in our billable
employees as a result of acquisitions and aggressive hiring strategy, that has
facilitated increases in both the number and relative size of client
engagements. All of the acquired Internet services businesses' operations have
been or are being integrated into the existing operations of Rare Medium, Inc.
Our incubator companies generated revenues totaling $1.6 million in 1999, their
first year of operations.

COST OF REVENUES

     Cost of revenues for the year ended December 31, 1999 increased to
$19.7 million from $4.5 million for the year ended December 31, 1998, an
increase of $15.2 million or 338%. The increase is due primarily to a
substantial increase in personnel added in our Internet services business. We
expect cost of revenues to increase on an absolute dollar basis as we hire
additional personnel and incur additional costs related to the anticipated
growth of our Internet services business. The increase in cost of revenues also
reflects $1.0 million of costs related to our incubator businesses.

                                       26

<PAGE>

SALES AND MARKETING EXPENSE

     Sales and marketing expense for the year ended December 31, 1999 increased
to $5.5 million from $0.9 million for the year ended December 31, 1998, an
increase of $4.6 million. The increase is primarily the result of implementation
of a national marketing program to build the "Rare Medium" brand and an
advertising campaign for Rare Medium, Inc. during 1999. We expect sales and
marketing expenses to increase as we continue to build brand awareness.

GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE

     General and administrative expense for the year ended December 31, 1999
increased to $32.4 million from $6.2 million for the year ended December 31,
1998, an increase of $26.2 million or 422%. The increase is due to our continued
investment in building infrastructure to support our business plan. During 1999,
we also hired a president and senior operations managers for our major offices
in New York and Los Angeles for Rare Medium, Inc. and expanded into new markets
in Toronto, Dallas, San Francisco, San Antonio, Detroit, Sydney, Houston and
Atlanta. The increase in general and administrative expenses also relates to the
costs associated with required resources to implement our venture/incubator
strategy and the costs associated with generating the substantial revenue
increase from 1998.

DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION EXPENSE

Depreciation and amortization expense substantially consists of the amortization
of intangible assets. Depreciation and amortization expense for the year ended
December 31, 1999 increased to $26.0 million from $12.6 million for the year
ended December 31, 1998, an increase of $13.4 million or 106%. This increase
resulted primarily from our acquisitions during 1999. We anticipate that
expenses related to the amortization of intangible assets will increase in
future periods as we continue to make acquisitions.

INTEREST EXPENSE, NET

     Interest expense, net for the year ended December 31, 1999 includes
$0.6 million of interest expense related to the Rare Medium Note, $1.4 million
of interest expense related to the induced conversion of a portion of the Rare
Medium Note by certain holders into common stock, and $1.1 million of interest
expense related to the convertible debentures held by certain investors which
were outstanding during part of 1999 prior to being converted in connection with
the Apollo transaction in June 1999. The interest expense related to the Rare
Medium Note represents the accrued interest on our note payable to the original
Rare Medium, Inc. stockholders, payable in a combination of cash or shares of
our common stock, at our election, subject to some restrictions. The interest
expense relating to the convertible debentures includes $1.0 million for the
amortization of the debt discount and the beneficial conversion feature. Total
interest expense was partially offset by interest income of $1.7 million
relating to the income earned on the net proceeds received from the sale to
Apollo of our Series A convertible preferred stock and Series 1-A and Series
2-A warrants.

NET (LOSS) INCOME

     For the year ended December 31, 1999, we recorded a net loss of
$49.5 million. Excluding $26.0 million in amortization and depreciation, the net
loss was $23.5 million. The loss was primarily due to the factors described in
"Cost of Revenues," "General and Administrative Expense" and "Sales and
Marketing Expense."

     Included in net loss attributable to common shareholders of $93.2 million
was $43.8 million of non-cash deemed dividends and accretion related to issuance
of our Series A convertible preferred stock. These dividends included a one-time
non-cash deemed dividend resulting from the difference between the market price
of our common stock and the conversion price of our Series A convertible
preferred stock on the date of issuance of the Series A convertible preferred
stock. In addition to this non-cash deemed dividend, dividends were accrued
related to the pay-in-kind dividends payable quarterly on the Series A
convertible preferred stock, and to the accretion of the $29.9 million carrying
amount of the Series A convertible preferred stock up to the $87.0 million face
redemption amount over 13 years.

                                       27

<PAGE>

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 COMPARED WITH YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997

     Through a series of transactions, we restructured our operations during
1998 to focus solely on the business of providing Internet services primarily to
large and medium sized businesses. This was accomplished by restructuring our
Engelhard/ICC joint venture; purchasing the Internet-related businesses of Rare
Medium, Inc., I/O 360 and DigitalFacades; and disposing of a majority of our
partnership interests in Fresh Air Solutions in October, 1998. Historically, we
had been engaged in the design, development, manufacture and marketing of
desiccant based climate control systems.

     The results include the pro forma results of Rare Medium, Inc. as if the
acquisition were completed on January 1, 1997. The 1998 results include the
results of DigitalFacades and I/O 360 since their dates of acquisition in August
of 1998.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           RARE MEDIUM GROUP, INC.
                                                                 UNAUDITED PRO FORMA STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
                                                                     1997                         1998
                                                             -----------------------     -----------------------
                                                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                          <C>                          <C>
Revenues..................................................          $   3,856                   $   5,830
Expenses:
  Operating expense.......................................              2,781                       9,541
  Corporate general and administrative....................              1,991                       2,054
  Stock-based compensation................................              4,589                          --
  Depreciation and amortization...........................                107                      12,628
                                                                    ---------                   ---------
                                                                        9,468                      24,223
                                                                    ---------                   ---------
Loss from operations......................................          $  (5,612)                  $ (18,393)
                                                                    ---------                   ---------
                                                                    ---------                   ---------
Net loss..................................................          $ (17,112)                  $  (1,040)
                                                                    ---------                   ---------
                                                                    ---------                   ---------
</TABLE>

REVENUES

     Revenues for the year ended December 31, 1998 increased to $5.8 million
from $3.9 million for the year ended December 31, 1997, an increase of
$1.9 million. The increase was primarily due to the acquisitions of
DigitalFacades and I/O 360 late in the third quarter of 1998, as well as
increased business generated by the professional services business. The increase
in revenues resulted from both higher revenues for some of our existing clients
as well as the addition of new clients. On a pro forma basis, if the
acquisitions of Digital Facades and I/O 360 had been effective January 1, 1998,
unaudited revenues for the year ended December 31, 1998 would have been $8.3
million.

EXPENSES

OPERATING EXPENSES

     Operating expenses increased to $9.5 million for the year ended
December 31, 1998 from $2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 1997, an
increase of $6.7 million. The majority of the increase is related to the
significant increase in personnel as a result of the expansion and scaling of
the business, as the number of personnel more than tripled and we went from one
location in 1997 to five in 1998. These operating expenses include both direct
costs related to revenues as well as general and administrative expenses related
to Internet professional services. Included in these expenses are costs related
to our significant investment of time and resources into: (1) the organizational
restructuring and reengineering of the company; (2) building the systems
infrastructure both in terms of systems (website, Intranet redesign, scaling of
network) and personnel; and (3) the integration of I/O 360 and DigitalFacades
into the Rare Medium, Inc. functional and organizational structure. We
anticipate that operating expenses will continue to increase in absolute dollars
as we continue to build our infrastructure to support our expected growth from
both internal sources and through acquisitions.

                                       28

<PAGE>

CORPORATE GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

     Corporate general and administrative expenses were $2.0 million for each of
the years ended December 31, 1998 and December 31, 1997. For the year ended
December 31, 1998, corporate general and administrative expenses included
professional fees for legal and accounting services and salaries and our
corporate overhead prior to the acquisition of Rare Medium, Inc. in April 1998
and for some of the costs associated with our transitioning to our new business.
Corporate general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31,
1997 represented expenses not associated with the Internet services business of
Rare Medium, Inc. and were related primarily to legal, accounting, public
relations and other administrative expenses including salaries and our corporate
overhead in support of our then existing businesses.

DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION EXPENSES

     Depreciation and amortization expenses for the year ended December 31, 1998
increased to $12.6 million from $0.1 million for the year ended December 31,
1997, an increase of $12.5 million. This increase was due to the amortization of
goodwill related to the acquisitions during 1998 of Rare Medium, Inc., I/O 360
and DigitalFacades, with $11.4 million related to the Rare Medium, Inc.
acquisition in April 1998. The goodwill relating to the acquisitions is being
amortized over a three-year period.

LOSS FROM OPERATIONS

     The loss from operations for the year ended December 31, 1998 increased to
$18.4 million from a loss of $5.6 million for the year ended December 31, 1997,
an increase of $12.8 million. The most significant reason for the increased loss
was the amortization expense in 1998 in addition to the increased operating
expenses. The loss for 1997 includes $4.6 million in non-cash charges for
stock-based compensation of which $4.1 million relates to warrants granted to an
officer of Rare Medium, Inc. Excluding these non-cash charges, the loss from
operations for 1997 would have been $1.0 million.

NET (LOSS) INCOME

     The net loss for the year ended December 31, 1998 was $1.0 million. The
major difference between the loss from operations and the net loss is a $24.3
million gain on the restructuring of our joint venture partnership with the
Englehard Corporation, the Englehard/ICC partnership.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

     We had $28.5 million in cash and equivalents at December 31, 1999. This
amount is substantially a result of the proceeds received from the issuance of
our Series A convertible preferred stock and Series 1-A and Series 2-A warrants
partially offset by the venture and incubator investments and the cash used to
expand our Internet services business into new markets.

     Cash used in operating activities was $32.0 million for the year ended
December 31, 1999 and resulted primarily from the net loss of $49.5 million,
offset by non-cash charges of $30.1 million (which consists of depreciation,
amortization, equity interest in net loss on investments and non-cash interest
charges) and changes in working capital.

     Cash used in investing activities was $39.9 million for the year ended
December 31, 1999, which primarily consists of the purchase of businesses and
venture investments of $31.1 million, and capital expenditures of $8.8 million.
Capital expenditures have generally been comprised of purchases of computer
hardware and software, as well as leasehold improvements related to leased
facilities, and are expected to increase in future periods.

     Cash provided by financing activities was $99.5 million for the year ended
December 31, 1999. This consisted primarily of issuance of $6.0 million
convertible debentures (which were subsequently converted into common stock),
$83.0 million of net proceeds from the issuance of the Series A convertible
preferred stock as discussed below, and the exercise of warrants and options
that yielded $11.8 million, partially offset by repayment of borrowings totaling
$1.3 million. We currently believe that the net proceeds of this offering and
the private placement, in addition to cash generated by our operations, will be
sufficient to meet our working capital needs for the next twelve months.

                                       29

<PAGE>

THE RARE MEDIUM NOTEHOLDERS

     During 1999, we issued 1,431,756 shares of common stock to certain
noteholders in exchange for their beneficial interest in $8.5 million of the
original principal amount of the Rare Medium Note. In 1999, we recognized
approximately $1.4 million of non-cash interest expense related to the
conversion to the extent the market value of the stock on the date of conversion
exceeded the conversion price. As of December 31, 1999, as a result of these
transactions, there is a remaining principal balance of $2.0 million payable
under the Rare Medium Note, which bears interest payable semi-annually at the
prime rate, and is due in two equal principal installments on April 15, 2000 and
April 15, 2001. In February 2000, the remaining principal balance of
$2.0 million was converted into common stock at fair value.

THE APOLLO SECURITIES PURCHASE

     On June 4, 1999, we issued and sold to Apollo Investment Fund IV, LP,
Apollo Overseas Partners IV, LP and AIF IV/RRRR LLC, for an aggregate purchase
price of $87.0 million, 126,000 shares of our Series A convertible preferred
stock, 126,000 Series 1-A warrants, 1,916,994 Series 2-A warrants, 744,000
shares of our Series B convertible preferred stock, 744,000 Series 1-B warrants
and 10,345,548 Series 2-B warrants. The Series A convertible preferred stock and
Series B convertible preferred stock accrue dividends at an annual rate of 7.5%.
The Series A and Series B convertible preferred stock are subject to mandatory
redemption on June 30, 2012.

     Under the terms of the securities purchase agreement with the Apollo
stockholders at the 1999 annual meeting of our stockholders held on August 19,
1999, the holders of common stock approved the conversion of all of the
Series B convertible preferred stock, Series 1-B warrants and Series 2-B
warrants, including such additional Series B securities that have been issued as
dividends, into like amounts of Series A convertible preferred stock,
Series 1-A warrants and Series 2-A warrants, respectively.

     Pursuant to the approval, all Series B convertible preferred stock,
Series 1-B warrants and Series 2-B warrants were converted into Series A
convertible preferred stock, Series 1-A warrants and Series 2-A warrants,
respectively. The Series A securities are convertible into or exercisable for
voting common stock whereas the Series B securities were convertible into or
exercisable for non-voting common stock.

ISSUANCE OF COMMON STOCK

     On January 14, 2000, we sold 2,500,000 shares of our common stock for gross
proceeds of $70.1 million (net proceeds of $65.7 million) in a private
transaction to a group of mutual funds managed by Putnam Investments and
Franklin Resources, Inc.

YEAR 2000 ISSUE

     The "Year 2000 Issue" refers to the problem of many computer programs using
the last two digits to represent a year rather than four digits (i.e., "99" for
1999). Some of our computer programs may have date-sensitive software that may
not operate properly when dealing with years past 1999, which is when "00" will
represent the Year 2000. To the extent that this situation exists, there is a
potential for computer system failure or miscalculations, which could cause a
disruption of operation of that program. The problem is not limited to computer
software, since some equipment may have date-sensitive processors that may not
be able to properly use dates after the year 1999.

     We appointed a Year 2000 Task Force to perform an assessment of our
readiness for Year 2000. This assessment included quality assurance testing of
our internally developed software and applications; quality assurance testing of
our overall information technology systems; contacting third-party vendors and
licensors of material software and services that are both directly and
indirectly related to the delivery of our products and services; assessing our
repair and replacement requirements; and creating contingency plans in the event
of Year 2000 failures.

     Our material software component vendors and our Internet service provider
informed us that the products we use are currently Year 2000 compliant. We
purchased all of our software and hardware within the past two years, and
therefore we do not have legacy systems that have been historically identified
to have Year 2000 issues. We have not suffered any significant Year 2000
problems with our internal systems or with our third-party vendors and licensors
of material software and services.

                                       30

<PAGE>

     We completed our assessment and system tests of all current versions of
hardware and software products and technology information systems that we use
and believe that they are Year 2000 compliant. However, we continue to monitor
our Year 2000 implications. We have not incurred any material costs in
identifying or evaluating Year 2000 compliance issues.

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

     In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS
No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." SFAS
No. 133 establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative
instruments, including derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, and
for hedging activities. During June 1999, SFAS No. 137 was issued which delayed
the effective date of SFAS No. 133 to January 1, 2001. We have not yet
determined the impact of adopting SFAS No. 133, as amended.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

     We believe that our market risk exposures associated with our outstanding
debt is immaterial since the carrying value of our variable rate debt
obligations approximates fair value as the market rate is based on the prime
rate. Our fixed rate debt obligations are not material.

                                       31

<PAGE>

                                    BUSINESS

OVERVIEW

     We are an Internet-focused company that:

     o provides Internet professional services to companies;

     o invests in and develops, manages and operates companies in selected
       Internet-focused market segments; and

     o takes strategic equity positions in companies that we believe possess
       superior Internet-focused business models.

     Our end-to-end Internet professional service offering encompasses the
entire Internet services spectrum, ranging from strategic and creative
consulting to applications development, implementation and hosting. We assist in
shaping our clients' strategy and adapt Internet technologies to deliver the
best possible solutions for our clients by utilizing our unique methodology and
leveraging our knowledge of vertical markets. Our customers include companies in
the consumer service, financial, technology, entertainment, consumer goods,
retail and automotive industries. Our customers include AT&T, Dr. Drew, Epson,
Forbes, Microsoft, Nestle, Ritz Carlton and Weider.

     We also invest in and internally develop, manage and operate companies in
selected Internet-focused market segments. Our investment business is currently
focused on Internet companies engaged in the business-to-business e-commerce,
Internet enabling tools, broadband and next generation communications sectors.
We provide our incubator companies with capital as well as with a comprehensive
suite of strategic and infrastructure services. These services include Internet
services and financial, legal and accounting advisory services. We believe that
by providing these services we enable our incubator companies to focus on their
core competencies and accelerate the time-to-market of their products and
services.

     In addition, we make minority investments in independently managed
companies which we believe represent the next generation of premier Internet
companies. We have co-invested in these companies with well-known financial and
industry partners such as Brentwood Associates, Compaq Computer Corp.,
Constellation Ventures, GE Capital Corp., Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst, Mayfield
Partners and Omnicom.

     We seek to capitalize on the synergies between our Internet services and
our investment businesses in an effort to improve shareholder value. We believe
the collaboration between these two businesses provides us with the following
competitive advantages in each business:

  Investment Business

     o because of our extensive knowledge and expertise in delivering Internet
       services, we are better able to identify promising Internet companies in
       the early stages of their development;

     o once we have made an investment in these Internet companies, we have the
       capacity to deliver them high quality Internet services, strategic
       consulting services and business infrastructure services during their
       most critical growth period. We believe our ability to provide these
       services to these companies increases the likelihood of their overall
       success and the return on our investment;

  Internet Services Business

     o our venture and incubator investments afford us the opportunity to
       provide Internet services to these companies. By executing services
       contracts with our portfolio companies, we believe we can capture
       additional services revenues without incurring additional business
       development costs;

     o because our investment business targets Internet companies with highly
       innovative and cutting edge business models and technologies, we believe
       we can increase our Internet services expertise by working with many of
       these companies; and

                                       32

<PAGE>

     o we believe we are better able to attract and retain superior Internet
       professionals as compared to our competitors by providing our employees
       with the opportunity to share in the financial success of our portfolio
       companies and with employment opportunities at our incubator companies.

INDUSTRY BACKGROUND

     Advances in technology and functionality have led to the widespread
acceptance of the Internet as a new global medium that allows people to share
information and conduct commerce. The number of Internet users has grown
dramatically. International Data Corporation, an independent research firm,
forecasts that the number of worldwide Internet users will increase from 196
million in 1999 to 502 million in 2003, a compound annual growth rate of 27%.
Similarly, International Data Corporation estimates that the growth of Internet
content, as measured by number of web pages worldwide, will grow from 1.7
billion pages in 1999 to 13.4 billion pages in 2003, a compound annual growth
rate of 67%.

