CapitalKey Announces Strategic Investment from FleetBoston Financial.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 19, 2000

Partnership Expands CapitalKey's Position as

The Cooperative For The Small Transaction Marketplace

CapitalKey Advisors, Inc. (www.capitalkey.com), the online investment bank focused on the financing and merger and acquisition needs of small and mid-sized companies, today announced that it has received a strategic investment from FleetBoston Financial.

As part of the transaction, FleetBoston Financial will also work with CapitalKey to offer merger and acquisition (M&A) and private equity services to its smaller clients that would otherwise have limited access to these important capabilities.

FleetBoston's investment is part of a $30-$50 million round of financing CapitalKey is currently raising, which includes previously announced investments from Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse First Boston and Northwood Ventures. With a growing list of world-class strategic partners, CapitalKey is fast becoming the technology and banking platform that enables Wall Street's participation in the small deal marketplace.

"Support from FleetBoston is an immense help for CapitalKey as we continue to build our business and help small and medium-sized businesses gain access to capital and conduct M&A transactions," said Neal D. Goldman, managing partner of CapitalKey. "This is a strong endorsement of our model and a significant step in helping Wall Street meet the needs of the small deal market, which has long been underserved by larger institutions."

"Our strategic relationship with CapitalKey provides an efficient platform to serve the merger and acquisition and private equity needs of our small and mid-sized clients," said Tim Conway, Managing Director, FleetBoston Financial. "CapitalKey's unique technology and investment banking model allows us to now effectively offer these companies professional investment banking services previously available only to our larger clients."

CapitalKey plans to use the additional funds to expand its service offerings, data collection, technology resources, marketing and geographical reach.

"FleetBoston Financial is truly a world-class organization that we are thrilled to have as an investor and a business partner," said Steven B. Turner, managing partner of CapitalKey."

Rosetta Partners, a merchant banking firm founded by Steven J. Berger and Mel A. Shaftel, acted as advisor to CapitalKey in this transaction. Prior investors in CapitalKey include Rossetta Partners, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and Proskauer Rose.

About CapitalKey Advisors

CapitalKey Advisors (www.capitalkey.com) blends information and Internet technology with traditional investment banking to make the small transaction market more efficient. As a technology-enabled investment bank, CapitalKey employs three proprietary assets: (i) an information set of acquirers and financiers -- for quick and effective investor targeting; (ii) internal and Web-enabled transaction software -- for efficient transaction processing; and (iii) extensive relationships with institutional acquirers and investors -- to ensure maximum exposure for its clients. CapitalKey's assets combine to create an efficient marketplace to facilitate capital raisings and mergers and acquisitions for established and venture-stage companies with less than $100 million in sales.

FleetBoston Financial Profile

FleetBoston Financial is the eighth-largest financial holding company in the United States. A $187 billion diversified financial services company, it offers a comprehensive array of innovative financial solutions to 20 million customers in more than 20 countries and territories. Among the company's key lines of business are: retail banking, with over 1,250 branches and over 3,400 ATMs in the Northeast; commercial banking, including capital markets/investment banking and commercial finance; investment services, including discount brokerage; and full-service banking through more than 250 offices in Latin America. FleetBoston is headquartered in Boston and listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:FBF) and the Boston Stock Exchange (BSE:BFB).

Activities requiring brokerage registration will be performed by CapitalKey Advisors' broker-dealer subsidiary, CapitalKey Securities, LLC. CapitalKey Securities is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) and the Securities Investor Protection Corp. (SIPC).