PRESS RELEASE - CANADA'S #1 GATEWAY EXPANDING TO US AND EUROPE IN 1998
Good morning to you all. Please find enclosed the latest press release from Valu-net Corporation (VNE.ASE). The company has been quiet recently but we are pleased to report it has been due to the overwhelming success in rolling out their ESP and Web This Week Programs. Most notably, the company has surpassed initial expectations by tripling the number of Internet consumers using Valu-net's Internet Gateway.
Though the press release is rather comprehensive in describing the progress and success of the program to date, we would like to highlight the following 2 excerpts:
1] Revenues over the past three (3) months have increased at a rate of 65% per month and Valu-net expects to break even, on a monthly basis, by
December 31, 1998.
2] Valu-net has now established on line business arrangements with 37 Canadian
Internet Service Providers (ISP) servicing over 1,200,000 on line Canadian
customers. Effective June 30, 1998, Valu-net ISP partners began to receive
co-branded versions of Web-this-Week, customized for individual ISPs.
Valu-net is expecting to roll-out this program to US and European Internet
Service Providers, beginning November 1998.
Despite the state of the current economy, there is no doubt that e-commerce will continue to grow and dominate the way in which products are sold. After months of preparation, Valu-net now has an operating vehicle that will make the company profitable by December of this year. Moreover, Valu-net has announced that US and European expansion will commence in November of 1998.
The company has always delivered what it promised in the past and we have no reason to think it will not continue to do so in the future. Given the information we now have in hand, it's current pricing in the .25 range makes VNE to cheap to pass up.
In order to get a better feel for the Web This Week program, we suggest all investors visit their web site at
www.webthisweek.com
Once you get there, click on "subscribe" and fill out the survey. You will now have your own personalized portal and have a chance to work with the program for some time, which will better enable you to make an investment decision.
In order to view the Web This Week program in a co-branded state with an ISP, we would suggest you visit:
www.globalserve.net
Though the small-cap market has taken a hit in recent months, which has effected our holdings in VNE, it will only be a matter of time before equilibrium returns and quality small-caps begin attracting the requisite attention from investors. At current pricing, VNE just does not have much downside risk, especially after this announcement.
Have a great day.
Regards,
Agora Internet Relations Corp.
___________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release
Investor Relations:
Gary Perkins
Tel: (905) 479-2800 or 1-800-225-2744
Fax: (905) 479-8608
Company Contact:
David Lucatch, President & CEO
Valu-net Corporation
Tel: (905) 474-5100 or 1-800-558-9069
Fax: (905) 479-2800
www.vncorp.com
Valu-net Increases Position As Canada's Premiere Internet Gateway
- Announces Additions and Results of Enhanced Services Program -
Markham, Ont., - October 1, 1998 - Valu-net International Ltd., a division
of Valu-net Corporation (ASE:VNE) today announced the first three months
results of its enhanced Services Program (ESP) and Web This Week
(www.webthisweek.com) which enable Canadian businesses and consumers to
interact over the Internet. Since the launch of ESP in early June, Valu-net
has established itself as the largest Internet Gateway in Canada, reaching
over 1,200,000 Canadian Internet consumers. These figures more than triple
the initial roll-out estimates of 350,000 consumers.
Program Results
The establishment of ESP has provided a breakthrough in Internet Marketing.
With upwards of 1,000 Canadian Consumers per day per Internet Service
Provider currently visiting Valu-net programs and the planned launch of
additional programs, Valu-net is expecting to have over 1,000,000
impressions per day by February 1999. Valu-net tracks each element in Web
This Week by page view or "hit" thereby creating an impressive database of
information for advertisers and sponsors. Revenue is increasing in
proportion to visitors as advertising and sponsorship is tied to the number
of "hits" each web site receives. Revenues over the past three (3) months
have increased at a rate of 65% per month and Valu-net expects to break
even, on a monthly basis, by December 31, 1998.
"The ESP model provides a number of revenue opportunities including
advertising, sponsorship, direct marketing, membership services and
electronic commerce. The first few months have demonstrated the global
revenue potential for this program", said David Lucatch.
Increased Distribution of Web-this-Week
Valu-net has now established on line business arrangements with 37 Canadian
Internet Service Providers (ISP) servicing over 1,200,000 on line Canadian
customers. Effective June 30, 1998, Valu-net ISP partners began to receive
co-branded versions of Web-this-Week, customized for individual ISPs.
Valu-net is expecting to roll-out this program to US and European Internet
Service Providers, beginning November 1998.
"The co-branded partnerships have proven to be winners both strategically
and economically. Web-this-Week is now available to Canadian Internet
consumers both directly through the main site (www.webthisweek.com) and
through 37 of the top national and regional ISPs", said David Lucatch,
President & CEO of Valu-net Corporation.
Valu-net Personal Edition
The Enhanced Service Program (ESP) offered by Valu-net provides the
opportunity for consumers to personalize their requests for information. In
August, Valu-net launched its Personalized Edition platform allowing
subscribers to customize the information they receive from Web This Week and
future Valu-net Programs. Following strict codes for privacy and security
and with the expressed permission of the consumer, the Personalized Edition
platform can record up to 120,000 different pieces of relevant information
on an individual subscriber. This is a vast increase over the amount of
direct marketing information currently available through conventional means
and provides business with the ability to focus on their specific target
markets.
"Valu-net's Personal Edition platform and technology will revolutionize the
ability of direct marketers to reach specific segments and individuals.
Valu-net maintains strict control and ownership of the information and all
opportunities will be channeled through Valu-net, creating a sustainable and
substantial revenue stream", commented David Lucatch.
About Valu-net Corporation
A publicly traded company listed on the Alberta Stock Exchange, Valu-net
Corporation (ASE:VNE) is a leading marketing and technology company
providing a complete range of services designed to help clients meet the
growing demand for Internet marketing and electronic commerce. Valu-net
specializes in providing integrated Internet marketing programs, electronic
commerce and transaction technologies to organizations wishing to advance
their business goals via the Internet.
The Alberta Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the
information herein contained.
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
AGORA INTERNET RELATIONS CORP. receives a monthly monetary fee from Valu-net Corporation. for the purposes of communicating with Internet shareholders - both current and prospective - to increase awareness of and interest in Valu-net Corporation. AGORA INTERNET RELATIONS CORP activities are aimed purely at keeping their clients' shareholders and prospective shareholders informed about their company. These activities consist of providing investors with previously disclosed factual information concerning the company, comments from company principals, copies of material that has been filed with regulatory authorities, comments prepared by registered brokers or investment dealers and material published in newspapers, magazines or journals.
AGORA INTERNET RELATIONS CORP does not participate in the maintenance of an orderly market in their client's securities, nor is required, or receives an incentive for, the maintenance or achievement of a price or trading volume for their client's securities at a certain level, for a specified period of time or by a certain date. AGORA INTERNET RELATIONS CORP. may, at any time, own shares in the company |