     Much of the growth of the Internet has been driven by corporate recognition
that the Internet can be used to achieve competitive advantage. The growth in
the use of the Internet and the expansion of uses for the Internet have led to
the creation of numerous start-up companies that seek to take advantage of new
market opportunities. These new companies generally employ an Internet-focused
business model or provide solutions that enable faster or more efficient use of
the Internet, and are characterized by their focus on high-growth market
segments. These high growth areas include, among others:

     o Business-to-Business e-commerce. Through business-to-business e-commerce,
       large transactions between enterprises can be made more cheaply and
       efficiently and in a more timely manner through use of the Internet.
       International Data Corporation projects that the market for
       business-to-business e-commerce will grow from $80 billion in 1999 to
       $1.1 trillion in 2003, a compound annual growth rate of 94%.

     o Internet Enabling Tools. Enabling tools, such as software and services,
       optimize the way in which the Internet is utilized, allowing individuals
       and businesses to expand their usage of the Internet for information,
       communication and e-commerce, as well as for other activities that may
       not have existed prior to the proliferation of the Internet.

     o Broadband. New broadband Internet technologies deliver high-speed
       Internet access, thereby enabling users to access the Internet at much
       greater speed. These technologies also create opportunities for companies
       to deliver improved content and services online. International Data
       Corporation estimates that the number of digital subscriber lines in the
       United States will grow from approximately 650,000 in 1999 to more than
       27 million in 2003, a compound annual growth rate of 155%.

     o Next Generation Communications. Next generation communications, such as
       IP telephony, enable the Internet to connect individuals and businesses
       in new cost efficient ways. International Data Corporation forecasts that
       IP telephony services revenue will grow from $480 million in 1999 at a
       compound annual growth rate of 121%, reaching $11.9 billion in 2003.

     Businesses increasingly view technology as an important competitive
differentiator. In order to compete effectively, companies must now have an
effective Internet strategy and solution. The skills required to create such a
solution include architecture design, application development, systems
integration, and application hosting, among other disciplines. We believe these
are skills that few companies possess internally due to the scarcity in the
information technology personnel market. As a result, an increasing number of
organizations, from Global 1000 companies to startup Internet businesses, are
engaging Internet services firms. International Data Corporation projects that
spending on Internet-related services will rise from approximately $13 billion
in 1999 to more than $78 billion in 2003, a compound annual growth rate of 57%.

                                       33

<PAGE>

OUR INTERNET SERVICES BUSINESS

  SOLUTIONS

     We believe the following elements distinguish us as a leading Internet
services provider:

     Vertically Focused Strategic Expertise.  Many members of our management
team are recognized experts in the following industries:

     o automotive;

     o consumer goods and services;

     o entertainment and media;

     o financial services;

     o health care;

     o luxury goods;

     o nonprofit;

     o technology; and

     o travel and hospitality.

These professionals have valuable contacts in these industries as well as
substantial Internet business experience. We are able to draw upon this
collective experience to more efficiently develop business solutions that are
tailored to meet the unique needs of companies in these targeted industries.

     Broad Skill Set.  We complement our industry specialization with expertise
in areas such a e-commerce, supply chain management and interactive marketing.
Our multi-disciplinary team of Internet professionals is comprised of
individuals with strategic, creative and technical expertise. This enables us to
provide our clients with comprehensive solutions that address a wide range of
business challenges such as introducing new Internet brands, optimizing
distribution systems and streamlining internal communications. We are also
developing expertise in emerging areas such as ASP and broadband. We believe by
providing our clients with these comprehensive services we are able to meet
substantially all their online needs on an ongoing basis.

     Venture Capital Strategic Consulting.  A unique component of our services
offerings is the strategic consulting services that we provide to well respected
venture capital firms that invest in Internet start-up companies. These
consulting services generally consist of evaluating and suggesting modifications
to business models of the targeted Internet start-up companies, performing
market research and assessing the relevant competition. We believe by providing
these strategic consulting services we can enhance our venture and incubator
investment businesses while increasing our Internet services revenues.

     Rapid Time to Value.  Our unique combination of industry expertise,
strategic thinking, creativity and technological expertise enables us to rapidly
develop powerful, reliable and meaningful Internet solutions for our clients.
This rapid development capability enables us to deliver these solutions to our
clients quickly through our specialized competency centers so that our clients
may, in turn, more rapidly deploy these solutions in the marketplace.

     Our Application Service Provider or "ASP" Initiative.  Through our ASP
competency group, we have recently begun to offer ASP solutions to the
business-to-business market. The ASP model allows emerging Internet companies to
obtain state-of-the-art applications that they would not otherwise be able to
afford. We also believe that by using our ASP solutions these companies will be
able to achieve faster time-to-market for their products and an increased focus
on their core competencies. We believe our ASP offering will be superior to
those of our competitors due to the unique mix of technology, industry alliances
and services that we can provide our clients quickly and easily in order to help
them develop an on-line business.

     Our Broadband Competency Center.  Through our rapidly developing broadband
competency center, we are able to offer our clients strategic, creative and
technical broadband resources. Using high-capacity

                                       34

<PAGE>

communications technology, we will be able to integrate high speed Internet
applications, such as full-motion video, into our customers' Internet solutions.

  STRATEGY

     Our goal is to enhance our position as a leading Internet services firm
providing complete e-business solutions. Our strategy to achieve this objective
is to:

     Attract and Retain a Highly Specialized Workforce.  We intend to continue
to recruit highly skilled and experienced professionals who have
industry-specific expertise and who are proficient in a broad range of
technological and business skills. We intend to continue to ensure that our
employees have the requisite expertise to provide our clients with a
comprehensive range of Internet services. We plan to retain and motivate our
employees by giving them the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies,
paying competitive compensation packages, granting stock options, allowing
participation in our investment portfolio, giving them the opportunity to work
for one of our incubator companies, reimbursing tuition expenses and encouraging
a corporate culture that is results-driven and rewards creativity, communication
and cooperation.

     Expand and Develop Industry-Specific Expertise.  Through our experience in
designing, developing, implementing and managing Internet and e-business
solutions for a wide variety of companies, we have gained significant strategic
knowledge and created industry-specific reusable business solutions. This
expertise significantly enhances our ability to help other companies in the same
industries successfully adopt Internet and e-business solutions. We have
developed reusable business solutions for industries such as automotive,
consumer goods and services, entertainment and media, financial services and
health care. We intend to broaden the range of industries in which we have
specialized knowledge and maximize the benefits to our clients of such knowledge
by creating additional industry-specific solution templates and reusable
software. Our strategic consultants, sales, marketing and technical staff have
expertise in industries which we believe can realize significant benefits from
Internet and e-business solutions. Further developing and enhancing this
expertise will increase our knowledge of industry specific business challenges
and increase the industry-targeted services we can offer, thereby improving our
ability to penetrate specific industries.

     Leverage Our Strategic Consulting Services.  We intend to leverage the
strategic consulting services that we provide to venture capital firms and the
Internet start-up companies in which these firms seek to invest. We believe that
these services will enable us to achieve the following synergies:

     o the ability to co-invest with successful venture capital firms;

     o generation of service revenues in connection with our venture capital
       consulting engagement together with an increase in the overall success of
       the Internet start-up companies;

     o the ability to generate revenues for our Internet services business as a
       result of the end-to-end Internet solution developed during our strategic
       consulting engagements;

     o the opportunity to improve our own venture capital strategies, enhancing
       our reputation in the venture capital community and gaining entrance into
       their flow of transactions; and

     o the ability to provide our high-quality strategic consulting services to
       our own investment business, thereby providing our investment business
       with an opportunity to better identify and evaluate potential incubator
       and venture investments.

     Leverage Our Relationship with Apollo.  Affiliates of Apollo Advisors, LP,
our largest shareholder, will own approximately 44% of our outstanding common
stock on a fully diluted basis after giving effect to this offering. Apollo has
significant stakes in more than 50 medium to large traditional enterprises, in a
wide range of industries including manufacturing, consumer products, financial
services, media and telecommunications. Through our relationship with Apollo, we
believe that we will have an introduction into these "brick and mortar"
businesses and will be well placed to address their Internet services needs
going forward.

                                       35

<PAGE>

     Enhance the Rare Medium Brand.  We believe that our brand is
well-recognized in the fragmented Internet services industry. We intend to
continue to enhance our brand through an aggressive campaign of advertising,
public relations campaigns and speaking engagements.

     Increase Repeat and Recurring Revenues.  We plan to increase the proportion
of our revenues which represents repeat business with the same clients. We
intend to generate repeat revenues by cross-selling services and entering into
multiple engagements with our existing clients. In addition, we plan to increase
recurring revenues by selling our ASP solutions to our new and existing clients.
We plan to charge clients who use our ASP solutions either a fixed monthly rate
or on a per transaction basis, or both. Increasing repeat and recurring revenues
will enable us to predict our revenues with greater accuracy and improve our
operating margins.

     Leverage Best Practices and Create Operational Efficiencies.  We have
implemented an enterprise-wide Intranet to facilitate corporate learning and
knowledge transfer across our various offices. At the conclusion of our client
engagements, our employees participate in post-engagement reviews where "lessons
learned" are discussed and new and innovative creative and technology techniques
are harvested and catalogued on our Intranet. We leverage our experiences across
our entire enterprise in order to allow us to achieve operational efficiencies.

     Develop and Maintain Additional Strategic Relationships.  We intend to
continue to develop and maintain strategic relationships in order to enable us
to enter new markets, gain early access to leading-edge technology,
cooperatively market products and services with leading technology vendors and
gain enhanced access to vendor training and support. We have developed a number
of strategic relationships, including relationships with AT&T, IBM, Macromedia,
Microsoft and Oracle.

     Continue to Expand Geographic Coverage.  We plan to continue to expand the
presence of our Internet services business primarily through internal growth. We
currently have 12 domestic offices and four international offices, and we plan
to open additional domestic and international offices. We believe that
establishing a local presence in the United States enables us to service our
clients better. We also believe that establishing an early presence in select
international markets that are positioned to experience an increasing demand for
Internet services will give us a competitive advantage in these markets.

  OUR APPROACH

     We have developed a project methodology to help our customers determine
opportunities to transition their businesses in the constantly changing Internet
economy and to plan and implement the strategy, technology and operations
required to succeed in this environment. Our step-by-step methodology described
below is designed to produce high-impact Internet services on time, on budget
and with a continuous enhancement plan that responds to both general market and
Internet technology changes.

  Business Strategy

     Initially, we use our vertically-focused strategic expertise to develop a
business plan for our clients that includes the financial, marketing and
operational components that provide a convincing rationale for the proposed
Internet solution and guide its development. We provide strategic services
within a proven and refined interdisciplinary consulting model that combines the
best practices of management consulting, innovative technology solutions and the
critical component of usability and human computer interaction. We provide these
strategic services within a flexible methodology customized to each of our
client engagements.

  Exploration

     Next, we gather user requirements, suggest e-business features and develop
a general project plan. We assess the overall structure and content of the
proposed Internet solution and make technical and design recommendations based
on the findings. We then propose broad technology and creative approaches
including necessary software, infrastructure organization, website navigation
and graphic design concepts. This phase culminates in the delivery of a
high-level project plan which includes recommended features and functionality,
timeframes, personnel resources, projected costs and client responsibilities.

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<PAGE>

  Ideation

     During this phase, the concepts and strategies articulated in the
exploration phase are refined through the creation of content maps, project
specifications, imagery and prototypes. The result is a detailed blueprint from
which the finished Internet solution will be constructed and a list of necessary
hardware and software components. In addition, if requested by our clients, we
will also prepare a proof-of-concept prototype to accompany this blueprint.

  Creation

     In this phase, we construct the solution using the detailed specifications
established in the ideation phase and tested for reliability using a rigorous
quality assurance process. The goal is a finished product that meets all of our
client's objectives. We seek to accomplish this goal through constant
consultation and collaboration with our clients.

  Transfer

     During this phase, we implement the Internet solution in its hosting
environment and officially launch the website. We also educate our client's
staff in the operation of its new website and work with the client to develop
procedures to address any changes in technology, system problems, and desired
enhancements. We also assist the client in developing a plan to ensure that it
has the appropriate staff resources to operate the website on a daily basis.

  Evolution

     Finally, we measure the performance of the Internet solution in its
operational environment, analyze those measurements, recommend enhancements
based on our findings and establish a plan to execute our recommendations.

  CASE STUDIES OF OUR INTERNET SERVICES CLIENTS

     The following is a description of some of the solutions we have developed
for the challenges presented to us by our Internet services clients.

  Microsoft

     Challenge: To design a website, eshop.microsoft.com, to showcase
Microsoft's product line, create a rewarding interactive experience for online
customers and offer online customers the choice of shopping on Microsoft's
website or purchasing the same product at a reseller's website.

     Solution: We developed a custom solution that allows consumers to choose a
Microsoft product and complete the ordering process through Microsoft's website.

     Challenge: To build loyal, repeat visitors to Microsoft Network's default
page, which receives up to 10 million visitors per day, by engaging users and
encouraging them to click through to the full breadth of the network's content.

     Solution: We created three main graphic panels to simplify delivery of
information and bring functional and thematic focus to Microsoft Network's page.
We developed the concept of the message center and other personalized custom
features, eventually leading to a central user "command center" designed to
increase a user's investment in the functionality of the website. We prioritized
links, tools, categories and information to make the website user-friendly. We
preserved the identity of the website to retain Microsoft Network's established
audience, while updating and improving the default page in order to gain and
preserve new users.

  The New York Times

     Challenge: To create an online city guide for New York in a clean and
elegant way that maintains the integrity of the New York Times brand while
delivering optimum functionality and download time for a high-traffic website.

                                       37

<PAGE>

     Solution: We partnered with The New York Times Electronic Media Company to
create New York Today, an online city guide from the New York Times. Recognizing
that download speed and functionality were high priorities for such a heavily
trafficked website, we met the challenge with a design solution that relied on
limited graphic elements and strategic use of negative space. The result is a
website which retains the New York Times' brand identity and provides users with
timely, focused and relevant information. Users can easily customize the website
to suit their interests and synchronize the website with calendar applications
to notify them of upcoming events of interest.

  Macy's

     Challenge: To bring the Macy's brand into the Internet market by creating a
service-oriented, visually stimulating online shopping experience.

     Solution: We partnered with IBM to create macys.com, Macy's e-commerce
website. We designed the website to offer a highly personalized shopping
experience which meets the online shopper's expectations of Macy's traditional
standard of service. For example, the website operates on relational databases
to facilitate flexible keyword searches and features a unique shipping module
designed by us and adopted by IBM for use in future projects. Key features of
the Macy's website include the shopper's e-club, which features electronic
gift-giving reminders, an automatic shipment replenishment feature for preferred
essential products and an extensive bridal registry website. The Macy's solution
was developed on IBM's net.commerce platform while we designed and developed the
actual shopping strategy flows and shopping cart functionality. IBM's Arts Cafe
designed the website's graphics.

  Betty Crocker

     Challenge: To create a variety of useful, custom-designed database and
search tools to address the needs of today's working families while reinforcing
Betty Crocker's core brand attributes.

     Solution: We partnered with General Mills to create bettycrocker.com, the
brand's first online presence. We successfully extended Betty Crocker's core
brand attributes of quality, trust and credibility by creating a user-friendly,
information-rich website that brings Betty Crocker into the Internet market. We
designed a website that offers recipes, meal planning strategies and cooking
hints for website visitors. We created a number of user-friendly custom
databases and search tools to offer unique meal planning and recipe solutions.

OUR INVESTMENT BUSINESS

     Our investment business seeks to invest in Internet companies which have
business models that we believe represent paradigm-shifting ideas and for which
we can leverage our industry relationships and expertise to accelerate the
creation of value within our investment portfolio. Our investment business is
currently focused on Internet companies engaged in business-to-business
e-commerce, Internet enabling tools, broadband and next generation
communications sectors. Through our investment process, we decide whether to
take a majority stake and incubate the business or a minority strategic position
as a venture investment.

     We believe that we have a significant advantage over many other Internet
investors in identifying and selecting early stage businesses with the most
potential due to our:

     o understanding of Internet business models gained through our Internet
       services and investment experience;

     o our extensive group of Internet professionals that are able to help us
       identify high-quality companies and perform diligence on these potential
       investments; and

     o relationships with financial institutions in the venture and investment
       community that expose us to valuable opportunities.

                                       38

<PAGE>

     In addition, we believe that we are better able to manage our investment
portfolio and ensure the success of our portfolio companies. We support the
businesses in which we invest through:

     o access that we provide to the scarce talent of our more than 400 Internet
       services professionals;

     o business development and assistance for our portfolio companies from our
       Internet industry veterans, from our other portfolio companies, from our
       contacts in the Internet industry and from our contacts at Apollo and at
       their portfolio companies;

     o incubator services that we provide to our majority-held companies,
       including technology infrastructure improvements, web hosting, legal
       guidance, and financial and accounting management; and

     o leverage of our relationships within the financial community to
       facilitate successful financing and mergers and acquisitions transactions
       for our portfolio companies.

  STRATEGY

  Our Incubator Business

     Our incubator investment strategy is to realize a significant capital
return on our investment by adding substantial value to our incubator companies
over time. Acting as a long-term partner, we use our resources to actively
develop the business strategies, operations and management teams of our
incubator companies. Our operating strategy for our incubator companies is to
integrate them into a collaborative network that leverages our collective
knowledge and resources.

  Our Venture Investment Business

     Our venture investment strategy is to realize a significant capital return
on our venture investments by making strategic, early-stage equity investments
in Internet companies which we believe will emerge among the next generation of
premier Internet companies. We seek to accomplish this goal by identifying
promising Internet companies in select industries and assessing our ability to
enhance the future success of these companies by employing our Internet services
expertise and leveraging our relationships.

  OUR INVESTMENT PROCESS

     We seek to identify high quality investment targets through our
relationships in the Internet, venture capital and financial communities and
seek to co-invest with well-respected investors. Additionally, we empower our
Internet services business to identify investment targets from within its client
portfolio of premier Internet firms. We rigorously screen our venture
investments by targeting areas of significant growth potential by seeking to
identify the industries in which the next generation of premier Internet
companies will emerge. We then seek to accelerate the ability of our venture
companies to compete successfully by providing them with Internet services,
strategic consulting services and business infrastructure services and assisting
them to explore potential strategic transactions. Finally, we introduce our
venture companies to major financial institutions and investment banks in an
effort to create liquidity in our venture investments. We seek to control the
risk in our portfolio by investing in Internet-focused companies in diversified
vertical industries. In addition, we also regularly make our equity purchases in
the form of preferred stock that provides us with governance rights,
anti-dilution rights and liquidation preferences.

