America Online, Unilever Announce Three-Year Interactive Marketing Agreement.

DULLES, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 1, 1998--

Largest Ever Online Marketing Pact for Consumer Packaged Goods Company Covers AOL Services in U.S., Japan, Canada and Europe; Brand Advertising May Also Appear on CompuServe

Leading Global Advertiser Will Have Prominent Presence All Across AOL, Including Customized Programming

America Online Inc. (NYSE: AOL), the world's leading Internet online service, and Unilever (N.V./PLC), the global leader in consumer packaged goods, today announced a three-year global interactive marketing agreement that is the single largest commitment to the interactive medium made by any packaged goods marketer.

Under the agreement, as many as 100 Unilever brands -- spanning consumer categories from cleaning and personal care products to foods and beverages -- will benefit from a prominent presence throughout the AOL service, with a focus on popular and contextually relevant areas covering such topics as cooking, entertainment, health & fitness, childcare, cosmetics and toiletries.

Unilever brand advertising may also appear on CompuServe, America Online's interactive service designed for busy adults. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Unilever will have a global advertising presence on several of AOL's international services for specific packaged goods categories. In addition to AOL in the United States, international services covered by the agreement include AOL Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan and, later this year, Australia.

In addition, Unilever brand messages may also appear in high-interaction areas of the service such as e-mail, message boards, and live auditorium events. The two companies also will jointly create customized programming and promotional areas.

Bob Pittman, president and chief operating officer of America Online Inc., stated, "According to SMRB household projections, AOL families spend a total of $37 billion a year on groceries. Our breakthrough agreement with one of the world's leading consumer packaged goods companies underscores the growing power and momentum of interactive marketing and electronic commerce on a global scale."

Pittman added, "It also says a great deal about Unilever's vision and marketing savvy that they are leading the way in capitalizing not only on the medium's unique capabilities but on AOL memberships' 'dream demographics' as well as AOL's broad global reach. The future of marketing in consumer products is online, and Unilever has gotten there 'first with the most.'"

"Unilever intends to understand the process of interactive marketing better than anyone else, and today we've announced our commitment to developing a closer understanding of what our consumers want from the interactive medium," said Richard A. Goldstein, president and chief executive officer, Unilever United States. "AOL has the best - and the most -- experience in cyberspace as far as communicating with its members to find out what they most want and need online, and we look forward to working with them to create new media programming and advertising for many of our key brands."

Myer Berlow, AOL's senior vice president for Interactive Marketing, said, "Working together, our two companies can build on advantages like AOL's global scale and its unparalleled ability to put commerce in context. The combination of a ubiquitous presence throughout the service and customized programming and promotions will allow Unilever both to build its core brands worldwide and to reach its most likely customers in ways that strengthen loyalty and encourage purchases."

America Online Inc., based in Dulles, is the world's leader in branded interactive services and content. America Online Inc. operates two worldwide Internet online services: America Online, with more than 12 million members; and CompuServe, with approximately two million members. America Online Inc. also operates AOL Studios, the world's leading creator of original interactive content.

Other branded Internet services operated by America Online Inc. include AOL.COM, the world's most accessed Web site from home; AOL NetFind, AOL's comprehensive guide to the Internet; AOL Instant Messenger, an instant messaging tool available on both AOL and the Internet; and ICQ, an instant communications and chat technology on the Internet.

Unilever is one of the world's largest consumer product companies with annual sales close to $50 billion. It produces and markets a wide range of foods, home and personal care products. Unilever operates in 90 countries around the globe and employs 290,000 people.

In the United States, Unilever's sales exceeded $8 billion in 1997. It employs 21,000 people and has 66 offices and manufacturing sites in 23 states. Two of Unilever's 12 global Business Groups are headquartered in the United States.

Some of their major products are: Foods - North America: Lipton teas, soups, recipe products and side dishes; Wish-Bone Salad dressings; Lawry's seasonings and specialty sauces; Imperial, Promise, Country Crock, "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!," Brummel & Brown spreads and sprays; Ragu pasta and pizza sauces; Five Brothers premium pasta sauces; Klondike, Popsicle and Breyers ice cream products; and Gorton's frozen seafood products.

Unilever Home & Personal Care - North America: Wisk, "all" and Surf laundry detergents; Lever 2000, Caress and Dove bars and body washes and Shield soap; Pond's and Vaseline skin care products; Q-tips cotton swabs and cotton balls; Mentadent, Aim, Close-up and Pepsodent oral care products; Finesse, Salon Selectives, Thermasilk, Aqua Net and Rave hair care products; and Calvin Klein and Elizabeth Arden cosmetic and fragrance products.

   CONTACT:  America Online Inc.
              Wendy Goldberg, 703/2656-2359
                 or
              Unilever
              John T. Gould Jr., 212/906-4694