E-Commerce Times Talkback

Re: Merger Mania Could Include Many E-Commerce Buyouts, Analysts Say
Posted by: Nora Macaluso 2001-10-08 19:32:41

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Internet brokerage E*Trade, online realty Homestore.com and software company i2 were among
targets that came to mind when analysts were asked to pick their top e-commerce buyout
candidates.

With stock prices at bargain-basement levels, these and other dot-coms like them could
make good partners for brick-and-mortar companies seeking to add online operations to
their existing businesses, analysts said. Since September 11th, "the environment has
changed a little bit, but we're still going in the same direction," U.S. Bancorp Piper
Jaffray senior research analyst Jon Ekoniak told the E-Commerce Times. "The big software
providers are going to get bigger."

Re: Merger Mania Could Include Many E-Commerce Buyouts, Analysts Say
Posted by: Jim Lee 2001-10-08 19:39:14 In reply to: Nora Macaluso

I believe we can all agree that without Realtor.com as a part of HomeStore, its value and attractiveness for any buyout would be greatly diminished.

You may not be aware but there is an operating agreement between RealSelect, a HomeStore subsidiary, and the National Association of Realtors regarding HomeStore's operation of Realtor.com.

A part of that agreement gives the NAR veto power over transfer of Realtor.com to any other entity.

Additionally the NAR owns the domain name Realtor.com and licensed it to RealSelect to operate for them.

The operating agreement places quite a few operating restrictions as to what they can and can't do as well as establishes performance requirements HomeStore must maintain in order to keep their license.