  INCUBATOR CASE STUDY: CHANGEMUSIC NETWORK.

     According to a report by Market Tracking International, worldwide retail
sales in the music industry were $39.7 billion in 1997 and are expected to grow
to $46.9 billion by 2004. The emergence of the Internet as a global
communications standard, the growth of high-speed Internet access, the
development of audio compression techniques, such as MP3, and the proliferation
of hardware and software that enables the management and playback of
downloadable music is currently driving rapid growth in this industry. Forrester
Research estimates that total online music revenues in the United States are
expected to grow from $848.0 million in 1999 to $3.9 billion in 2003. Of this
amount, Forrester further estimates that $789 million will represent sales of
downloadable music in 2003.

                                       39

<PAGE>

     Within the context of this rapidly growing market, we determined that we
could efficiently aggregate highly trafficked sites at a low cost, using cash
and our common stock, from individual entrepreneurs who did not have the
resources or expertise to develop their properties to their fullest potential.
We acquired three of the leading, independent MP3 and digital music information
sites, two highly popular MP3 search engines and one of the most popular music
application customization sites. Together, these properties aggregate a
significant amount of web traffic, making the network of sites one of the
largest music-oriented destinations on the Internet.

     After acquiring the individual sites, we developed and refined the new
company's business model; lent management resources to facilitate the initial
marketing, business development, and strategic development of the company; hired
employees; provided office space; and assumed all finance, accounting, and legal
functions. Our services unit was retained to create ChangeMusic.com by
integrating our network of websites and extending our site functionality with a
comprehensive suite of web-based services such as fan management, digital
download, promotion and marketing, to serve the musician and band.

     Having established the ChangeMusic Network as an effective platform for the
distribution of music to consumers, we then accelerated our penetration of the
business to business marketplace with the acquisition by ChangeMusic.com of
College Media, Inc. or "CMJ", a music media company with a 20-year heritage and
a strong and stable revenue base. CMJ has a leading position in the college
radio market, maintaining strong relationships with more than 800 college radio
stations, and produces a leading industry trade journal covering emerging music,
a consumer publication and leading industry events. By integrating the
relationships and content of CMJ with the online user base of the original
ChangeMusic Network, we have positioned ChangeMusic.com to provide a unique,
market-leading set of offerings to meet the needs of emerging artists, record
labels and music consumers. In addition, we created a compelling value
proposition for CMJ shareholders by structuring a creative, multi-step
transaction using cash, our common stock and equity in the combined company.

  OUR INCUBATOR COMPANIES

     Currently, our incubator companies are ChangeMusic Network, Inc., ePrize,
Inc., iFace.com Inc., LiveUniverse.com, Inc., Notus Communications and
Regards.com.

  ChangeMusic Network

     ChangeMusic Network (also known as CMJ.com, Inc.) has a combination of
online and offline properties that deliver news, information, content and
services to music consumers, artists and the music industry. The ChangeMusic
Network also operates a business-to-business services group under the CMJ brand.
The business-to-business division offers the music industry its CMJ New Music
Report trade publication, one of the largest music industry conferences in the
world, and a website through which subscribers can gain access to various
exclusive data products as well as promotional and talent development (A&R)
services. We own approximately 74% of ChangeMusic Network on a fully diluted
basis.

  ePrize

     ePrize.net is an online sweepstakes, direct marketing and promotions
company that offers end-to-end solutions for customer acquisition and retention.
ePrize uses its patent-pending Pooled eDrawings to help clients attract new
visitors to websites, increase retention and build long-term online customer
relationships. ePrize professionals help clients design, administer and maintain
successful online sweepstakes and other promotional online efforts. We own
approximately 80% of ePrize on a fully diluted basis.

  iFace

     iFace.com develops products for telecommunication service providers and for
system integrators that telephony-empower websites and other Internet
applications. By developing systems around an architecture that handles
thousands of simultaneous phone calls over multiple transports, such as Public
Switched Telephone Network, Voice over IP and ATM, and providing off-the-shelf
applications for telecommunication

                                       40

<PAGE>

service providers, iFace provides a robust telephone solution for today's
market. We own approximately 68% of iFace on a fully diluted basis.

  LiveUniverse

     LiveUniverse.com is an ASP and ASP aggregator dedicated to lowering the
barriers to entering the Internet economy. LiveUniverse currently offers a suite
of advertising-supported hosted community tools through tens of thousands of
websites around the world. LiveUniverse is creating a unique service which will
enable any company to quickly and efficiently create a custom website, intranet
and extranet. LiveUniverse will earn revenue from reselling subscriptions based
ASP services and participating in the various forms of e-commerce it enables for
affiliates. We own approximately 85% of LiveUniverse on a fully diluted basis.

  Notus

     Notus Communications provides clients with private label Unified Messaging
technology and solutions. Users of Notus technology receive a personal, direct
inward dial local telephone number. Users can keep this number for life,
regardless of the number of times they move. When someone calls the telephone
number, they can leave a voicemail message or send a fax. The system will
automatically detect whether the call is a voice or fax connection. We own
approximately 68% of Notus on a fully diluted basis.

  Regards

     Regards.com is one of the leading websites for electronic greeting card
distribution and is consistently ranked in the top 10 for the category by
MediaMetrix for unique monthly visitors. With the recent addition of
Buildacard.com, Card4you.com and the other websites in The Greetingland Network,
we expect that Regards.com, which will aggregate traffic from these additional
websites, will become one of the leading websites in the online greeting
industry. Visitors to the website will have the opportunity to create their own
greeting cards and to purchase gifts, as well as additional features and
enhancements such as voice enabled greeting cards, and interactive game cards.
We own approximately 90% of Regards.com on a fully diluted basis.

  OUR VENTURE INVESTMENTS

     We hold investments in the following companies:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    APPROXIMATE
                                 INITIAL DATE OF       % OF
COMPANY NAME                       INVESTMENT       OWNERSHIP     DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
- ------------------------------   ---------------    -----------   -----------------------------------------------
<S>                              <C>                <C>           <C>
Active Leisure                   October 1999              25%    Internet community for motorcycle enthusiasts
  (Competition Accessories)                                       and direct marketer of motorcycles, parts and
                                                                  accessories.

ANT 21                           September 1999            33%    Internet music label representing artists
  (AtomicPop.com)                                                 dedicated to leveraging the digital medium to
                                                                  change the way music is acquired, promoted,
                                                                  sold and distributed.

Archive.com                      December 1999              3%    Provider of secure Internet-based archival and
                                                                  retrieval services for business critical
                                                                  document management.

Commerce Dynamics                October 1999               5%    Provider of enhanced, cost effective
  (GoShip.com)                                                    cooperative shipping and fulfillment solutions
                                                                  for e-commerce websites.

Deltathree.com                   November 1999       Less than    Provider of Internet protocol telephony
                                                            1%    services, including voice and data transmission
                                                                  and enhanced Internet-based communication
                                                                  services.
</TABLE>

                                       41

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    APPROXIMATE
                                 INITIAL DATE OF       % OF
COMPANY NAME                       INVESTMENT       OWNERSHIP     DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
- ------------------------------   ---------------     ---------    -----------------------------------------------
<S>                              <C>                <C>           <C>
Edmunds.com                      October 1999               3%    Provider of automotive information, including
                                                                  original editorial content, complete pricing
                                                                  and specification information and sales
                                                                  referrals for purchasing, finance, insurance,
                                                                  warranty and other ancillary services.

GFI                              August 1999                7%    Internet information and advocacy portal
  (SpeakOut.com)                                                  providing a platform for citizens to debate
                                                                  issues, comment on news and communicate with
                                                                  government, political and business leaders.

Howtoguru.com                    November 1999             13%    Provider of sports instructional content and
                                                                  services for sports participants through
                                                                  broadband and narrowband technologies.

iParty                           September 1999             2%    Internet-based merchant of party goods, party
                                                                  related services and party-planning advice.

L90                              September 1999             5%    Provider of comprehensive online advertising
                                                                  and direct marketing solutions for advertisers
                                                                  and Web publishers.

Like.com                         September 1999             5%    Internet recommendation service highlighting
                                                                  celebrity style choices to drive e-commerce by
                                                                  collecting and aggregating their likes and
                                                                  dislikes.

Money Hunt                       October 1999              14%    Online and offline media company dedicated to
                                                                  entertaining, educating and empowering
                                                                  entrepreneurs as they seek capital for and
                                                                  develop their start-up ideas.

QuickNet                         November 1999              8%    Provider of hardware and software low-density
                                                                  Internet telephony products including the award
                                                                  winning Internet PhoneJACK and Internet
                                                                  PhoneCARD hardware and the Internet SwitchBoard
                                                                  software for Windows and Linux PCs.

Smart Online                     September 1999             1%    Provider of Web-hosted business productivity
                                                                  applications and information resources for
                                                                  small businesses and entrepreneurs.

StreamSearch.com                 September 1999            15%    Streaming media search engine that offers the
                                                                  easiest to use and most complete database of
                                                                  live events, full-length motion pictures,
                                                                  sports, weather, entertainment news and
                                                                  pay-per-view events on the Internet.
</TABLE>

CUSTOMERS

     Our customers are engaged in a broad variety of industries, including
consumer service, financial, technology, entertainment, consumer goods, retail
and automotive. Our customers include AT&T, Dr. Drew, Epson, Forbes, Microsoft,
Nestle, Ritz Carlton and Weider. We estimate that our five largest clients in
1999 accounted for approximately 14% of our revenues and that no single client
accounted for more than 5% of our revenues.

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<PAGE>

COMPETITION

  Competition in the Internet Services Industry

     While the market for strategic Internet services is relatively new, it is
already highly competitive and characterized by an increasing number of entrants
that have introduced or developed products and services similar to those offered
by us. We believe that competition will intensify and increase in the future.

     Our competitors can be divided into several groups:

     o Internet professional service providers, such as Proxicom, iXL
       Enterprises, Inc., Scient Corporation, USWeb and Viant Corporation;

     o large systems integrators, such as Andersen Consulting, Computer Sciences
       Corporation and IBM;

     o specialty systems integrators, such as Cambridge Technology Partners,
       Inc. and Sapient Corporation;

     o strategy consulting firms, such as Boston Consulting Group, Inc. and
       McKinsey & Company, Inc.; and

     o interactive marketing firms, such as Agency.com, Ltd., Modem Media.Poppe
       Tyson, Inc., Organic, Inc. and Razorfish, Inc.

     There are relatively low barriers to entry into the strategic Internet
services industry, and the costs to develop and provide Internet services are
low. Therefore, we expect that we will continually face additional competition
from new entrants into the market in the future, and we are also subject to the
risk that our employees may leave us and start competing businesses.

  Competition for Venture Investments

     We face competition from numerous other capital providers seeking to
acquire interests in Internet-related businesses, including:

     o other Internet companies

     o venture capital firms;

     o large corporations; and

     o other capital providers who also offer support services to companies.

     Traditionally, venture capital and private equity firms have dominated
investments in emerging technology companies, and many of these types of
competitors may have greater experience and financial resources than us. In
addition to competition from venture capital and private equity firms, several
public companies such as CMGI, Internet Capital Group and Safeguard Scientifics,
as well as private companies such as Idealab!, devote significant resources to
providing capital together with other resources to Internet companies.
Additionally, corporate strategic investors, including Fortune 500 and other
significant companies, are developing Internet strategies and capabilities.

TECHNOLOGY

     We develop client solutions on the current state-of-the-art technology
platforms, including Linux and those developed by Microsoft, Sun Microsystems
and IBM. These technologies are applied to client solutions in conjunction with
an in-depth requirements analysis, including business models, existing
infrastructure and technology and business forecasting. These solutions include
existing technology analysis, network and applications architecture and
implementation, security analysis and implementation, application development,
legacy integration, testing, maintenance and transfer. We also provide managed
application services to our clients. In addition, we have built an optimized
wide area network to support our worldwide offices, providing internal knowledge
management, project management and human resources functionality. Both the
internal and external networks are monitored through our network operations
center, which uses state-of-the-art tools for performance analysis and
assurance.

                                       43

<PAGE>

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

     We rely upon a combination of trade secret, nondisclosure and other
contractual arrangements, and copyright and trademark laws, to protect our
proprietary rights. We enter into confidentiality agreements with our employees,
generally require that our consultants and clients enter into such agreements
and limit access to and distribution of our proprietary information. We cannot
assure you that the steps taken by us in this regard will be adequate to deter
misappropriation of our proprietary information or that we will be able to
detect unauthorized use and take appropriate steps to enforce our intellectual
property rights.

     A portion of our business involves the development of software applications
for specific client engagements. Ownership of such software is the subject of
negotiation and is frequently assigned to our clients, with a license frequently
being retained by us for certain uses. Some of our clients have prohibited us
from marketing the applications developed for them for specified periods of time
or to specified third parties, and we cannot assure you that our clients will
not continue to demand similar or other restrictions in the future. Issues
relating to the ownership of and rights to use software applications can be
complicated, and we cannot assure you that disputes will not arise that affect
our ability to resell such applications. In connection with projects which use
our previously developed solutions, we may, in some cases, obtain a license fee
from the client for use of our solution and a development fee from the client
for any required additional customization.

EMPLOYEES

     As of December 31, 1999, we had 728 employees. We believe our relationship
with our employees is good. None of our employees is represented by a union.
Generally, our employees are retained on an at-will basis. We have entered into
employment agreements, however, with many of our key employees. We require all
of our senior managers, as well as most of our key employees, to sign
confidentiality agreements and non-competition agreements which prohibit them
from competing with us during their employment and for various periods
thereafter.

PROPERTIES

     We conduct our administrative and operations activities from 22 leased
facilities totaling approximately 250,000 square feet, pursuant to leases
expiring through 2008. These facilities are located in New York, New York;
Dallas, Texas; Los Angeles, California; Atlanta, Georgia; Detroit, Michigan;
Toronto, Ontario; San Francisco, California; Houston, Texas; San Antonio, Texas;
Irvine, California; Scottsdale, Arizona; Kendall Park, New Jersey; Great Neck,
New York; Sydney, Australia; London, England and Singapore. We routinely
evaluate our facilities for adequacy in light of our plans for growth in various
geographic markets. We do not anticipate purchasing property in the foreseeable
future.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     We are not a party to any pending material legal proceedings.

                                       44

<PAGE>

                                   MANAGEMENT

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

     The following table sets forth information concerning our directors and
executive officers as of January 31, 2000:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME                                         AGE   POSITION
- ------------------------------------------   ---   ---------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                          <C>   <C>
Glenn S. Meyers...........................   38    Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Jeffrey J. Kaplan.........................   51    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Suresh V. Mathews.........................   45    President and Chief Operating Officer of Rare Medium, Inc.

Robert C. Lewis...........................   34    Vice President and General Counsel

Craig Chesser.............................   39    Vice President and Treasurer

Michael A. Hultberg.......................   34    Vice President and Controller

Jeffrey Killeen...........................   46    Director

Richard T. Liebhaber......................   63    Director

Steven Winograd...........................   44    Director

Andrew D. Africk..........................   33    Director

Michael S. Gross..........................   37    Director

Marc J. Rowan.............................   37    Director
</TABLE>

     GLENN S. MEYERS is our co-founder, and Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer. He is also Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of our
wholly-owned subsidiary, Rare Medium, Inc. and has been a member of our board of
directors as well as our President and Chief Executive Officer since April 15,
1998. Prior to joining Rare Medium, Inc. in September 1996, Mr. Meyers was
President of Brookridge Capital Management, an Internet venture capital firm
from 1994 to September 1996. Mr. Meyers is also a director of L90, Inc.

     JEFFREY J. KAPLAN has been our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer since September 1999. Mr. Kaplan served as Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and Director of Safety Components International, Inc., a
leading manufacturer of airbag cushions and fabric from February 1997 to August
1999. From October 1993 to February 1997, Mr. Kaplan served as Executive Vice
President, Chief Financial Officer and a Director of International Post Limited,
a leading provider of post-production services for commercial and advertising
markets.

     SURESH V. MATHEWS has been the President and Chief Operating Officer of our
wholly-owned subsidiary, Rare Medium, Inc., since January 1999. Prior to joining
Rare Medium, Inc., Mr. Mathews was Senior Vice President and Chief Information
Officer of Quaker State Corporation from June 1997 to December 1998.

     ROBERT C. LEWIS has been our Vice President and General Counsel since May
1998. Immediately prior to joining our company, Mr. Lewis was an associate at
the law firm of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson from October 1992.

     CRAIG CHESSER has been a Vice President since July 1998 and has been our
Treasurer since November 1999. Mr. Chesser served as our Corporate Controller
from July 1998 to November 1999. Prior to joining our company, Mr. Chesser was
Vice President, Finance for TransCare Corporation, a health care industry
consolidator. Previously Mr. Chesser was Vice President, Finance and
Administration for Sunwestern Investment Group, a venture capital organization.

     MICHAEL A. HULTBERG joined our company as Vice President and Controller in
November 1999. From July 1988 to November 1999, Mr. Hultberg was employed by
KPMG LLP, most recently as Senior Manager.

     JEFFREY KILLEEN has been a member of our board of directors since October
1998. Mr. Killeen has been the Chief Executive Officer of Forbes.com since
August 1999. Prior to that, Mr. Killeen was the Chief Operating Officer of
barnesandnoble.com, an e-commerce company, from January 1998 to March 1999.
Before joining barnesandnoble.com, Mr. Killeen served as President and Chief
Executive Officer of Pacific Bell Interactive Media from August 1994 to January
1998.

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     RICHARD T. LIEBHABER has been a member of our board of directors since June
1998. Mr. Liebhaber has been a Managing Director of Veronis, Suhler &
Associates, Inc., the New York media merchant banking firm, since June 1, 1995.
In addition, Mr. Liebhaber is currently a member of the following boards of
directors: Qwest Communications, Inc., Advanced Radio Telecommunications, AVICI
Systems, Inc., Internet Communications Corporation, and Alcatel USA, Inc.
Mr. Liebhaber also serves as a consultant and member of the Advisory Board of
Corning, Inc.

     STEVEN WINOGRAD has been a member of our board of directors since October
1998. Mr. Winograd has been a Senior Managing Director at Bear, Stearns & Co.
since 1994 and since 1997 has been Group Head of the Financial Buyers Group.

