Certive Announces Strategic Partnership With Office Depot; Broadband E-Business Network Provider Links With Powerful Ally.

Business/Technology Editors

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 28, 2000

Certive Corporation today announced a strategic partnership with Office Depot, the world's largest seller of office products. Office Depot has made a substantial investment of $25 million in Certive and has agreed to use its network of more than 825 stores in the United States and Canada as a distribution channel for Certive's e-business service offerings.

Office Depot's investment in Certive reflects its mission to partner with, and make select investments in, businesses that actively target the small business and home office market. In conjunction with this investment, David I. Fuente, chairman and chief executive of Office Depot, has taken a seat on the Certive Board of Directors.

Certive, which is developing a full-service e-business network to provide live support and systems to entrepreneurs over a broadband connection, was founded in August 1999 by three top software industry executives. Chuck McMinn, chairman and chief executive officer of Certive, was the founding CEO of DSL leader Covad Communications. Certive president Ford Goodman and CTO Scott Wiener are experienced founders and leaders of several successful software companies.

"We are very impressed with the strategy and people behind the Certive business proposition," said Fuente. "We look at a large number of online business services and portals, including all of the small business portals, and the Certive concept reflects its clear understanding of how to provide hands-on services to independent business operators."

McMinn said, "Our partnership with Office Depot will place the Certive solution directly in front of Office Depot's one million small business customers. We greatly value the expertise Office Depot brings to serving our target market.

"Certive will level the playing field for small businesses, providing access to resources that only larger companies have enjoyed until now. Helping our small business customers gain competitive advantage will occur faster and more effectively with strong links to strategic partners such as Office Depot."

About Office Depot

As of December 25, 1999, Office Depot, the world's largest seller of office supplies, operated 825 office supply superstores in the United States and Canada, in addition to a national business-to-business delivery network supported by 30 delivery centers, more than 60 local sales offices, and seven regional call centers. Office Depot owned and operated 26 office supply stores in France and six stores in Japan; had mail order and delivery operations in 13 countries outside of the United States and Canada; and under joint venture and licensing agreements, had 86 additional stores operating under the Office Depot name in six foreign countries. The company also operates an award-winning U.S. Internet business Web site at www.officedepot.com where customers can access Office Depot's low competitive prices seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day, and it operates global Web sites at www.vikingop.com; www.viking-direct.co.uk and www.viking.de. Office Depot's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP and is included in the S&P 500 Index.

About Certive Corp.

Headquartered in Redwood City, Calif., Certive is building the first broadband e-business network to deliver services and expertise directly into the premises of selected segments of the entrepreneurial business marketplace.