(WEBM) The EC Company Appoints Alfred F. Kelly, Jr. of American Express and Charles Finnie of CMGI @Ventures to Its Board of Directors.

Business Editors, High-Tech Writers

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2000

Industry Experts in B2B Join Leading Internet Transaction

Exchange Provider

The EC Company, which offers a hosted Internet Transaction Exchange that provides a business to business e-commerce solution for mid-size suppliers, recently appointed Alfred F. Kelly, Jr., President of American Express' Consumer Card Services Group and Charles Finnie, General Partner of CMGI @Ventures, the venture capital affiliate of CMGI, Inc. (NASDAQ: CMGI), to its Board of Directors.

The appointments of Kelly and Finnie come on the heels of The EC Company's recent $30 million Series C financing, which included investments from American Express (NYSE:AXP), a leading global travel, financial, and network services provider and the world's largest corporate card issuer, CMGI @Ventures, the venture capital affiliate of CMGI, Inc. (NASDAQ: CMGI) through its B2B Fund, webMethods, Inc. (NASDAQ: WEBM), the leading provider of software infrastructure for business to business integration (B2Bi), and several key executives at The EC Company.

"Al and Charlie will make wonderful additions to The EC Company's Board of Directors," said Andrew T. Duncan, president and CEO of The EC Company. "Al's information technology and strategic business development background makes him a valuable member of The EC Company Board. We particularly look to Al for his guidance with The EC Company's future technological and strategic partnerships. Charlie's experience and knowledge of the B2B space is unparalleled. While an analyst at Volpe Brown Whelan (now Prudential Volpe Technology Group), Charlie was widely recognized as being first to market with analyst coverage on the whole B2B space. Charlie's leadership and industry experience will be a valuable asset for The EC Company in the coming years."

"I believe The EC Company has an exciting long-term future in helping fuel tremendous growth in the B2B e-commerce arena," said Kelly. "I'm excited by the opportunity to play a role in shaping its strategy and building partnerships that will serve both company shareholders and customers."

"I look forward to applying my industry experience and making strategic recommendations with The EC Company's Board of Directors," said Charles Finnie of CMGI @Ventures. "As a member of the Board, I will assist the Executive Team in exploring potential markets, future investment, and corporate partnerships. I will focus primarily on making recommendations that will expand the digital marketplace side of The EC Company's business model."

About Kelly

Alfred F. Kelly, Jr. joins The EC Company's Board of Directors from American Express, where he is the President of the Consumer Card Services Group. Mr. Kelly is responsible for all consumer card products, risk management, and customer service in the United States. Prior to joining American Express, Mr. Kelly served as the head of Information Systems at The White House, specifically with the Executive Office of the President. He is also on the Board of Trustees for Iona College, where he earned his B.A. (Summa Cum Laude) and M.B.A. with Honors.

About Finnie

Charles Finnie is a General Partner with CMGI @Ventures. Prior to his work with the firm, Mr. Finnie helped guide Internet investing strategy with Volpe Brown Whelan (now Prudential Volpe Technology Group) in San Francisco, California. The EC Company recently announced a strategic business alliance with one of Mr. Finnie's former clients, VerticalNet, a premier owner and operator of online business to business vertical trade communities.

About American Express Company

American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company founded in 1850. It is a leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, investment products, insurance, and international and online banking. For more information on American Express, visit its website at www.americanexpress.com.

About CMGI and CMGI @Ventures

With more than 70 companies, CMGI, Inc. (NASDAQ: CMGI) represents the largest, most diverse network of Internet businesses in the world, including both CMGI operating companies and synergistic investments made through its venture capital affiliate, CMGI @Ventures. CMGI leverages the technologies, content and market reach of its extended family of companies to foster rapid growth and industry leadership across its network and the larger Internet Economy. Compaq, Intel, Microsoft, Pacific Century CyberWorks and Sumitomo hold minority positions in CMGI.

CMGI's majority-owned operating companies include Engage Technologies (NASDAQ: ENGA), NaviSite (NASDAQ: NAVI), 1ClickBrands, 1stUp.com, Activate.net, AdForce, Adsmart, AltaVista, CMGion, CMGI Solutions, Equilibrium, Flycast, iCAST, MyWay.com, NaviPath, SalesLink, Tribal Voice and yesmail.com. CMGI @Ventures has ownership interests in 55 Internet companies, including Lycos, Inc. (NASDAQ: LCOS), Critical Path (NASDAQ: CPTH), Silknet (NASDAQ: SILK), MotherNature.com (NASDAQ: MTHR), Ventro (NASDAQ: VNTR) and Vicinity (NASDAQ: VCNT).

CMGI's corporate headquarters is at 100 Brickstone Square, Andover, MA 01810, Tel: [phone]. CMGI @Ventures has offices there as well as at 3000 Alpine Road, Menlo Park, CA 94028. For additional information and a complete listing of the CMGI and CMGI @Ventures companies, see http://www.cmgi.com and http://www.ventures.com.

About The EC Company

The EC Company offers a business to business Internet Transaction Exchange that provides e-commerce solutions for mid-size suppliers. The company's EC Exchange product and EC Exchange.net service enable trading relationships within and across communities. The combined offering is a hosted Internet-based electronic transaction exchange that manages and translates data standards seamlessly and effortlessly at a fraction of the cost of non-Internet based solutions.

The EC Company has a strategic business alliance with VerticalNet and is partners with over 125 industry leading companies, including Ace Hardware, Distribution America, Do It Best, Fisher Scientific, Food Lion, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, and South Central Pool Corporation. The community of buyers available on The EC Company's EC Exchange network includes the previously mentioned partners, as well as TruServ, Safeway, Rite Aid, 3M, Costco, General Mills, Grainger, and others. The EC Company is backed by American Express, CMGI @Ventures, webMethods, Acacia Research (NASDAQ: ACRI), and several venture firms, including Talkot Capital, Wasserstein Adelson Ventures, and Invemed Associates. For more information, The EC Company can be contacted at 650-323-7500 or www.eccompany.com.