     ANDREW D. AFRICK has been a member of our board of directors since June
1999. Mr. Africk is a partner of Apollo Advisors, L.P. (which, together with its
affiliates, acts as the managing general partner of several private securities
investment funds, including Apollo Investment Fund IV, L.P.) and of Lion
Advisors, L.P. (a financial advisor to, and representative of institutional
investors with respect to, securities investments). Mr. Africk is also a
director of Continental Graphics Holdings, Inc. and Building One Services
Corporation, as well as several private venture companies.

     MICHAEL S. GROSS has been a member of our board of directors since August
1999. Mr. Gross is one of the founding principals of Apollo Advisors, L.P. and
of Lion Advisors, L.P. Mr. Gross is also a director of Allied Waste Industries,
Inc., Breuners Home Furnishings, Inc., Clark Enterprises Inc., Converse, Inc.,
Florsheim Group, Inc., United Rentals, Inc., Building One Services Corp. and
Saks Incorporated.

     MARC J. ROWAN has been a member of our board of directors since June 1999.
Mr. Rowan is one of the founding principals of Apollo Advisors, L.P., and of
Lion Advisors, L.P. Mr. Rowan is also a director of Samsonite Corporation, Vail
Resorts, Inc., Quality Distribution, Inc., National Financial Partners, Inc.,
Wyndam International and NRT Incorporated.

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                        DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK

OUR AUTHORIZED CAPITAL STOCK

     We are authorized to issue up to 200,000,000 shares of our common stock,
100,000,000 shares of our non-voting common stock and 10,000,000 shares of our
preferred stock. The following is a summary of the principal terms of our
capital stock and of relevant provisions of our restated certificate of
incorporation and amended and restated by-laws. The following summary is not
complete and may not contain all of the information important to you. You should
read carefully the full text of our restated certificate of incorporation and
amended and restated by-laws.

COMMON STOCK

     As of March 13, 2000, there were 46,312,132 shares of our common stock
issued and outstanding. The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote
for each share held on the appropriate record date for all matters submitted to
a stockholder vote. Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive, on a
pro rata basis, dividends declared on the common stock by our board of
directors, out of legally available funds, unless any outstanding preferred
stock has a preference over the common stock for these dividends. In the event
of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Rare Medium Group, Inc., holders
of our common stock would be entitled to a pro rata share of our assets which
are available for distribution and remaining after payment of our liabilities
and the liquidation preference of outstanding preferred stock. Holders of our
common stock have no rights to purchase additional shares of common stock if we
issue additional shares of capital stock and they have no rights to convert
their common stock into any other securities. In addition, the holders of our
common stock have no redemption rights. As of date of this prospectus, all of
the outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and holders of our
shares of common stock are not required to make additional capital
contributions.

NON-VOTING COMMON STOCK

     As of the date of this prospectus, there are no shares of our non-voting
common stock issued and outstanding. Our non-voting common stock has the same
terms as our voting common stock described above, except that our non-voting
common stock does not carry voting rights.

PREFERRED STOCK

     Our board of directors has the authority, in its sole discretion, to issue
preferred stock in one or more classes or series and to fix the designations,
powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each class or series, including
dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption and
liquidation preference and the number of shares constituting each class or
series. We currently have one series of preferred stock outstanding, our
Series A convertible preferred stock.

     As of March 13, 2000, we had issued and outstanding 907,820 shares of our
Series A convertible preferred stock with an aggregate liquidation preference of
approximately $90.8 million.

SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK

     The following is a description of the principal terms of our Series A
convertible preferred stock:

     Ranking.  The Series A convertible preferred stock ranks senior to our
common stock with respect to both dividends and distributions upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of Rare Medium Group, Inc. Until we have paid or
declared and set aside for payment the full amount of the dividends on the
Series A convertible preferred stock for the current dividend period, (1) we
cannot pay or declare or set aside for payment any dividends on our common stock
and (2) we cannot redeem, retire or repurchase any common stock. In the event of
a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Rare Medium Group, Inc., no
distributions may be made to holders of our common stock until the holders of
our Series A convertible preferred stock have received a liquidation preference
of $100 per share plus all accrued and unpaid dividends.

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     Conversion Price.  Holders of Series A convertible preferred stock may
initially convert their shares at any time into a number of shares of common
stock determined by dividing (1) the aggregate liquidation preference of the
number of shares of Series A convertible preferred stock held by such holder,
plus accrued and unpaid dividends, by (2) the conversion price in effect at the
time of conversion. The initial conversion price is $7.00 and may be adjusted
from time-to-time in accordance with the anti-dilution provisions described
below.

     Dividends.  Holders of our Series A convertible preferred stock are
initially entitled to receive quarterly dividends payable at an annual rate of
7.50% of the liquidation preference per share from June 4, 1999, the original
issuance date of our Series A convertible preferred stock, through June 30,
2002. After June 30, 2002, holders of our Series A convertible preferred stock
are entitled to receive quarterly dividends payable at an annual rate of 4.65%
of the liquidation preference per share. From June 4, 1999 through June 30,
2002, dividends are payable through the issuance of additional shares of
Series A convertible preferred stock. From June 30, 2002 through June 30, 2004,
dividends are payable through the issuance of additional shares of Series A
convertible preferred stock, unless we or the holders of a majority of then
outstanding shares of Series A convertible preferred stock elect to have these
dividends paid in cash. Each share of Series A convertible preferred stock paid
as a dividend will be accompanied by a Series 1-A warrant entitling the holder
to purchase 13.5 shares of our common stock at an exercise price ranging from
$0.01 to $4.20 per share. After June 30, 2004, all dividends on the Series A
convertible preferred stock are payable in cash.

     In the event any dividends are declared with respect to our common stock,
the holders of our Series A convertible preferred stock are entitled to receive
as additional dividends an amount (whether in the form of cash, securities or
other property) equal to the amount (and in the form) of the dividends that such
holders would have received had they converted their shares of Series A
convertible preferred stock into common stock on the date immediately prior to
the record date of such dividend on our common stock.

     Optional Redemption.  We may redeem all, but not less than all, of the
Series A convertible preferred stock at a redemption price equal to 103% of the
liquidation preference per share plus 103% of accrued and unpaid dividends at
any time after (1) June 30, 2002, if the closing price of our common stock
quoted on Nasdaq on each of the previous 30 trading days is greater than $12.00
per share, or (2) June 30, 2004.

     Mandatory Redemption.  On the earliest of (1) any date in the period
beginning on the 20th day and ending on the 90th day after an event which
constitutes a "change of control," as defined below or (2) June 30, 2012,
holders of our Series A convertible preferred stock may require us to redeem for
cash all shares of Series A convertible preferred stock then outstanding and any
shares of Series A convertible preferred stock issuable in respect of secured
but unpaid dividends at a redemption price per share equal to the liquidation
preference per share plus all accrued and unpaid dividends.

     A "change of control" will, with some exceptions, occur if:

     o a party other than Apollo Management, L.P. or its affiliates acquires
       more than 50% of our outstanding shares of common stock or the combined
       voting power of our outstanding voting securities;

     o a majority of the directors who, as of June 4, 1999, were not elected by
       the holders of the Series A convertible preferred stock cease for any
       reason to serve on the board of directors; or

     o our stockholders approve a reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale
       of all or substantially all of our assets which results in a party other
       than Apollo Management, L.P. or its affiliates acquiring more than 50% of
       our outstanding common stock or combined voting power of our outstanding
       voting securities.

     Anti-dilution Adjustments.  The conversion price of the shares of Series A
convertible preferred stock will, with some exceptions, be adjusted if we:

     o issue common stock at a price below either (1) the conversion price in
       effect at the time of issuance or (2) the 20 day average of the closing
       prices of the common stock on Nasdaq for the 20 business days prior to
       such issuance;

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     o redeem or repurchase common stock at a price per share greater than the
       twenty day average of the closing prices of the common stock on Nasdaq
       for the twenty business days prior to such redemption or repurchase;

     o pay a dividend or make any other distribution on our common stock payable
       in shares of our common stock;

     o subdivide, split or combine our outstanding shares of common stock into a
       greater or smaller number of shares;

     o enter into a capital reorganization, reclassification of our common stock
       or consolidate or merge into another corporation where we are not the
       surviving corporation or where there is a change in or a distribution
       with respect to the common stock; or

     o issue any securities with more favorable anti-dilution provisions than
       those described above.

     Voting Rights.  The holders of shares of our Series A convertible preferred
stock are entitled to vote with the holders of common stock as a single class on
all matters submitted for a vote of holders of common stock. The number of votes
to which the Series A convertible preferred stock is entitled is .875 per
underlying share of common stock into which the Series A convertible preferred
stock is then convertible but in no event may exceed the voting power of
9,750,000 shares of common stock.

     In addition, so long as any shares of Series A convertible preferred stock
are outstanding, we may not amend, alter or repeal, in any manner whatsoever,
our certificate of incorporation or by-laws or any provision of our Series A
convertible preferred stock in a manner that would adversely affect the rights
or privileges of our Series A convertible preferred stock without the consent of
the holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series A
convertible preferred stock.

     For so long as Apollo Investment Fund IV, L.P. or any of its affiliates
beneficially own at least 100,000 shares of Series A convertible preferred
stock, the holders of the Series A convertible preferred stock, voting as a
separate class, have the right to elect two of the members of our board of
directors and have certain approval rights with respect to additional members of
our board of directors in the event that the size of our board of directors is
increased.

     The holders of Series A convertible preferred stock will also have the
right, voting separately as a class, to elect additional directors so that the
directors elected by the holders of the Series A convertible preferred stock
constitute a majority of the board of directors in the case of any of the
following events or any breach by us of certain of our agreements and covenants
with the holders of the Series A convertible preferred stock, including those
relating to:

     o Apollo's participation in unsubscribed offerings to our securityholders
       of rights to acquire common stock prior to June 30, 2004;

     o the consent rights of Apollo which are described below;

     o registration rights with respect to the common stock underlying our
       Series A convertible preferred stock and Series 1-A and Series 2-A
       warrants;

     o the dividend provisions of our Series A convertible preferred stock;

     o the redemption provisions of our Series A convertible preferred stock;

     o the voting rights of our Series A convertible preferred stock;

     o preemptive rights of our Series A convertible preferred stock with regard
       to future private placement of equity securities;

     o conversion rights and anti-dilution provisions of our Series A
       convertible preferred stock;

     o any acceleration or default of an obligation for the payment of
       indebtedness in excess of $10 million that is not cured within 15 days
       from the date of such default; or

     o our common stock is no longer listed for trading on a U.S. national
       securities exchange or Nasdaq.

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The right of the holders of our Series A convertible preferred stock to elect a
majority of the members of our board of directors will continue until any event
or events of non-compliance have been cured.

     Under the terms of the purchase agreement we entered into with Apollo, for
so long as Apollo Investment Fund IV, L.P., or any of its affiliates
beneficially own at least 100,000 shares of Series A convertible preferred
stock, we are precluded from taking various corporate actions and entering into
various transactions without the prior written consent of Apollo. Our proxy
statement for our stockholders meeting held on August 19, 1999, which is
incorporated by reference in this prospectus, describes these consent rights.

     Preemptive Rights.  The holders of our Series A convertible preferred stock
have the right to purchase their pro rata portions of any future private
placements of our equity or equity-linked securities, other than (1) securities
issued upon exercise of options or warrants outstanding prior to June 4, 1999,
options awarded to employees or directors after June 4, 1999 under our existing
employee incentive plans, and options issued after June 4, 1999 under new
employee incentive plans approved by our board of directors and by Apollo
Investment Fund IV, L.P. or its affiliates; and (2) securities issued as
consideration in acquisitions.

ANTI-TAKEOVER EFFECTS OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF DELAWARE LAW AND OUR RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS

     Some provisions of our restated certificate of incorporation and amended
and restated by-laws, which provisions are summarized in the following
paragraphs, may be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, defer
or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider
it its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium
over the market price for the shares held by stockholders.

Classified Board of Directors

     Our board of directors is divided into three classes of directors serving
staggered three-year terms. As a result, approximately one-third of the board of
directors will be elected each year. These provisions, when coupled with the
provision of our restated certificate of incorporation authorizing the board of
directors to fill vacant directorships or increase the size of the board of
directors, may deter a stockholder from removing incumbent directors and
simultaneously gaining control of the board of directors by filling the
vacancies created by such removal with its own nominees.

Authorized But Unissued Shares

      The authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock are
available for future issuance without stockholder approval. These additional
shares may be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future
public offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions and
employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of
common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an
attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer,
merger or otherwise.

LISTING

     Our common stock is quoted on The Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
"RRRR."

TRANSFER AGENT

     The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company. Its address is 6201 15th Avenue, 3rd Floor, Brooklyn,
NY 11219 and its telephone number at this location is 800-937-5449.

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                        SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

     The market price of our common stock could decline as a result of future
sales of substantial amounts of our common stock, or the perception that such
sales could occur. Furthermore, some of our existing stockholders have the right
to require us to register their shares or the shares underlying the securities
held by them, which may facilitate their sale of shares in the public market.

     Upon completion of this offering, we will have 49,312,132 shares of common
stock, issued and outstanding, assuming no exercise of the underwriters'
over-allotment option. Of these shares, 27,485,064 shares of our common stock
which were outstanding immediately prior to this offering, the 3,000,000 shares
of common stock being sold in this offering (plus any shares issued upon
exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option) and the 2,500,000 shares of
common stock covered by the resale registration statement will be freely
transferable without restriction in the public market, except to the extent
these shares have been acquired by our affiliates, whose sale of such shares is
restricted by Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933. The remaining
16,327,068 shares of our common stock are "restricted" securities under
Rule 144 which, among other things, limits the number of such shares available
for sale in the public market.

     We are required to register before May 13, 2000, 2,500,000 shares of our
common stock for resale by the investors in the private placement. The holders
of our Series A convertible preferred stock and Series 1-A and 2-A warrants have
the right to require us to register their underlying shares of common stock
subject to some limitations. In addition, holders of approximately 1,120,000
shares of our common stock have incidental or "piggyback" registration rights
that allow such holders, under certain circumstances, to include their shares of
common stock in registration statements initiated by us or other stockholders.
Under these agreements, the holders of our Series A convertible preferred stock
and Series 1-A and 2-A warrants may require us to register the shares of common
stock underlying these securities under the Securities Act for offer and sale to
the public (including by way of an underwritten public offering) on up to four
occasions. These agreements also permit demand registrations of Form S-3
registration statements provided that we continue to be eligible to register our
capital stock of Form S-3. All such registration rights are subject to
conditions and limitations, including the right of the underwriters of an
offering to limit under certain limited circumstances the number of shares to be
included in a registration.

     In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, a person (or persons
whose shares are required to be aggregated) who has beneficially owned shares of
common stock that have been outstanding and not held by any "affiliate" of ours
for a period of one year is entitled to sell within any three-month period a
number of shares that does not exceed the greater of one percent of the then
outstanding shares of our common stock (approximately 479,000 shares immediately
after completion of this offering assuming no exercise of the underwriters'
over-allotment option) or the average weekly reported trading volume of our
common stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the date on which notice
of such sale is given, provided certain manner of sale and notice requirements
and requirements as to the availability of current public information are
satisfied. These information requirements have been satisfied by our filing of
reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Our affiliates
must comply with the restrictions and requirements of Rule 144, other than the
two-year holding period requirement, in order to sell shares of common stock
that are not "restricted securities." Under Rule 144(k), a person who is not
deemed one of our "affiliates" at any time during the three months preceding a
sale by him, and who has beneficially owned shares of common stock that were not
acquired from us or one of our "affiliates" within the previous two years, would
be entitled to sell such shares without regard to volume limitations, manner of
sale provisions, notification requirements or the availability of current public
information concerning us. As defined in Rule 144, an "affiliate" of an issuer
is a person that directly or indirectly through the use of one or more
intermediaries controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with,
such issuer.

     We have agreed that, we will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or
otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the SEC a
registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares of our
common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for
any shares of our common stock, or publicly disclose the intention to make any
such offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, without the prior written
consent of Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation for a period of 90 days after
the date of this prospectus.

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<PAGE>

     Subject to some exceptions, our officers, directors and Apollo have agreed
that they will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose
of, directly or indirectly, any shares of our common stock or securities
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of our common
stock, enter into a transaction which would have the same effect, or enter into
any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of
the economic consequences or ownership of our common stock, whether any such
aforementioned transaction is to be settled by delivery of our common stock or
such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or publicly disclose the intention
to make any such offer, sale, pledge or disposition, without the prior written
consent of Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation for a period of 90 days after
the date of this prospectus.

     We have on file with the SEC effective registration statements under the
Securities Act covering shares of common stock reserved for issuance under our
option plans. Approximately 17,600,000 shares of common stock may be issued
pursuant to the exercise of options currently outstanding or issuable in the
future under these plans. Shares registered under these registration statements
will be, subject to Rule 144 volume limitations applicable to affiliates,
available for sale in the open market, unless such shares are subject to vesting
restrictions or the lock-up agreements described above.

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CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS OF COMMON STOCK

     The following is a general discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax
consequences of the ownership and disposition of our common stock by a
beneficial owner that is a non-U.S. holder. For purposes of this discussion, a
non-U.S. holder is a person or entity that, for U.S. federal income tax
purposes, is a non-resident alien individual, a foreign corporation, a foreign
partnership, or a foreign estate or trust.

     This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code and administrative
and judicial interpretations as of the date of this prospectus, all of which are
subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. This discussion does not
address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to
non-U.S. holders in light of their particular circumstances or the tax
consequences to non-U.S. holders subject to special tax rules, including,
without limitation, banks, insurances companies, dealers in securities and
traders in securities, and does not address any tax consequences arising under
the laws of any state, local or foreign jurisdiction.

     PROSPECTIVE HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE
PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF OWNING AND DISPOSING OF OUR COMMON STOCK,
INCLUDING THE CONSEQUENCES UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN
JURISDICTION.

DIVIDENDS

     Dividends, if any, paid to a non-U.S. holder of our common stock generally
will be subject to withholding tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be
specified by an applicable treaty. For purposes of determining whether tax is to
be withheld at a 30% rate or at a reduced rate as specified by an income tax
treaty, we ordinarily will presume that dividends paid on or before
December 31, 2000 to an address in a foreign country are paid to a resident of
such country, absent our knowledge that such presumption is not warranted.

