Good morning Jim,
These guys MBTI, on the BB, have been a dog a long time. A year ago they wanted to be the AOL, EBAY, AMZM of the agricultural world. During the Inut frenzy, they hit $14.75. Closed yesterday at $0.875. They're starting an advertising blitz next week and hope to file 98 financials soon.
MBT International Reports Surge In Site Traffic At AgriMall.com
Company Initiates Unique Marketing Campaign with Launch of Ag-Broker.com; Commences Television Advertising on The America One Network; Completes 1998 Audited Financial
Statements
LANGLEY, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 17, 1999-- MBT International (OTC BB: MBTI), owner of the premier Internet web sites focused on business to business e-commerce and auctions for the agriculture industry, today
announced substantial increases in the level of activity at AgriMall.com (www.agrimall.com).
According to Andy McKinnon, chairman and CEO of MBTI, "Traffic at AgriMall.com and its related sites increased between 30% -- 168% from October to November. December reflects the same rapid increase of page views as November and we expect traffic levels to leap again as the recently launched direct mail campaign and the America One Television Network broadcasts begin reaching their target.
"Our HorseNet.com property, a unique website for the horse industry and equine enthusiast, has experienced a 30% increase in registered users over the past two weeks. We expect that the combined AgriMall.com web properties will receive in excess of 8 million hits per month by early 2000, further expanding the large lead we now command in the agriculture sector."
The Company also announced that it has launched Ag-Broker.com (www.ag-broker.com), a unique online marketing
experience targeting agricultural businesses around the world. The service offers the opportunity for people with agriculture websites, experience or businesses to become Authorized Agents & Content Providers to the AgriMall.com site.
This opportunity will be made available through a template website that can be customized by the individual or, for a development fee, by MBTI. This service has been modeled after other successful services such as veriostore.com and
infospace.com but has been customized and enhanced to meet the needs of the agriculture industry. It is the first service of its kind in this sector.
The services offered by the template website include:
-- The unique Broker Assisted Marketing Solution for buying and selling equipment, cattle or horses.
-- E-Marketing solution for suppliers who sell agricultural accessories.
-- E-Marketing solution for individuals hosting websites in an agricultural environment.
-- E-Marketing solution for those wishing to increase the exposure of their industry-related website via banner advertising.
-- Content for building agricultural online communities including a search engine, message boards and event calendars.
-- E-Marketing solution via online auction for hay, commodities, chemicals or other related agricultural products.
McKinnon continued, "Agriculturalists now have an inexpensive means to harness the power of the Internet. Since launching Ag-Broker.com on Dec. 8, 1999, we have received a flood of enthusiastic responses from prospective brokers spanning a true cross-section of North American agribusiness."
The Company further announced that beginning on Monday, Dec. 20, 1999, forty commercials per week will air on the America One Television Network. Based in Dallas, America One (www.americaone.com) is recognized as the leading provider of television service to rural America through its 24-hour broadcasts of quality, general entertainment programming.
America One has over 130 broadcast television affiliates currently passing in excess of 36 million homes located primarily in rural areas of the United States. McKinnon added, "Although we experienced unforeseen delays launching this important element of our advertising campaign, we are now back on track. An average of six ads will air every day, with the goal of driving an ever-increasing number of users to our web sites."
These advertisements are viewable at www.mbtinet.com. Further advertising initiatives include 400,000 mailers recently sent to farmers and ranchers having a minimum net income of $200,000. Demographics indicate that 87% of these individuals have computers and 68% have Internet access.
Finally, the Company announced that on Dec. 16, 1999, fiscal year 1998 audited financial statements were completed. MBT
International anticipates incorporating these statements in a Form 10 filing to be submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission as soon as possible. The 1998 audited financial statements have been posted to the investor section of www.mbtinet.com.
About MBT International
MBT International Inc. is engaged in the development of industry specific Internet portal sites, which encompass auctions, broker-assisted buy and sell programs, searchable databases and graphic-intense display of products.
The Company currently has over 500,000 users and is the parent company of AgriMall.com (www.agrimall.com),
HorseNet.com (www.horsenet.com), BookStable.com (www.bookstable.com), and LifeatHome.com (www.lifeathome.com), a vertical portal targeted at the home improvement and real estate markets.
MBT International, Inc. has an agreement to work with EchoStar Communications Corp. (Nasdaq: DISH)(Nasdaq: DISHP),
the nation's fastest growing direct broadcast satellite (DBS) provider with over 3.2 million customers, whereby MBTI
programming and online purchasing capabilities will be offered over a high speed interactive channel.
In addition, the Company has an agreement with Navidec.com (Nasdaq: NVDC) to create a new state-of-the-art
AgriMall.com B2B e-commerce solution. Navidec.com's DriveOff.com website was recently selected by Information Week as one of the top 100 e-commerce sites.
This release contains certain statements which are forward looking. Although MBTI believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from its expectations. For factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations and underlying assumptions, see reports by MBTI filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact:
MBT International
Andy McKinnon, 888/225-0008
amckinnon@mbtinet.com
or
Phoenix Alliance, Inc.
Phil Huss, 970/259-7241 (Investor Relations)
phoenixalliance@frontier.net |
