The move comes at a time when scripting has become the key to extend Web sites from static billboards to dynamic business entities. Over 1 million corporate developers, many of whom identify themselves as "scripters," are playing an increasingly important role in Web site building. Scripting has become ubiquitous because it is more accessible than programming languages and therefore, better suited to the skill sets of current Web site builders, many of whom are drawn from creative backgrounds. In addition, for the first time, scripters have access to Web-based industry standards such as JavaScript and JScript. Scripters are currently looking for products that provide them automated rather than manual ways to add scripting to sites. In addition, with the continued divergence of client and server Internet standards, scripters are looking for products that enable them to add client and server-side scripting and are browser and platform-independent.

NetObjects has enhanced Acadia Infuse and is offering it as a stand-alone product, NetObjects ScriptBuilder 2.0, starting today. NetObjects ScriptBuilder 2.0 is the first and only scripting product that provides client- and server-side scripting while supporting competing scripting standards JavaScript, JScript and VBScript. In addition, under the terms of the acquisition agreement, Netscape Communications Corporation will continue to license the JavaScript Bean Builder product from NetObjects for inclusion in its SuiteTools 2.0 offering.

"Our unique relationship with IBM as a majority investor has enabled us to pursue an aggressive merger and acquisition strategy in just our second fiscal year," said Samir Arora, NetObjects chairman and CEO. "We believe that scripting is the next battleground for dominance in the Web site building segment and with the addition of an innovative and established product to our arsenal, we intend to consolidate the market."

The acquisition of the Acadia products follows the announcement of NetObjects Fusion 3.0 and the successful adoption of NetObjects TeamFusion, and furthers NetObjects' position as the vendor with must-have products for building professional Web sites. NetObjects ScriptBuilder 2.0. has been named a Top Pick by Lycos, has received several winning reviews and is used by leading developers in companies such as Boeing, Merrill Lynch, MCI, Nabisco and Occidental Petroleum. A pre-release version of NetObjects ScriptBuilder 2.0 and more product details are available from NetObjects' Web site www.netobjects.com.

"NetObjects has a first-mover advantage in the Web site building segment and is constantly raising the bar on delivering next-generation products," said Jamie Kiggen, financial analyst at Cowen & Company, a Boston-based financial analyst firm. "As the company leverages its unique relationship to IBM and healthy revenue stream to acquire complementary players such as Acadia, we expect to see it grow into a major software company."

Since its founding in November 1995, NetObjects has established itself as a promising software company, having been named one of America's 25 Cool Companies by Fortune Magazine. The company has received over 20 awards including its CEO being named Entrepreneur of the Year and NetObjects Fusion 3.0 receiving the Best of Internet Showcase award. Over 300, 000 site builders have tried the company's site building software to build compelling Web sites and gain control over their intranet publishing process. Customers include corporations such as Bell Atlantic, Cellular One, Chrysler Corporation, Greyhound Corporation, and Motorola.

About NetObjects
NetObjects, Inc. is a privately-held company that is funded by IBM, Perseus LLC, AT&T Ventures, Norwest Venture Capital, Venrock Associates, Rae Technology LLC and private investors. NetObjects' partners include Apple Computer (NASDAQ:AAPL), AT&T (NYSE: T), IBM (NYSE: IBM), Microsoft (NASDAQ MSFT), Netscape (NASDAQ: NSCP), and Sun Microsystems' Javasoft (NASDAQ: SUNW).

About the NetObjects Product Family
The NetObjects product family consists of NetObjects Fusion Personal Edition for entry-level site builders, NetObjects Fusion 3.0 for experienced site builders, NetObjects TeamFusion for site building teams and NetObjects ScriptBuilder 2.0 for scripters. All the products are the first in their class to integrate automated site building, and a visual approach, thereby lowering the cost, time and tedium of building high-quality Web sites. NetObjects Fusion has won several awards including CNET's Internet Excellence Award for Best Web Design Product and PC Magazine's Editors Choice award. More information about NetObjects and its product can be found at www.netobjects.com.

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