     Under U.S. Treasury regulations applicable to dividends paid after
December 31, 2000, to obtain a reduced rate of withholding under a treaty, a
non-U.S. holder generally will be required to provide an IRS Form W-8 BEN
certifying such non-U.S. holder's entitlement to such reduced rate. These
regulations also provide special rules to a non-U.S. holder that is a
partnership, which generally require the partners to satisfy the certification
requirement.

     There will be no withholding tax on dividends paid to a non-U.S. holder
that are effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder's conduct of a trade or
business within the U.S. or, if an income tax treaty applies, attributable to a
permanent establishment or fixed base of such non-U.S. holder within the U.S.,
if an IRS Form 4224, or, after December 31, 2000, an IRS Form W-8 ECI, is filed
with us stating that the dividends are so connected. Instead, the effectively
connected dividends will be subject to regular U.S. income tax in the same
manner as if the non-U.S. holder were a U.S. resident. A non-U.S. corporation
receiving effectively connected dividends may also be subject to an additional
"branch profits tax" which is imposed, under certain circumstances, at a rate of
30%, or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable treaty, of the
non-U.S. corporation's effectively connected earnings and profits, subject to
certain adjustments.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

     We generally must report annually to the IRS and each non-U.S. holder the
amount of any dividends paid, the name and address of the recipient and the
amount of any tax withheld. Under the terms of tax treaties or other agreements,
the IRS may make this information available to tax authorities in the
recipient's country of residence.

     Dividends paid to a non-U.S. holder at an address within the U.S. may be
subject to a 31% backup withholding if the non-U.S. holder fails to establish
that it is entitled to an exemption or to provide a correct taxpayer
identification number and certain other information to us.

     Under current U.S. federal income tax law, backup withholding generally
will not apply to dividends paid on or before December 31, 2000 to a non-U.S.
holder at an address outside the U.S. unless the payer has knowledge that the
payee is a U.S. person. Under U.S. Treasury regulations applicable to dividends
paid

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after December 31, 2000, however, a non-U.S. holder will be subject to backup
withholding unless applicable certification requirements are met.

     A non-U.S. holder of common stock that is eligible for a reduced rate of
U.S. withholding tax under an applicable income tax treaty may obtain a refund
or credit of any excess amounts withheld by filing an appropriate claim for
refund with the IRS.

GAIN ON DISPOSITION OF COMMON STOCK

     A non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax
with respect to gain realized on a sale or other disposition of our common stock
unless:

     o the gain is effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder's conduct of a
       trade or business within the U.S. or, if an income tax treaty applies, is
       attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base of such non-U.S.
       holder within the U.S.;

     o in the case of certain non-U.S. holders who are nonresident alien
       individuals and hold our common stock as a capital asset, such
       individuals are present in the U.S. for 183 or more days in the taxable
       year of the disposition and certain other conditions are met;

     o the non-U.S. holder is subject to tax pursuant to the provisions of the
       Internal Revenue Code regarding the taxation of U.S. expatriates; or

     o we are or have been a "U.S. real property holding corporation" within the
       meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code at any time
       within the shorter of the five-year period preceding such disposition or
       such holder's holding period. We do not believe that we are, and do not
       anticipate becoming, a U.S. real property holding corporation.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

     Under current U.S. federal income tax law, information reporting and a 31%
backup withholding will apply to the proceeds of a disposition of our common
stock effected by or through a U.S. office of a broker unless the disposing
holder certifies, under penalties of perjury, as to its non-U.S. status or
otherwise establishes an exemption. U.S. information reporting and backup
withholding generally will not apply to a payment of disposition proceeds where
the transaction is effected outside the U.S. through a non-U.S. office of a
non-U.S. broker unless the non-U.S. broker is a "U.S. related person". In the
case of the payment of disposition proceeds by or through a non-U.S. office of a
broker that is a U.S. person or a "U.S. related person," information reporting,
but not backup withholding, on the payment will apply unless the broker receives
a statement from the holder, signed under penalties of perjury, certifying its
non-U.S. status or the broker has documentary evidence in its files that the
holder is a non-U.S. holder and the broker has no actual knowledge to the
contrary. For purposes of this discussion, a "U.S. related person" is:

     o a "controlled foreign corporation" for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

     o a foreign person which derives 50% or more of its gross income for
       certain periods from the conduct of a trade or business within the U.S.;

     o effective after December 31, 2000, a foreign partnership at least 50% of
       the capital or profits interest in which is owned by U.S. persons or that
       is engaged in a U.S. trade or business.

     Effective after December 31, 2000, backup withholding may apply to a
payment of disposition proceeds by or through a non-U.S. office of a broker that
is a U.S. person or a "U.S. related person" unless applicable certification
requirements are satisfied or an exemption is otherwise established and the
broker has no actual knowledge that the holder is a U.S. person.

     Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the tax liability of
persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax
withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be
obtained, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS.

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                                  UNDERWRITING

     Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in an underwriting
agreement, dated March 15, 2000, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters
named below, for whom Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, Deutsche Bank
Securities Inc. and FleetBoston Robertson Stephens Inc. are acting as
representatives, the following respective numbers of shares of our common stock:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                              NUMBER OF
UNDERWRITERS                                                                                   SHARES
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   ---------
<S>                                                                                           <C>
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation.....................................................   1,275,000

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. .............................................................     637,500

FleetBoston Robertson Stephens Inc. .......................................................     637,500

CIBC World Markets Corp. ..................................................................      50,000

DeMatteo Monness LLC.......................................................................      50,000

E*Offering Corp............................................................................      50,000

Fahnestock & Co. Inc.......................................................................      50,000

Invemed Associates LLC.....................................................................      50,000

Janney Montgomery Scott LLC................................................................      50,000

Lazard Freres & Co. LLC....................................................................      50,000

Sands Brothers & Co., Ltd..................................................................      50,000

SoundView Technology Group, Inc............................................................      50,000
                                                                                              ---------

  Total....................................................................................   3,000,000
                                                                                              ---------
                                                                                              ---------
</TABLE>

     The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters are obligated to
purchase all of the shares of common stock offered in this offering if any are
purchased, other than those shares covered by the over-allotment option
described below. The underwriting agreement also provides that if an underwriter
defaults, the purchase commitments of non-defaulting underwriters may be
increased or this offering of common stock may be terminated.

     We have granted to the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase on a pro
rata basis up to 450,000 additional shares of our common stock at the public
offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions. This option may
be exercised only to cover over-allotments of common stock.

     The underwriters propose to offer the shares of common stock initially at
the public offering price on the cover page of this prospectus and to the
selling group members at that price less a selling concession of $1.86 per
share. The underwriters and the selling group members may allow a discount of
$0.10 per share on sales to other broker/dealers. After the public offering, the
public offering price and selling concession and discount to dealers may be
changed by the representatives.

     The following table summarizes the discounts and commissions and estimated
expenses that we will pay.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                PER SHARE                             TOTAL
                                                     --------------------------------    --------------------------------
                                                        WITHOUT             WITH              WITHOUT            WITH
                                                     OVER-ALLOTMENT    OVER-ALLOTMENT    OVER-ALLOTMENT    OVER-ALLOTMENT
                                                     --------------    --------------    --------------    --------------
<S>                                                  <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>
Underwriting discounts and commissions paid by
  us..............................................       $ 3.10            $ 3.10         $  9,300,000      $ 10,695,000
Expenses payable by us............................       $ 0.38            $ 0.33         $  1,125,000      $  1,125,000
</TABLE>

     The underwriters have informed us that they do not expect sales to accounts
over which they exercise discretionary authority to exceed 5% of our common
stock being offered.

     We have agreed that, subject to some exceptions, we will not offer, sell,
contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or
file with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to,
any shares of our common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or
exercisable for any shares of our common stock, or publicly disclose the
intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, without
the prior written consent of Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation for a period
of 90 days after the date of this prospectus.

                                       55

<PAGE>

     Subject to some exceptions, our officers, directors and Apollo have agreed
that they will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose
of, directly or indirectly, any shares of our common stock or securities
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of our common
stock, enter into a transaction which would have the same effect, or enter into
any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of
the economic consequences or ownership of our common stock, whether any such
aforementioned transaction is to be settled by delivery of our common stock or
such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or publicly disclose the intention
to make any such offer, sale, pledge or disposition, without the prior written
consent of Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation for a period of 90 days after
the date of this prospectus.

     We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against liabilities under the
Securities Act or contribute to payments which the underwriters may be required
to make in that respect.

     The representatives may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions,
syndicate covering transactions, penalty bids and "passive" market making in
accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act.

          o Over-allotment involves syndicate sales in excess of the offering
            size, which creates a syndicate short position.

          o Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying
            security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified
            maximum.

          o Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of our common
            stock in the open market after the distribution has been completed
            in order to cover syndicate short positions.

          o Penalty bids permit the representatives to reclaim a selling
            concession from a syndicate member when our common stock originally
            sold by that syndicate member is purchased in a syndicate covering
            transaction to cover syndicate short positions.

          o In "passive" market making, market makers in the common stock who
            are underwriters on prospective underwriters may, subject to certain
            limitations, make bids for or purchases of the common stock until
            the time, if any, at which a stabilizing bid is made.

These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids
may cause the price of our common stock to be higher than it would otherwise be
in the absence of such transactions. These transactions may be effected on The
Nasdaq National Market or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at
any time.

                                       56

<PAGE>

                          NOTICE TO CANADIAN RESIDENTS

RESALE RESTRICTIONS

     The distribution of our common stock in Canada is being made only on a
private placement basis exempt from the requirement that we prepare and file a
prospectus with the securities regulatory authorities in each province where
trades of common stock are effected. Accordingly, any resale of our common stock
in Canada must be made in accordance with applicable securities laws which will
vary depending on the relevant jurisdiction, and which may require resales to be
made in accordance with available statutory exemptions or pursuant to a
discretionary exemption granted by the applicable Canadian securities regulatory
authority. Purchasers are advised to seek legal advice prior to any resale of
our common stock.

REPRESENTATIONS OF PURCHASERS

     Each purchase of our common stock in Canada who receives a purchase
confirmation will be deemed to represent to us and the dealer from whom such
purchase confirmation is received that: (i) such purchaser is entitled under
applicable provincial securities laws to purchase our common stock without the
benefit of a prospectus qualified under such securities laws, (ii) where
required by law, that such purchaser is purchasing as principal and not as
agent, and (iii) such purchaser has reviewed the text above under "Resale
restrictions."

RIGHTS OF ACTION (ONTARIO PURCHASERS)

     The securities being offered are those of a foreign issuer and Ontario
purchasers will not receive the contractual right of action prescribed by
Ontario securities law. As a result, Ontario purchasers must rely on other
remedies that may be available, including common law rights of action for
damages or rescission or rights of action under the civil liability provisions
of the U.S. federal securities laws.

ENFORCEMENT OF LEGAL RIGHTS

     All of the issuer's directors and officers as well as the experts named
herein may be located outside of Canada and, as a result, it may not be possible
for Canadian purchasers to effect service of process within Canada upon the
issuer or such persons. All or a substantial portion of the assets of the issuer
and such persons may be located outside of Canada and, as a result, it may not
be possible to satisfy a judgment against the issuer or such persons in Canada
or to enforce a judgment obtained in Canadian courts against such issuer or
persons outside of Canada.

NOTICE TO BRITISH COLUMBIA RESIDENTS

     A purchaser of common stock to whom the Securities Act (British Columbia)
applies is advised that such purchaser is required to file with the British
Columbia Securities Commission a report within ten days of the sale of any
common stock acquired by such purchaser pursuant to this offering. Such report
must be in the form attached to British Columbia Securities Commission Blanket
Order BOR #95/17, a copy of which may be obtained from us. Only one such report
must be filed in respect of shares of our common stock acquired on the same date
and under the same prospectus exemption.

TAXATION AND ELIGIBILITY FOR INVESTMENT

     Canadian purchasers of our common stock should consult their own legal and
tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences of an investment in our common
stock in their particular circumstances and with respect to the eligibility of
our common stock for investment by the purchaser under relevant Canadian
legislation.

                                       57

<PAGE>

                                 LEGAL COUNSEL

     Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, New York and Robert C.
Lewis, General Counsel of Rare Medium Group, Inc., are acting as our counsel in
connection with this offering. The underwriters are being represented by
Cravath, Swaine & Moore, New York, New York. Certain attorneys at Skadden Arps
own in the aggregate less than 1% of our outstanding common stock.

                                    EXPERTS

     The consolidated financial statements of Rare Medium Group, Inc. as of
December 31, 1998 and 1999 and for the years then ended have been included
herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the report of
KPMG LLP, independent certified public accountants, appearing elsewhere herein,
and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

     The consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders' equity
(deficit) and cash flows of Rare Medium Group, Inc. for the year ended
December 31, 1997 incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual
Report on Form 10-K of Rare Medium Group, Inc. for the year ended December 31,
1999, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP's report is given on the firm's authority as experts
in accounting and auditing.

     The balance sheets as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 and the statements of
operations, changes in partners' capital and cash flows for each of the three
years in the period ended December 31, 1997, of Engelhard/ICC incorporated by
reference in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10- K of
Rare Medium Group, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 1999, have been
incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
independent accountants. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP's report is given on the
firm's authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

                   WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

     We are a reporting company and file annual, quarterly and current reports,
proxy statements and other information with the SEC. This prospectus constitutes
a part of a registration statement on Form S-3 (together with all amendments,
supplements, schedules and exhibits to the registration statement, referred to
as the registration statement) which we have filed with the SEC under the
Securities Act, with respect to the common stock offered in this prospectus.
This prospectus does not contain all the information which is in the
registration statement. Certain parts of the registration statement are omitted
as allowed by the rules and regulations of the SEC. We refer you to the
registration statement for further information about our company and the
securities offered in this prospectus. Statements contained in this prospectus
concerning the provisions of documents are not necessarily summaries of the
material provisions of those documents, and each statement is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the copy of the applicable document filed with the SEC.
You can inspect and copy the registration statement and the reports and other
information we file with the SEC under the Exchange Act at the public reference
room maintained by the SEC at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can obtain information on the operation of the
public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The same information
will be available for inspection and copying at the regional offices of the SEC
located at 7 World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10048 and at
Citicorp Center, 5000 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661.
You can also obtain copies of this material from the public reference room of
the SEC at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates.
The SEC also maintains a website which provides on-line access to reports, proxy
and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file
electronically with the SEC at the address http://www.sec.gov.

     Our common stock is quoted on The Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
"RRRR." Reports, proxy statements and other information concerning us can be
inspected at the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., 1735 K
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.

                                       58

<PAGE>

                   INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                          <C>
Independent Auditors' Report...............................................................................  F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1998 and 1999...............................................  F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended
  December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999.........................................................................  F-4
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
  December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999.........................................................................  F-5
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) for the years ended
  December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999.........................................................................  F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.................................................................  F-7
</TABLE>

                                      F-1

<PAGE>

                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT

The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Rare Medium Group, Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Rare Medium
Group, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1998 and 1999 and the related
consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders' equity (deficit)
and cash flows for each of the years then ended. 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. The accompanying consolidated financial
statements of Rare Medium Group, Inc. as of and for the year ended December 31,
1997 were audited by other auditors whose report thereon, dated March 20, 1998
expressed an unqualified opinion on those statements.

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 financial position of Rare Medium Group,
Inc. as of December 31, 1998 and 1999 and the results of their operations and
their cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles.

                                          /s/ KPMG LLP

New York, New York
February 14, 2000

                                      F-2

<PAGE>

                             RARE MEDIUM GROUP, INC

                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                           DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1999

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       1998            1999
                                                                                    -----------    -------------
<S>                                                                                 <C>            <C>
                                     ASSETS
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents......................................................   $   917,978    $  28,540,444
  Marketable securities..........................................................            --          101,981
  Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $82,445 and
     $544,747....................................................................     1,184,182       12,600,870
  Work in process................................................................       251,718        3,170,683
  Notes receivable...............................................................            --        1,100,000
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets......................................       443,526        2,406,053
                                                                                    -----------    -------------
       Total current assets......................................................     2,797,404       47,920,031

Property and equipment, net......................................................     1,918,273       12,100,237
Investments in affiliates........................................................            --       26,467,324
Intangibles, net.................................................................    39,899,170       72,552,152
Other assets.....................................................................       128,275        1,383,256
                                                                                    -----------    -------------
       Total assets..............................................................   $44,743,122    $ 160,423,000
                                                                                    -----------    -------------
                                                                                    -----------    -------------

                      LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable...............................................................   $ 1,634,889    $   7,097,466
  Accrued liabilities............................................................     1,912,364        5,758,573
  Deferred revenue...............................................................       308,898        3,043,941
  Current portion of note payable--related parties...............................            --          996,765
  Notes payable..................................................................       129,525          579,480
                                                                                    -----------    -------------
       Total current liabilities.................................................     3,985,676       17,476,225

Note payable--related parties....................................................    10,591,526          996,765
Other noncurrent liabilities.....................................................       344,210          734,916
                                                                                    -----------    -------------
       Total liabilities.........................................................    14,921,412       19,207,906
                                                                                    -----------    -------------
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, net of unamortized discount
  of $54,557,732.................................................................            --       36,224,441
                                                                                    -----------    -------------

Stockholders' equity:
  Preferred stock, $.01 par value. Authorized 10,000,000 shares; issued 907,820
     shares as Series A Convertible Preferred Stock at December 31, 1999.........            --               --
  Common stock, $.01 par value. Authorized 200,000,000 shares; issued and
     outstanding 30,696,828 shares in 1998 and 42,893,357 shares in 1999.........       306,968          428,933
  Additional paid-in capital.....................................................    84,720,304      252,075,058
  Accumulated other comprehensive income.........................................            --          936,599
  Note receivable from shareholder...............................................      (230,467)        (230,467)
  Accumulated deficit............................................................   (54,803,665)    (148,048,040)
  Treasury stock, at cost, 66,227 shares.........................................      (171,430)        (171,430)
                                                                                    -----------    -------------
       Total stockholders' equity................................................    29,821,710      104,990,653
                                                                                    -----------    -------------
          Total liabilities and stockholders' equity.............................   $44,743,122    $ 160,423,000
                                                                                    -----------    -------------
                                                                                    -----------    -------------
</TABLE>

          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                      F-3

<PAGE>

                            RARE MEDIUM GROUP, INC.

                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
              FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1998 AND 1999

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         1997            1998            1999
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
<S>                                                                  <C>             <C>             <C>
Revenues..........................................................   $         --    $  4,688,120    $ 36,694,450
Cost of revenues..................................................             --      (3,609,852)    (19,650,400)
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
  Gross profit....................................................             --       1,078,268      17,044,050
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
Expenses:
  Sales and marketing.............................................             --         896,842       5,450,144
  General and administrative......................................      1,991,594       5,673,561      32,406,565
  Depreciation and amortization...................................             --      12,584,177      25,992,997
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
       Total expenses.............................................      1,991,594      19,154,580      63,849,706
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
Loss from operations..............................................     (1,991,594)    (18,076,312)    (46,805,656)
Interest income (expense), net....................................        492,870      (1,278,507)     (1,396,146)
Equity interest in net loss on investments........................             --              --      (1,468,578)
Other income......................................................             --              --         200,000
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
Loss before taxes and discontinued operation......................     (1,498,724)    (19,354,819)    (49,470,380)
  Income tax expense..............................................             --         355,487              --
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
       Loss before discontinued operation.........................     (1,498,724)    (19,710,306)    (49,470,380)
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
Discontinued operation:
  Loss from discontinued operation................................    (11,985,361)     (4,538,128)             --
  Gain on restructuring of Engelhard/ICC..........................             --      24,256,769              --
  Loss on sale of FAS.............................................             --        (627,587)             --
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
  (Loss) income from discontinued operation.......................    (11,985,361)     19,091,054              --
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
Net loss..........................................................    (13,484,085)       (619,252)    (49,470,380)
  Deemed dividend attributable to issuance
     of convertible preferred stock...............................             --              --     (29,879,155)
  Cumulative dividends and accretion of convertible
     preferred stock to liquidation value.........................             --              --     (13,894,840)
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
Net loss attributable to common stockholders......................   $(13,484,085)   $   (619,252)   $(93,244,375)
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share:
  Continuing operations...........................................   $      (0.07)   $      (0.78)   $      (2.55)
  Discontinued operation..........................................          (0.56)           0.76              --
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
Net loss per share................................................   $      (0.63)   $      (0.02)   $      (2.55)
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding..................     21,339,635      25,282,002      36,625,457
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
</TABLE>

          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                      F-4

<PAGE>

                            RARE MEDIUM GROUP, INC.

                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
              FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1998 AND 1999

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         1997            1998            1999
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
<S>                                                                  <C>             <C>             <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net loss........................................................   $(13,484,085)   $   (619,252)   $(49,470,380)
  Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating
     activities:
     Gain of restructuring of Engelhard...........................             --     (24,256,769)             --
     Depreciation and amortization................................          3,927      12,584,177      25,992,997
     Equity interest in net loss of investments...................     11,985,361         133,450       1,468,578
     Common stock and stock options issued for services
       rendered...................................................         52,381         589,914          29,999
     Loss on disposition of FAS...................................             --         627,587              --
     Interest expense paid in notes and stock.....................             --       1,140,413       2,630,467
     Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
       Accounts receivable........................................             --         422,567      (8,527,239)
       Work in process............................................             --              --      (2,901,739)
       Prepaid expenses and other assets..........................       (298,397)        277,142      (1,622,728)
       Deferred revenue...........................................             --         308,898       1,383,416
       Accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities............        194,030         108,915      (1,013,447)
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
          Net cash used in operating activities...................     (1,546,783)     (8,682,958)    (32,030,076)
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
Cash flows from investing activities:
  Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired, and
     acquisition costs............................................             --     (10,591,856)     (2,923,931)
  Cash paid for investments in affiliates.........................             --              --     (27,075,901)
  Purchases of property and equipment, net........................         (9,500)       (912,239)     (8,791,752)
  Cash received in connection with restructuring
     of Engelhard/ICC.............................................             --      18,864,003              --
  Capital contributions to Engelhard/ICC..........................     (6,775,000)             --              --
  Issuance of note receivable.....................................       (350,450)             --      (1,100,000)
  Net cash received in connection with sale of
     majority interest in FAS.....................................             --         973,173              --
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
          Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities.....     (7,134,950)      8,333,081     (39,891,584)
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
Cash flows from financing activities:
  Proceeds from issuance of convertible debenture.................             --              --       6,000,000
  Proceeds from issuance of convertible preferred stock, net of
     costs........................................................             --              --      82,997,651
  Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with
     exercise of warrants and options.............................        298,102         118,385      11,791,695
  Repayment of borrowings, net....................................             --        (108,013)     (1,245,220)
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
          Net cash provided by financing activities...............        298,102          10,372      99,544,126
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents..............     (8,383,631)       (339,505)     27,622,466
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period....................      9,641,114       1,257,483         917,978
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period..........................   $  1,257,483    $    917,978    $ 28,540,444
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
  Interest paid...................................................   $         --    $    373,699    $    609,437
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
  Income taxes paid...............................................   $         --    $         --    $    355,487
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
                                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
</TABLE>

          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                      F-5

<PAGE>

                            RARE MEDIUM GROUP, INC.

      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
              FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1998 AND 1999

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                      ACCUMULATED         NOTE
                                                                                       ADDITIONAL        OTHER         RECEIVABLE
                                                     PREFERRED     COMMON STOCK         PAID-IN       COMPREHENSIVE       FROM
                                                       STOCK      ($.01 PAR VALUE)      CAPITAL         INCOME          OFFICER
                                                     ---------    ----------------    ------------    -------------    ----------
<S>                                                  <C>          <C>                 <C>             <C>              <C>
Balance, January 1, 1997..........................   $      --      $    212,824      $ 50,730,330      $      --      $       --
  Net loss........................................          --                --                --             --              --
  Issuance of 237,644 shares of common stock
    through exercise of stock options and
    warrants......................................          --             2,376           578,574             --        (230,467)
                                                     ---------      ------------      ------------      ---------      ----------
Balance, December 31, 1997........................          --           215,200        51,308,904             --        (230,467)
  Net loss........................................          --                --                --             --              --
  Issuance of 5,775,003 shares of common stock for
    acquired businesses...........................          --            57,753        19,988,244             --              --
  Issuance of 3,145,709 shares of common stock for
    conversion of debt and accrued interest.......          --            31,457        12,717,411             --              --
  Issuance of 55,800 shares of common stock
    through exercise of stock options and
    warrants......................................          --               558           117,831             --              --
  Issuance of 200,000 shares of common stock and
    options for services rendered.................          --             2,000           587,914             --              --
                                                     ---------      ------------      ------------      ---------      ----------
Balance, December 31, 1998........................          --           306,968        84,720,304             --        (230,467)
  Comprehensive loss:
    Net loss......................................          --                --                --             --              --
    Other comprehensive income:
      Net unrealized gain arising during period...          --                --                --        936,599              --
         Total comprehensive loss.................
  Issuance of 4,977,923 shares of common stock in
    acquired businesses...........................          --            49,779        47,918,148             --              --
  Issuance of 3,054,362 shares of common stock for
    conversion of debt and accrued interest.......          --            30,543        17,109,350             --              --
  Issuance of 2,489 shares of common stock for
    services rendered.............................          --                25            29,974             --              --
  Issuance of 4,161,755 shares of common stock
    through exercise of stock options and
    warrants......................................          --            41,618        11,750,077             --              --
  Value of warrants issued in connection with the
    Series A preferred stock......................          --                --        53,118,496             --              --
  Intrinsic value of beneficial conversion feature
    of Series A preferred stock and pay-in-kind
    dividends.....................................          --                --        37,428,709             --              --
  Deemed dividends and accretion of preferred
    stock.........................................          --                --                --             --              --
                                                     ---------      ------------      ------------      ---------      ----------
Balance, December 31, 1999........................   $      --      $    428,933      $252,075,058      $ 936,599      $ (230,467)
                                                     ---------      ------------      ------------      ---------      ----------
                                                     ---------      ------------      ------------      ---------      ----------

<CAPTION>

                                                                     TREASURY         TOTAL
                                                     ACCUMULATED       STOCK      STOCKHOLDERS'
                                                       DEFICIT        AT COST     EQUITY (DEFICIT)
                                                    -------------    ---------    ----------------
<S>                                                  <C>             <C>          <C>
Balance, January 1, 1997..........................  $ (40,700,328)   $(171,430)     $ 10,071,396
  Net loss........................................    (13,484,085)          --       (13,484,085)
  Issuance of 237,644 shares of common stock
    through exercise of stock options and
    warrants......................................             --           --           350,483
                                                    -------------    ---------      ------------
Balance, December 31, 1997........................    (54,184,413)    (171,430)       (3,062,206)
  Net loss........................................       (619,252)          --          (619,252)
  Issuance of 5,775,003 shares of common stock for
    acquired businesses...........................             --           --        20,045,997
  Issuance of 3,145,709 shares of common stock for
    conversion of debt and accrued interest.......             --           --        12,748,868
  Issuance of 55,800 shares of common stock
    through exercise of stock options and
    warrants......................................             --           --           118,389
  Issuance of 200,000 shares of common stock and
    options for services rendered.................             --           --           589,914
                                                    -------------    ---------      ------------
Balance, December 31, 1998........................    (54,803,665)    (171,430)       29,821,710
  Comprehensive loss:
    Net loss......................................    (49,470,380)          --       (49,470,380)
    Other comprehensive income:
      Net unrealized gain arising during period...             --           --           936,599
                                                                                    ------------
         Total comprehensive loss.................                                   (48,533,781)
  Issuance of 4,977,923 shares of common stock in
    acquired businesses...........................             --           --        47,967,927
  Issuance of 3,054,362 shares of common stock for
    conversion of debt and accrued interest.......             --           --        17,139,893
  Issuance of 2,489 shares of common stock for
    services rendered.............................             --           --            29,999
  Issuance of 4,161,755 shares of common stock
    through exercise of stock options and
    warrants......................................             --           --        11,791,695
  Value of warrants issued in connection with the
    Series A preferred stock......................             --           --        53,118,496
  Intrinsic value of beneficial conversion feature
    of Series A preferred stock and pay-in-kind
    dividends.....................................             --           --        37,428,709
  Deemed dividends and accretion of preferred
    stock.........................................    (43,773,995)          --       (43,773,995)
                                                    -------------    ---------      ------------
Balance, December 31, 1999........................  $(148,048,040)   $(171,430)     $104,990,653
                                                    -------------    ---------      ------------
                                                    -------------    ---------      ------------
</TABLE>

          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                      F-6

<PAGE>

                            RARE MEDIUM GROUP, INC.

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

  (a) Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

     Rare Medium Group, Inc. (the "Company") conducts its operations primarily
through its subsidiaries, which are organized as two related lines of business:
the Internet services business of Rare Medium, Inc. ("Rare Medium"), and the
investment business. The Company is headquartered in New York with offices
throughout the United States, England, Australia, Singapore and Canada.

     Rare Medium, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, is a provider of
Internet solutions, offering Fortune 1000 companies and others its services to
develop e-commerce Internet strategies, improve business processes and develop
marketing communications, branding strategies and interactive content using
Internet-based technologies and solutions.

     The Company restructured its former climate control systems business in
February 1998 and combined with Rare Medium in April 1998. Since April 1998 the
Company acquired a number of other Internet solutions companies. In October
1998, the Company disposed of its former climate control systems operations (see
Note 2). In March 1999, the Company changed its name to "Rare Medium Group,
Inc."

     In 1999, the Company broadened its strategy with the advent of its
investment business. Through the incubator investment strategy the Company
invests in and develops, manages and operates companies in selected
Internet-focused markets. The Company also makes venture investments by making
strategic equity investments in companies with Internet-focused business models.

     The 1999 consolidated financial statements include the results of the
Internet services business and the following majority owned incubator companies.

  ChangeMusic Network

     ChangeMusic Network has properties that deliver news, information, content
and services to music consumers, artists and the music industry. The ChangeMusic
Network also operates a business-to-business services group under the CMJ brand.
The CMJ division offers the music industry trade publications, music industry
conferences, and a website through which subscribers can gain access to various
exclusive data products as well as promotional and talent development (A&R)
services. The Company acquired ChangeMusic in November 1999 and owns
approximately 74% on a fully diluted basis.

  ePrize

     ePrize.net is an online sweepstakes, direct marketing and promotions
company that offers end-to-end solutions for customer acquisition and retention.
ePrize professionals help clients design, administer and maintain successful
online sweepstakes and other promotional online efforts. The Company acquired
ePrize in December 1999 and owns approximately 80% on a fully diluted basis.

  iFace

     iFace.com develops products for telecommunication service providers and for
system integrators that telephony-empower websites and other Internet
applications. The Company acquired iFace in February 1999 and owns approximately
68% on a fully diluted basis.

  LiveUniverse

     LiveUniverse.com is an Application Service Provider ("ASP") and ASP
aggregator dedicated to lowering the barriers to entering the Internet economy.
LiveUniverse currently offers a suite of advertising-supported hosted community
tools that enable any company to quickly and efficiently create a custom

                                      F-7

<PAGE>

                            RARE MEDIUM GROUP, INC.

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

(1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES--(CONTINUED)

website, intranet and extranet. The Company acquired LiveUniverse in April 1999
and owns approximately 85% on a fully diluted basis.

  Regards

     Regards.com has a series of websites for electronic greeting card
distribution. Visitors to these websites have the opportunity to create their
own greeting cards and to purchase gifts, as well as additional features and
enhancements such as voice enabled greeting cards, and interactive game cards.
The Company acquired Regards in August 1999 and owns approximately 90% on a
fully diluted basis.

     All intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

  (b) Cash and Cash Equivalents

     The Company considers all highly liquid investments with remaining
maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash
equivalents.

  (c) Marketable Securities

     The Company classifies its investments in marketable equity securities as
available-for-sale. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value,
with the unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, reported as a separate
component of stockholders' equity. The fair value of marketable securities
exceeded cost by $936,599, at December 31, 1999.

  (d) Notes Receivable

     Notes receivable represent short term financing to selected companies prior
to an acquisition or an investment in affiliated companies. Such receivable,
bearing a market rate of interest are, generally converted into equity or
otherwise receivable on demand. In February 2000, $1,000,000 of the notes
receivable was repaid.

  (e) Property and Equipment

     The Company uses the straight-line method of depreciation. The estimated
useful lives of property and equipment are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            YEARS
                                                           --------

<S>                                                        <C>         <C>
Equipment...............................................    3 to 5

Furniture and fixtures..................................    5 to 7
</TABLE>

     Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the term
of the lease or the estimated useful life of the improvement, whichever is
shorter.

  (f) Intangibles

     Goodwill, which represents the excess of purchase price over fair value of
net assets acquired, is amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated
future period of benefit of three years. The Company periodically assesses the
recoverability of the cost of its goodwill based upon estimated future
profitability of the related operating entities. The agreements pursuant to
which the Company acquired certain companies (see Note 2) include provisions
that could require the Company to issue additional shares if certain performance
targets are met. The value of any such shares issued will be added to the
goodwill related to such acquisition and amortized over the remainder of that
goodwill's useful life.

                                      F-8

<PAGE>

                            RARE MEDIUM GROUP, INC.

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

(1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES--(CONTINUED)

     Long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles, including goodwill,
are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate
that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of
assets to be 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 value of the assets exceed the fair
value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the
carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.

  (g) Revenue Recognition

     Revenues from the Internet services business are recognized using the
percentage-of-completion method. Unbilled receivables, representing time and
costs incurred on projects in process in excess of amounts billed, are recorded
as work in process in the accompanying balance sheets. Deferred revenue
represent amounts billed in excess of costs incurred, and are recorded as
liabilities. To the extent costs incurred and anticipated costs to complete
projects in progress exceed anticipated billings, a loss is recognized in the
period such determination is made for the excess.

     Advertising revenues from CMJ publications are recognized at the time the
related publications are sent to the subscriber or are available at newstands.
Subscription revenue is deferred and recognized as income over the subscription
period. Revenue related to newstand magazine sales are recognized at the time
that the publications are available at the newstands, net of estimated returns.

     Advertising revenues derived from the delivery of advertising impressions
are recognized in the period the impressions are delivered, provided the
collection of the resulting receivable is probable.

  (h) Investments in Affiliates

     The Company accounts for its investments in affiliates in which it owns
less than 20% of the voting stock and does not possess significant influence
over the operations of the investee, under the cost method of accounting. The
Company accounts for those investments where the Company owns greater than 20%
of the voting stock and possesses significant influence under the equity method.

  (i) Income Taxes

     Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax
consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement
carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax
bases and for operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. 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. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a
change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the
enactment date.

  (j) Stock Option Plans

     The Company accounts for its stock option plan in accordance with Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 123 which allows entities to
continue to apply the provisions of Accounting Principles Board ("APB") Opinion
No. 25 and provide pro forma net income and pro forma earnings per share
disclosures for employee stock option grants made in 1995 and future years as if
the fair-value-based method, as defined in SFAS No. 123, had been applied. The
Company has elected to apply the provisions of APB No. 25 and provide the pro
forma disclosure required by SFAS No. 123. (See Note 10).

                                      F-9

<PAGE>

                            RARE MEDIUM GROUP, INC.

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

(1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES--(CONTINUED)

  (k) Use of Estimates

     Management of the Company has made a number of estimates and assumptions
relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities to prepare these financial statements in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Actual results could
differ from those estimates.

  (l) Net Loss Per Share

     Basic earnings per share ("EPS") is computed by dividing income or loss
plus preferred dividends by the weighted average number of common shares
outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution from the
exercise or conversion of securities into common stock. Net loss and weighted
average shares outstanding used for computing diluted loss per common share were
the same as that used for computing basic loss per common share.

     For the purposes of computing EPS from continuing operations, the Company
had potentially dilutive common stock equivalents of 1,211,588, 909,321 and
6,380,103, for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999, respectively,
made up of stock options and common stock purchase warrants. These common stock
equivalents were not included in the computation of earnings per common share
because they were antidilutive on continuing operations for the periods
presented.

  (m) Fair Value of Financial Instruments

     The fair value of cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities,
accounts receivables, notes receivable accounts and notes payable, and
short-term debt approximate book value. The fair value of long-term notes
payable approximates market value based on the recent exchange offerings
completed in 1998 and 1999 (see Note 7).

  (n) Concentration of Credit Risk, Major Customers and Geographic Information

     Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to a
concentration of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents and accounts
receivables. Cash and cash equivalents consist of deposits and money market
funds placed with various high credit quality financial institutions.

     Concentrations of credit risk with respect to receivables is limited due to
the geographically diverse customer base. The Company routinely assesses the
financial strength of its customers and does not require collateral or other
security to support customer receivables. Credit losses are provided for in the
consolidated financial statements in the form of an allowance for doubtful
accounts.

     The Company generates revenue principally from customers located in North
America, many of which are large multi-national organizations. Two customers
each separately accounted for approximately 10% of Internet services related
revenues in 1998, one of which represents approximately 10% of the receivables
as of December 31, 1998. No customer accounted for more than 10% of revenues in
1999.

  (o) Internal-Use Software

     The Company has adopted the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants Statement of Position 98-1, "Accounting for the Costs of Computer
Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use" ("SOP 98-1"). SOP 98-1 provides
guidance for determining whether computer software qualifies as internal-use
software and on accounting for the proceeds of computer software originally
developed or obtained for internal use and then subsequently sold to the public.
It also provides guidance on capitalization of the costs incurred for computer
software developed or obtained for internal use. The Company has adopted SOP
98-1 effective January 1, 1999. The effect of the adoption of SOP 98-1 was not
material.

                                      F-10

<PAGE>

                            RARE MEDIUM GROUP, INC.

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

(1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES--(CONTINUED)

  (p) Recently Issued Accounting Standards

     In June, 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS
No. 133 "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities."
SFAS 133 establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative
instruments, including derivative instruments embedded in other contracts and
hedging activities. In June 1999, SFAS No. 137 was issued which delayed the
effective date of SFAS No. 133 to January 1, 2001. The Company's management has
not yet determined the impact of adopting SFAS 133 as amended.

  (q) Reclassifications

     Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior years' financial
statements to conform to the current year's presentation.

(2) BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS

  (a) Acquisitions

     In April 1998, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding
shares of capital stock of Rare Medium. As consideration for the purchase of
Rare Medium, the Company issued 4,269,000 shares of Common Stock valued at
$14,045,997, paid $10,000,000 in cash and issued a secured promissory note in
the principal amount of $22,200,000 (see Note 7). The Company has accounted for
this transaction under the purchase method of accounting. The aggregate purchase
price, including acquisition costs, exceeded the fair value of Rare Medium's net
assets by $45,743,000. This amount has been allocated to goodwill and is being
amortized using the straight line method over three years. Included in the
accompanying statements of operations are the results of Rare Medium since the
date of acquisition.

      In addition to the acquisition of Rare Medium, during 1998 and 1999, the
Company acquired 100% of the following Internet services businesses. The Company
has accounted for these transactions under the purchase method of accounting.
The aggregate purchase prices, including acquisition costs, exceeded the fair
value of the net assets acquired has been allocated to goodwill and is being
amortized using the straight line method over three years. The results of
operations for these acquisitions have been included in the accompanying
statements of operations since the respective dates of acquisition.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ACQUISITION                                  DATE OF ACQUISITION    NUMBER OF SHARES ISSUED    PURCHASE PRICES    GOODWILL
- ------------------------------------------   -------------------    -----------------------    ---------------    --------
                                                                                                     (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                          <C>                    <C>                        <C>                <C>
1998
I/O 360...................................   August 1998                     786,559               $ 3,000         $3,194
Digital Facades...........................   August 1998                     719,144               $ 3,000         $3,197

1999
Hype!, Inc................................   March 1999                      270,992               $ 1,219         $1,102
FS3, Inc..................................   April 1999                      768,975               $ 3,460         $3,571
Big Hand, Inc.............................   April 1999                    1,460,603               $ 6,573         $6,562
Struthers Martin, Inc.....................   May 1999                        406,092               $ 6,000         $4,518
Globallink Communications, Inc............   June 1999                       445,470               $ 5,511         $5,661
Fire Engine Red, Inc......................   July 1999                       333,333               $ 4,000         $4,088
Atension, Inc.............................   August 1999                     160,450               $ 1,415         $1,432
Evit Caretni Interactive, Inc.............   December 1999                   256,824               $ 8,328         $8,988
Carlyle Media Group Limited...............   December 1999                    60,153               $ 2,230         $3,076
</TABLE>

                                      F-11

<PAGE>

                            RARE MEDIUM GROUP, INC.

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

(2) BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS--(CONTINUED)

     In connection with certain acquisitions, the former shareholders have
agreed to indemnify the Company for any losses resulting from a breach of, among
other things, their respective representations, warranties and covenants. To
secure the indemnification obligations of these shareholders thereunder,
1,288,057 shares of the Company's common stock delivered to these shareholders,
included as part of the consideration, remain in escrow at December 31, 1999,
and the liability of these shareholders under such indemnification obligations
is expressly limited to the value of such shares held in escrow.

     In November 1999, the Company acquired 25% of the common shares, on a fully
diluted basis, of College Media, Inc. (CMJ). Total consideration amounted to
$4,872,212 representing $1,000,000 in cash and 180,860 shares of the Company's
common stock. At such time, the Company also agreed to merge its 96% owned
subsidiary, Changemusic.com with CMJ to form ChangeMusic Network, Inc.
(ChangeMusic). Additionally, the Company acquired 1,000 shares of Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share of ChangeMusic
("ChangeMusic Preferred Stock") and a warrant to purchase up to an additional
1,000 shares of ChangeMusic Preferred Stock at a price of $8,400 per share. The
consideration price for the ChangeMusic Preferred Stock and warrant was
$7 million in cash. As a result of the Company owning approximately 62% of the
common stock outstanding of ChangeMusic, 74% assuming the conversion of the
ChangeMusic Preferred Stock and exercise of the warrant, the statements of
financial position and the results of operations (from November 1999), have been
consolidated. Total goodwill resulting from these transactions representing
(a) the cash and common stock of the Company, (b) the contribution of the
Company's interest in ChangeMusic and (c) the net liabilities of CMJ and
acquisition costs, amounted to $10,110,917. The book value of the Company's
interest in ChangeMusic and CMJ approximates the value of the Company's
effective ownership in ChangeMusic. No amounts have been recorded with respect
to minority interest receivable as there is no future funding requirement by the
minority interest shareholder. The Company has accounted for this transaction
under the purchase method of accounting. Goodwill is being amortized using the
straight line method over three years.

  Pro Forma Financial Information (unaudited)

     The following unaudited pro forma information is presented as if the
Company had completed the above 1998 and 1999 acquisitions as of January 1, 1997
and 1998, respectively. The pro forma information is not necessarily indicative
of what the results of operations would have been had the acquisitions taken
place at those dates, or of the future results of operations.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     1997            1998            1999
                                                 ------------    ------------    ------------
<S>                                              <C>             <C>             <C>
Revenues......................................   $  6,642,568    $ 30,060,357    $ 50,811,361
                                                 ------------    ------------    ------------
                                                 ------------    ------------    ------------
Loss before discontinued operation............    (24,252,664)    (51,842,698)    (62,141,328)
Discontinued operation........................    (11,985,361)     19,091,054              --
                                                 ------------    ------------    ------------
Net loss......................................   $(36,238,025)   $ 32,751,644     (62,141,328)
                                                 ------------    ------------    ------------
                                                 ------------    ------------    ------------
Net loss attributable to common
  stockholders--basic and diluted.............   $      (1.34)   $      (1.05)   $      (2.78)
                                                 ------------    ------------    ------------
                                                 ------------    ------------    ------------
</TABLE>

     Also during 1999, the Company completed the acquisition of four other
incubator companies. The combined consideration consisted of cash and 634,171
shares of common stock amounting to $2,209,206 and $5,360,305, respectively. The
Company has accounted for these transactions under the purchase method of
accounting. Amounts allocated to intangible assets including goodwill was
$8,171,113 and are being amortized over three years. The results of these
acquisitions have been included in the accompanying statements of operations
since the respective dates of acquisition. The pro forma effects on the
Company's statements of operations are not material.

                                      F-12

<PAGE>

                            RARE MEDIUM GROUP, INC.

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

(2) BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS--(CONTINUED)

  (b) Disposal of Engelhard/ICC Partnership and Fresh Air Solutions

     Engelhard/ICC ("E/ICC"), a partnership between ICC and Engelhard
Corporation ("Engelhard"), was formed in February 1994 to design, manufacture
and sell desiccant climate control systems and desiccant and heat-exchange wheel
components. ICC and Engelhard each owned a 50% interest in E/ICC. On
February 27, 1998, ICC and Engelhard effected the restructuring of E/ICC by
dividing E/ICC into two separate operating limited partnerships: Fresh Air
Solutions L.P. ("FAS") to manufacture and market active climate control systems;
and Engelhard Hexcore, L.P. to manufacture and market the heat exchange and
desiccant coated wheel components. This transaction included the exchange by ICC
and Engelhard of certain of their respective interests in each partnership and
the payment by Engelhard to ICC of approximately $18,600,000. After the
restructuring, the Company owned 90% of FAS and 20% of Engelhard Hexcore, L.P.
and Engelhard owned 80% of Engelhard Hexcore, L.P. and 10% of FAS. The Company
recognized a gain of $24,256,769 on this transaction, including approximately
$7 million relating to the liabilities assumed by the acquiror.

     In October 1998, the Company sold its 1% general partnership and its 56%
limited partnership interest in FAS for $1,500,000 of which $1,125,000 was paid
in cash and $375,000 by delivery of an unsecured promissory note. The Company
incurred a loss of $627,587 on this transaction.

     As of December 31, 1998, the Company had written down its investment
including the related note to $0, as a result of the current financial position
and recurring losses of FAS. The Company has no future funding responsibilities
with respect to FAS and has a 36% passive limited partnership interest with no
voting rights, and therefore, is accounting for the remaining investment in FAS
under the cost method. In October 1999, Engelhard Corporation, FAS and the
Company entered into an agreement by which Engelhard Corporation advanced cash
and credit support to FAS. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company's
interest in FAS could be diluted to 13% if all monies are advanced. As a result
of the cash support to FAS, the Company received $200,000 as a partial payment
on the promissory note.

     As a result of these transactions, the Company has recorded the operating
results, gain on restructuring, and loss on disposal of FAS as discontinued
operations.

                                      F-13

<PAGE>

                            RARE MEDIUM GROUP, INC.

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

(2) BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS--(CONTINUED)

     The 1997 consolidated financial statements include the financial statements
of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, ICC Desiccant Technologies, Inc.
ICC Desiccant Technologies, Inc. owned the Company's 50% interest in
Engelhard/ICC, accounted for under the equity method and included equity losses
of $11,985,361. Presented below are summary financial statements for
Engelhard/ICC, including a summary balance sheet as of December 31, 1997, and
summary statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 1997:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                      1997
                                                                                  ------------
<S>                                                                               <C>
Total current assets...........................................................   $  5,553,118
Property, plant and equipment, net.............................................      9,496,897
Other assets...................................................................      1,711,595
                                                                                  ------------
Total assets...................................................................   $ 16,761,610
                                                                                  ------------
                                                                                  ------------
Total current liabilities......................................................   $  7,588,151
Long-term debt.................................................................      8,629,128
Partners' capital..............................................................        544,331
                                                                                  ------------
Total liabilities and partners' capital........................................   $ 16,761,610
                                                                                  ------------
                                                                                  ------------
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   YEAR ENDED
                                                                                  DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                 ---------------
                                                                                      1997
                                                                                 ---------------
<S>                                                                              <C>
Revenue.......................................................................    $  12,239,012
Expenses......................................................................       28,963,373
                                                                                  -------------
Net loss......................................................................    $ (16,724,361)
                                                                                  -------------
                                                                                  -------------
</TABLE>

(3) SEGMENT INFORMATION

     In 1999, as a result of the advent of the Company's investment business
activities to compliment the Internet services business, the Company adopted
SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related
Information" (SFAS 131). SFAS 131 establishes standards for the way that public
business enterprises report information about operating segments in annual
financial statements. The Company's operations have been classified into two
primary segments: the Internet services business and the

                                      F-14

<PAGE>

                            RARE MEDIUM GROUP, INC.

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

(3) SEGMENT INFORMATION--(CONTINUED)

investment business. Presented below is summarized financial information of the
Company's continuing operations for each segment.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    1997        1998        1999
                                                                                  --------    --------    --------
                                                                                           (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                               <C>         <C>         <C>
Revenues:
  Internet services............................................................   $     --    $  4,688    $ 36,870
  Investment...................................................................         --          --       1,554
  Internet services provided to investments....................................         --          --      (1,730)
                                                                                  --------    --------    --------
                                                                                  $     --    $  4,688    $ 36,694
                                                                                  --------    --------    --------
                                                                                  --------    --------    --------
Loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization:
  Internet services............................................................   $     --    $ (1,902)   $ (6,545)
  Investment and corporate.....................................................     (1,992)     (3,590)    (14,268)
                                                                                  --------    --------    --------
                                                                                  $ (1,992)   $ (5,492)   $(20,813)
                                                                                  --------    --------    --------
                                                                                  --------    --------    --------

Loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.....................   $ (1,992)   $ (5,492)   $(20,813)
Depreciation and amortization..................................................         --     (12,584)    (25,993)
Interest income (expense), net.................................................        493      (1,279)     (1,396)
Equity in interest in net loss on investments..................................         --          --      (1,468)
Other income...................................................................         --          --         200
Income tax expense.............................................................         --        (355)         --
                                                                                  --------    --------    --------
  Loss before discontinued operation...........................................     (1,499)    (19,710)    (49,470)
Discontinued operation.........................................................    (11,985)     19,091          --
                                                                                  --------    --------    --------
     Net loss..................................................................   $(13,484)   $   (619)   $(49,470)
                                                                                  --------    --------    --------
                                                                                  --------    --------    --------

Total assets:
  Internet services............................................................   $     --    $ 44,743    $ 31,047
  Investment and corporate.....................................................      4,522          --     129,376
                                                                                  --------    --------    --------
                                                                                  $  4,522    $ 44,743    $160,423
                                                                                  --------    --------    --------
                                                                                  --------    --------    --------
</TABLE>

(4) INVESTMENTS IN AFFILIATES

     During 1999, the Company made investments in 15 companies that possess
Internet-focused business models. The following is a summary of the carrying
value of investments held at December 31, 1999:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                               <C>
Cost investments...............................................................   $20,875,902
Equity investment..............................................................     3,531,422
Marketable securities..........................................................     2,060,000
                                                                                  -----------
                                                                                  $26,467,324
                                                                                  -----------
                                                                                  -----------
</TABLE>

     The Company recognized a loss of $1,051,911 representing its proportionate
share of the losses of investee companies, for those investments carried under
the equity method. Additionally, the Company recognized $416,667 representing
the amortization of the net excess of investment over its proportionate share of
the affiliates net assets. Amortization is recorded on a straight line basis
over three years.

                                      F-15

<PAGE>

                            RARE MEDIUM GROUP, INC.

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

(5) PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

     Property and equipment consists of the following at December 31:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       1998          1999
                                                                    ----------    -----------
<S>                                                                 <C>           <C>
Property and equipment:
  Equipment......................................................   $1,469,759    $12,233,614
  Furniture and fixtures.........................................      168,910      2,258,566
  Leasehold improvements.........................................      629,179      1,648,634
                                                                    ----------    -----------
                                                                     2,267,848     16,140,814
  Less accumulated depreciation and amortization.................      349,575      4,040,577
                                                                    ----------    -----------
  Property and equipment, net....................................   $1,918,273    $12,100,237
                                                                    ----------    -----------
                                                                    ----------    -----------
</TABLE>

(6) ACCRUED LIABILITIES

     Accrued liabilities consists of the following at December 31:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       1998          1999
                                                                    ----------    ----------
<S>                                                                 <C>           <C>
Accrued liabilities:
  Accrued compensation...........................................   $  474,805    $1,064,947
  Accrued professional fees......................................      417,809     2,197,684
  Accrued interest payable.......................................      273,309        40,691
  Other liabilities..............................................      746,441     2,455,251
                                                                    ----------    ----------
  Total accrued liabilities......................................   $1,912,364    $5,758,573
                                                                    ----------    ----------
                                                                    ----------    ----------
</TABLE>

(7) NOTES PAYABLE--RELATED PARTIES

     In connection with the Company's acquisition of Rare Medium on April 15,
1998, a secured promissory note (the "Note") was issued to the former
shareholders of Rare Medium in the original aggregate principal amount of
$22,200,000. The principal amount of the Note is payable in two equal annual
installments on the second and third anniversary of the date of issuance,
interest accrued at the prime rate and is payable semi-annually in the form of
cash or shares of the Company's common stock at the election of the Company
subject to certain limitations. The first interest payment due on October 1,
1998 has been satisfied by delivery of a combination of common stock of the
Company and an unsecured promissory note of Rare Medium (the "Interest Note").
The Note and Interest Note are secured by all of the assets of Rare Medium. In
addition, the Company has guaranteed the obligations of Rare Medium under the
Note.

     In 1998 and 1999, the Company issued 2,951,814 shares and 1,431,756 shares,
respectively, to certain Noteholders in exchange for their beneficial interest
in $12,220,506 and $8,432,581, respectively.

     In 1999, $1,460,828 of non-cash interest expense was recognized related to
this conversion to the extent the fair value of the stock on the date of
conversion exceeded the conversion price. On December 31, 1999, as a result of
these transactions, there is a remaining principal balance of $1,993,530 payable
under the Note. In February 2000, the remaining principal balance of
$2.0 million was converted into common stock at fair value.

     Accrued interest, included in accrued expenses, on the remaining Notes
relating to the interest payment due April 1, amounted to $230,071 and $40,691
as of December 31, 1998 and 1999, respectively.

                                      F-16

<PAGE>

                            RARE MEDIUM GROUP, INC.

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

(8) SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

  Common Stock Transactions

     In 1998, the Company issued 5,775,003 shares of common stock as partial
consideration for the acquisition of Rare Medium, Inc. and other Internet
services business acquisitions. The fair value of the common stock was
determined based on the average trading price of the Company's common stock at
the time of the respective acquisitions.

     In 1999, the Company issued 4,977,923 shares of common stock as
consideration for the purchase of Internet services business and incubator
acquisitions. The fair value of the common stock was determined based on the
average trading price of the Company's common stock at the time of the
respective acquisitions.

     In 1998 and 1999, the Company issued 2,951,814 shares and 1,431,756 shares,
respectively, of common stock to certain beneficial holders of the Note held by
the former shareholders of Rare Medium in exchange for the principal amount of
the Note and accrued interest. Additionally, 193,895 shares and 34,144 shares of
common stock were issued with respect to the interest payment made in October
1998 and April 1999, respectively. In 1998, the fair value of the common stock
was determined based on a value of the average trading price of the Company's
common stock at that time. In 1999, $1,460,828, of non cash interest expense was
recognized to the extent that the fair value of the stock on the date of
conversion exceeded the conversion price.

     Pursuant to the terms of a Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of
January 28, 1999, the Company agreed to sell, in two tranches, 8% Convertible
Term Debentures of the Company in the aggregate principal amount of $6,000,000
(the "Convertible Debentures") and five year warrants to purchase an aggregate
of 693,642 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $5.27 per share,
subject to reset (the "Warrants"). The first tranche of the transaction closed
effective January 28, 1999, at which time the Company sold the Convertible
Debentures in the aggregate principal amount of $3,500,000 and Warrants to
purchase 404,625 shares of common stock. In 1999, $1,087,698 of noncash interest
expense was recognized representing the accretion of the discount resulting from
the Convertible Debentures' beneficial conversion feature. On June 4, 1999, in
association with the issuance of the redeemable preferred stock (see Note 9),
the Company sold the remaining $2,500,000 of Convertible Debentures and
Warrants. The Convertible Debentures and Warrants were then immediately
converted into 1,588,462 shares of common stock.

(9) REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK

     On June 4, 1999, the Company issued and sold to Apollo Investment
Fund IV, LP, Apollo Overseas Partners IV, LP and AIF IV/RRRR LLC (collectively,
the "Preferred Stockholders"), for an aggregate purchase price of
$87.0 million, 126,000 shares of the Company's Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock (the "Series A Preferred Stock"), 126,000 Series 1-A Warrants (the
"Series 1-A Warrants"), 1,916,994 Series 2-A Warrants (the "Series 2-A
Warrants"), 744,000 shares of the Company's Series B Preferred Stock (the
"Series B Preferred Stock"), 744,000 Series 1-B Warrants (the "Series 1-B
Warrants") and 10,345,548 Series 2-B Warrants (the "Series 2-B Warrants").

     Under the terms of the securities purchase agreement with the Preferred
Stockholders, at the Company's 1999 Annual Meeting of its stockholders held on
August 19, 1999, the holders of common stock approved the conversion (the
"Apollo Conversion") of all of the Series B Preferred Stock, Series 1-B Warrants
and Series 2-B Warrants, including such additional Series B Securities that have
been issued as dividends, into like amounts of Series A Preferred Stock,
Series 1-A Warrants and Series 2-A Warrants, respectively. Pursuant to the
approval, all Series B preferred stock and related warrants were converted into
Series A preferred stock and warrants. The Series A securities are convertible
into or exercisable for voting common stock whereas the Series B securities were
convertible into or exercisable for non-voting common stock.

                                      F-17

<PAGE>

                            RARE MEDIUM GROUP, INC.

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

(9) REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK--(CONTINUED)

     The Series A Preferred Stock are subject to mandatory and optional
redemption. On June 30, 2012, the Company will be required to redeem all
Series A Preferred Stock plus any accrued and unpaid dividends. At the option of
the Company, the Series A Preferred Stock can be redeemed after June 30, 2002
provided that the trading price of the Company's common stock for each of the
preceding 30 trading days is greater than $12 per share, or after June 30, 2004
at a price of 103% of the face value of the Series A Preferred Stock plus any
accrued and unpaid dividends. In the event of a change of control, as defined,
at the option of the holders of the majority of the then outstanding shares of
the Series A Preferred Stock, the Company is required to redeem all or any
number of such holders' shares of Series A Preferred Stock plus any accrued and
unpaid dividends. The Series A Preferred Stock are convertible into common stock
at a conversion price of $7.00, subject to adjustment under certain
anti-dilution provisions as defined.

     The preferred cumulative quarterly dividends are based on a rate of 7.5%
per annum for the first three years and 4.65% thereafter. For the first three
years, dividends are payable in additional shares of Series A securities. During
the next two years, at the option of the holder, dividends will be paid in
additional shares of Series A securities or in cash. Dividends paid thereafter
will be paid in cash.

     Each Series 1-A warrant is exercisable for 13.5 shares of Company common
stock and each Series 2-A warrant is exercisable for one share of Company common
stock. The Series 1-A and Series 2-A warrants are exercisable at any time and
expire ten years from the date issued. The exercise price of the Series 1-A
warrants is dependent on the trading price of the Company's common stock. The
exercise price ranges from $0.01, if the trading price is equal to or greater
than $7.00, to $4.20 if the trading price is equal to or less than $4.00; the
exercise price of the Series 2-A warrants is $7.00. These exercise prices are
subject to adjustment under certain anti-dilution provisions as defined. The
holder of the Series 1-A and Series 2-A warrant has the option to pay the
exercise price of the warrant in cash, Company common stock previously held, or
instructing the Company to withhold a number of Company shares with an aggregate
fair value equal to the aggregate exercise price.

     As of December 31, 1999, assuming that affiliates of Apollo convert all
their shares of Series A convertible preferred stock and exercise all their
Series 1-A and Series 2-A warrants, they would own approximately 47% of our
outstanding common stock.

     The Company ascribed value to the Series A securities based on their
relative fair value. As such, $29.9 million has been allocated to Series A
Preferred Stock and the remaining $57.1 million has been allocated to the
related Series 1-A and Series 2-A warrants. This transaction has been accounted
for in accordance with FASB Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) 98-5 "Accounting
for Convertible Securities with Beneficial Conversion Features." As a result of
the holders' ability to convert immediately, $29.9 million has been reflected as
a dividend in determining the net loss attributable to common stockholders.
Additional dividends have been recorded, representing the accrual of the annual
7.5% pay-in-kind dividend and the accretion of the $29.9 million carrying value
up to the $87.0 million face redemption over 13 years.

(10) EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION PLANS

     The Company provides incentive and nonqualified stock option plans for
directors, officers, and key employees of the Company and others. The Company
had reserved a total of 21.1 million shares of authorized common stock for
issuance under the following plans; the Long Term Incentive Plan, Nonqualified
Stock Option Plan and Equity Plan for Directors. The number of options to be
granted and the option prices are determined by the Compensation Committee of
the Board of Directors in accordance with the terms of the plans. Options
generally expire five to ten years after the date of grant.

     During 1998, the Board of Directors approved the 1998 Long-Term Incentive
Plan, ("Stock Incentive Plan") under which "non-qualified" stock options
("NQSOs") to acquire shares of common stock may be granted to non-employee
directors and consultants of the Company, and "incentive" stock options ("ISOs")

                                      F-18

<PAGE>

                            RARE MEDIUM GROUP, INC.

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

(10) EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION PLANS--(CONTINUED)

to acquire shares of common stock may be granted to employees. The Stock
Incentive Plan also provides for the grant of stock appreciation rights
("SARs"), shares of restricted stock, deferred stock awards, dividend
equivalents, and other stock-based awards to the Company's employees, directors,
and consultants.

     The Stock Incentive Plan provides for the issuance of up to a maximum of
15.5 million shares of common stock and is currently administered by the
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Under the Stock Incentive
Plan, the option price of any ISO may not be less than the fair market value of
a share of common stock on the date on which the option is granted. The option
price of an NQSO may be less than the fair market value on the date of the NQSO
is granted if the Board of Directors so determines. An ISO may not be granted to
a "ten percent stockholder" (as such term is defined in section 422A of the
Internal Revenue Code) unless the exercise price is at least 110% of the fair
market value of the common stock and the term of the option may not exceed five
years from the date of grant. Common stock subject to a restricted stock
purchase or a bonus agreement is transferable only as provided in such
agreement. The maximum term of each stock option granted to persons other than
ten percent stockholders is ten years from the date of grant.

     Under the Nonqualified Stock Option Plan, which provides for the issuance
of up to 5,100,000 shares, the option price as determined by the Compensation
Committee may be greater or less than the fair market value of the common stock
as of the date of the grant, and the options are generally exerciseable for
three to five years subsequent to the grant date.

     The Company also authorized in 1994 the Equity Plan For Directors. The
Equity Plan For Directors is a fixed stock option plan whereby vesting is
dependent upon the performance of the market price of the Common Stock. Under
the Equity Plan For Directors, options may be granted for the purchase of up to
500,000 shares of Common Stock to outside directors. Under the terms of the
Equity Plan For Directors, the option price cannot be less than 100% of the fair
market value of the Common Stock on the date of the grant.

     The per share weighted average fair value of stock options granted during,
1997, 1998 and 1999 was $1.38, $1.96 and $6.57, respectively, on the date of
grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following
assumptions: (1) a risk free interest rate ranging from 5.4% to 6.5% in 1997,
4.5% to 5.6% in 1998 and 4.7% to 6.5% in 1999, (2) an expected life of six years
in 1997 and 1998, and five years in 1999, (3) volatility of approximately 73.9%
in 1997, 91.5% in 1998 and 96.3% in 1999, and (4) an annual dividend yield of 0%
for all years.

     The Company applies the provisions of APB Opinion No. 25 in accounting for
its Stock Incentive Plan and, accordingly no cost has been recognized for its
stock options in the financial statements since the exercise price was equal to
or greater than the fair market value at the date of grant. Had the Company
determined compensation cost based on the fair value at the grant date for its
stock options under SFAS No. 123, the Company's net loss would have been
increased to the pro forma amounts indicated below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      1997           1998           1999
                                                   -----------    -----------    -----------
<S>                                                <C>            <C>            <C>
Net loss:
  As Reported...................................   $13,484,085    $   619,252    $49,470,380
  Pro Forma.....................................   $13,613,974    $ 6,053,743    $63,927,357

Net loss attributable to common stockholders:
  As Reported...................................   $      0.63    $      0.02    $      2.55
  Pro Forma.....................................   $      0.64    $      0.24    $      2.94
</TABLE>

     Pro forma net loss reflects only options granted since January 1, 1995.
Therefore, the full impact of calculating compensation cost for stock options
under SFAS No. 123 is not reflected in the pro forma net

                                      F-19

<PAGE>

                            RARE MEDIUM GROUP, INC.

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

(10) EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION PLANS--(CONTINUED)

loss amounts because compensation cost is reflected over the various options'
vesting period and compensation cost for options granted prior to January 1,
1995 is not considered.

     Stock option activity under the various option plans is shown below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    WEIGHTED
                                                                     AVERAGE          NUMBER OF
                                                                   EXERCISE PRICES      SHARES
                                                                   ---------------    ----------

<S>                                                                <C>                <C>
Outstanding at January 1, 1997..................................       $  4.09         3,010,326
  Granted.......................................................          3.15           716,998
  Forfeited.....................................................          6.58          (248,200)
  Exercised.....................................................          2.26          (207,644)
                                                                                      ----------

Outstanding at December 31, 1997................................          3.81         3,271,480
  Granted.......................................................          2.63         6,255,785
  Forfeited.....................................................          5.02        (1,669,293)
  Exercised.....................................................          2.12           (55,800)
                                                                                      ----------

Outstanding at December 31, 1998................................          2.61         7,802,172
  Granted.......................................................         11.37         9,705,999
  Forfeited.....................................................          4.26          (597,324)
  Exercised.....................................................          2.89        (3,237,955)
                                                                                      ----------

Outstanding at December 31, 1999................................          8.80        13,672,892
                                                                                      ----------
                                                                                      ----------
</TABLE>

     The following table summarizes weighted-average option price information:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         NUMBER                                                NUMBER
                                      OUTSTANDING AT    WEIGHTED           WEIGHTED         EXERCISABLE AT     WEIGHTED
                                      DECEMBER 31,       AVERAGE           AVERAGE          DECEMBER 31,       AVERAGE
RANGE OF EXERCISE PRICES                  1999          REMAINING LIFE    EXERCISE PRICE        1999          EXERCISE PRICE
- -----------------------------------   --------------    --------------    --------------    --------------    ---------------
<S>                                   <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>
$ 1.00-$ 2.82......................      3,222,937            6.2             $ 2.28           1,015,358           $2.08
$ 3.25-$ 4.77......................        889,081            4.7               4.24             496,110            3.82
$ 5.00-$ 8.56......................      4,647,855            5.5               6.80             233,288            5.30
$ 9.50-$15.82......................      3,877,019            5.3              11.83               5,275           12.23
$24.25-$39.06......................      1,036,000            5.4              30.70              30,000           30.53
                                        ----------           ----             ------          ----------           -----
                                        13,672,892            5.6             $ 8.80           1,780,031           $3.50
                                        ----------           ----             ------          ----------           -----
                                        ----------           ----             ------          ----------           -----
</TABLE>

(11) INCOME TAXES

     The difference between the statutory federal income tax rate and the
Company's effective tax rate for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1998 and
1999 is principally due to the Company incurring net operating losses for which
no tax benefit was recorded and in 1998 alternative minimum taxes of $355,000.

     For Federal income tax purposes, the Company has unused net operating loss
carryforwards ("NOL") of approximately $40 million expiring in 2008 through
2019, including $1 million of NOL relating to ChangeMusic (a separate return for
tax purposes) and various foreign subsidiaries. As a result of various recent
equity transactions, management believes the Company experienced an "ownership
change" as defined by section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code in 1999.
Accordingly, the utilization of approximately $48 million of net operating loss
carryforwards would be subject to an annual limitation in offsetting future
taxable income.

                                      F-20

<PAGE>

                            RARE MEDIUM GROUP, INC.

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

(11) INCOME TAXES--(CONTINUED)

     The tax effect of temporary differences that give rise to significant
portions of the deferred tax assets are as follows (in thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         DECEMBER 31
                                                                 ----------------------------
                                                                     1998            1999
                                                                 ------------    ------------
<S>                                                              <C>             <C>
Net operating loss carryforwards..............................   $ 12,099,000    $ 26,780,000
Alternative minimum tax carryforwards.........................        355,000         355,000
Other assets..................................................         86,000         247,000
Other accrued expenses........................................        281,000         294,000
                                                                 ------------    ------------
     Total gross deferred tax assets..........................     12,821,000      27,676,000
Less valuation allowance......................................    (12,821,000)    (27,676,000)
                                                                 ------------    ------------
     Net deferred tax assets..................................   $         --    $         --
                                                                 ------------    ------------
                                                                 ------------    ------------
</TABLE>

     In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers
whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax
assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is
dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in
which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the
scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income,
and tax planning in making these assessments.

     Due to the Company's operating losses, there is uncertainty surrounding
whether the Company will ultimately realize its deferred tax assets.
Accordingly, these assets have been fully reserved. During 1998 and 1999, the
valuation allowance decreased by $5,117,000 and increased by $14,855,000,
respectively. Of the total valuation allowance of $27,676,000, subsequently
recognized tax benefits, if any, in the amount of $4,395,000 will be applied
directly to contributed capital. This amount relates to the tax effect of
employee stock option deductions included in the Company's net operating loss
carryforward.

(12) RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

     The Company loaned $230,467 to its then Chairman in July 1997 in connection
with exercise of an option to acquire 82,753 shares of Common Stock. The loan
was in the form of a full recourse note which matures in five years. Such note
bears interest equal to the prime rate, with such rate adjusted to the current
prime rate at each anniversary date.

(13) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

  Leases

     The Company has non-cancelable leases, primarily related to the rental of
its operations facilities. Future minimum payments, by year and in the
aggregate, under operating leases with initial or remaining terms of one year or
more consisted of the following at December 31, 1999:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31                                         AMOUNT
- -----------------------------------------------------------   -----------
<S>                                                           <C>
2000.......................................................   $ 3,501,868
2001.......................................................     3,762,227
2002.......................................................     3,525,230
2003.......................................................     3,365,509
2004.......................................................     3,016,495
Thereafter.................................................     5,013,623
                                                              -----------
     Total minimum lease payments..........................   $22,184,952
                                                              -----------
                                                              -----------
</TABLE>

                                      F-21

<PAGE>

                            RARE MEDIUM GROUP, INC.

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

(13) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES--(CONTINUED)

     Total rent expense under operating leases amounted to $315,048 and
$1,655,980 for 1998 and 1999, respectively.

  Employment Agreements

     The Company is a party to employment agreement with the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company. The agreement term is from April 15, 1998 to April 15,
2003 and calls for a minimum base salary of $250,000 per year with annual
increases of his base salary of not less than 4% per year. The minimum salary
commitment for this agreement is $1,354,081. Additionally, this officer is
entitled to incentive compensation equal to 2% of the Company's revenues for
such year in excess of the revenues of the immediate preceding year. Incentive
compensation approximated $35,000 and $650,000, in 1998 and 1999, respectively.
In addition, this officer was granted options to acquire an aggregate of
2,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock at the exercise prices equal to
$2.375 per share, the fair value at the time of the agreement, which options
will become exercisable ratably on a monthly basis over a period of 60 months
from the date of grant and expire ten years from the date of grant.

  Litigation

     From time to time, the Company is subject to litigation in the normal
course of business. The Company is of the opinion that, based on information
presently available, the resolution of any such legal matters will not have a
material adverse effect on the financial position or results of operations of
the Company.

(14) SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (UNAUDITED)

     On January 14, 2000, the Company sold 2,500,000 shares of its common stock
for gross proceeds of $70.1 million (net proceeds of $65.7 million) in a private
transaction to a group of mutual funds managed by Putnam Investments and
Franklin Resources, Inc. On February 11, 2000, the Company filed a registration
statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission to register the resale of
such shares.

     On January 5, 2000, we completed the acquisition of Notus Communications,
Inc., a privately held Internet communications company based in Atlanta that
provides business to business Internet unified messaging technology solutions.
In connection with this acquisition, the Company issued 56,577 shares of common
stock and an approximate 12% interest in our majority owned subsidiary
iFace.com. Our effective ownership in Notus is 85.5%.

     The Company's Board of Directors approved a plan that allows the
Compensation Committee to incentivize employees by allocating to them up to 20%
of any profit that might be recognized when and if our investments in affiliates
and incubator companies become liquid, as defined, subject to vesting and other
requirements. The Company will have the right to pay such amount either in cash,
Company Stock or a combination thereof. No awards relating to this plan have yet
been made. Depending on the structure of the awards under this plan, we may be
required to record compensation expense in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles.

                                      F-22

<PAGE>

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<PAGE>

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<PAGE>


[Inside back cover page artwork. Various websites designed by Rare Medium, Inc.
for some of its Internet Services clients.

Clockwise from top of page:

(1) Intel's mediadome website,

(2) New York Times' New York Today website,

(3) Microsoft Network's website and

(4) Microsoft's eshop.microsoft.com website]



<PAGE>


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