ClickableOil.com / Gedney Fuel Corp.

Clickable Enterprises, Inc., an Internet-based home heating oil company, announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary ClickableOil.com, Inc. has acquired the assets of Gedney Fuel Corp., a Westchester County-based home heating oil distribution company.

The acquisition will provide ClickableOil.com with 400 additional heating oil customers, resulting in an approximate $900,000 increase in annual revenue to the company.

This transaction marks the second acquisition for ClickableOil.com this year.

(c) BUSINESS WIRE

Symantec / WholeSecurity

Symantec Corp. today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire WholeSecurity, Inc., a leading provider of behavior-based security and anti-phishing technology. WholeSecurity's technology analyzes the characteristics and actions of viruses, worms and other malicious code to offer real-time protection against these threats without the need for traditional security signatures. The transaction is expected to close in October.

Behavior-based security technology identifies online threats such as worms, viruses, Trojan horses, keystroke loggers, and phishing sites by their actions and characteristics. WholeSecurity's Confidence Online analyzes the behavior exhibited by these threats against hundreds of detection modules to determine whether the active processes or web sites are safe or malicious. This technology can immediately detect and mitigate unknown threats by their behavior without traditional signatures or patches thereby protecting users against zero-day attacks.

(c) BUSINESS WIRE

ISP.com, a leading provider of Internet services to customers across the country since 1993, recently was acquired by IKANO Communications, the world's largest provider of private-label Internet services.

As a result of this acquisition, ISP.com customers now have access to IKANO's award-winning customer service. Named "Call Center of the Year" by Call Center Magazine, IKANO's customer service team will provide ISP.com subscribers with 24-hour technical support via telephone, e-mail and online chat. Staffed with over 100 expert technicians, IKANO is equipped to handle support calls from English, Spanish and French speaking customers.Along with providing additional customer service support to ISP.com customers, IKANO's acquisition of ISP.com enables ISP.com to expand its product offerings in the future.

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WebEx / Intranets.com

WebEx Communications the leading provider of on-demand web meeting applications, today announced that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of privately held

Zinio Systems / Blue Dolphin

Zinio Systems, Inc., the recognized leader in digital publishing and marketing services, today announced it has merged with Blue Dolphin Group (BDG), a leading online magazine retailer. As part of the deal, Zinio closed a $7 million growth financing round with two new investors, North Bridge Venture Partners and Commonwealth Capital. The combined company will offer unprecedented choice to consumers with more than 1,300 popular magazine titles and many available in both print and digital formats.

Through the merger, Zinio will offer digital as an option to a new audience of print readers who can now sample digital versions of magazines before subscribing. Additionally, subscribers can immediately receive their first issue digitally, eliminating the normal six- to eight-week waiting period for print editions.

(c) BUSINESS WIRE

eBay / Skype - Strategy behind the acquisition

Online shopping depends on a number of factors to function well. Communications, like payments and shipping, is a critical part of this process. Skype will streamline and improve communications between buyers and sellers as it is integrated into the eBay marketplace. Buyers will gain an easy way to talk to sellers quickly and get the information they need to buy, and sellers can more easily build relationships with customers and close sales. As a result, Skype can increase the velocity of trade on eBay, especially in categories that require more involved communications such as used cars, business and industrial equipment, and high-end collectibles.
The acquisition also enables eBay and Skype to pursue entirely new lines of business. For example, in addition to eBay's current transaction-based fees, ecommerce communications could be monetized on a pay-per-call basis through Skype. Pay-per-call communications opens up new categories of ecommerce, especially for those sectors that depend on a lead-generation model such as personal and business services, travel, new cars, and real estate. eBay's other shopping websites -- Shopping.com, Rent.com, Marktplaats.nl and Kijiji - can also benefit from the integration of Skype.

PayPal and Skype also make a powerful combination. For example, a PayPal wallet associated with each Skype account could make it much easier for users to pay for Skype fee-based services, adding to the number of PayPal accounts and increasing payment volume.
In addition, Skype can help expand the eBay and PayPal global footprint by providing buyers and sellers in emerging ecommerce markets, such as China, India, and Russia, with a more personal way to communicate online. And consumers in markets where eBay currently has a limited presence, such as Japan and Scandinavia, can learn about eBay and PayPal through Skype. Skype can also help streamline cross-border trading and communications.

With its rapidly expanding network of users, the Skype business complements the eBay and PayPal platforms. Each business is self-reinforcing, organically bringing greater returns with each new user or transaction. The three services can also reinforce and accelerate the growth of one another, thereby increasing the value of the combined businesses. Working together, they can create an unparalleled engine for ecommerce and communications around the world.

eBay / Skype

eBay Inc. has agreed to acquire Luxembourg-based Skype Technologies SA, the global Internet communications company, for approximately $2.6 billion in up-front cash and eBay stock, plus potential performance-based consideration. The acquisition will strengthen eBay's global marketplace and payments platform, while opening several new lines of business and creating significant new monetization opportunities for the company. The deal also represents a major opportunity for Skype to advance its leadership in Internet voice communications and offer people worldwide new ways to communicate in a global online era. Skype, eBay and PayPal will create an unparalleled ecommerce and communications engine for buyers and sellers around the world.

Founded in 2002 by Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, Skype offers high-quality voice communications to anyone with an Internet connection anywhere in the world. The Skype software is easy to download and install, and enables free calls between Skype users online. Skype's premium services provide low-cost connectivity to traditional fixed and mobile telephones. Skype's software also offers a robust set of features, including voicemail, instant messaging, call forwarding and conference calling. Upcoming product innovations include Skype video, expressive content such as avatars, and customized toolbars for Outlook and Internet Explorer.

One of the fastest growing companies on the Internet, Skype already has 54 million members in 225 countries and territories. Skype is currently adding approximately 150,000 users a day and has created a thriving ecosystem of products, services, developers, and affiliates. Skype is considered the market leader in virtually all countries in which it does business. In North America alone, Skype has more users and serves more voice minutes than any other Internet voice communications provider.

Financial terms

eBay will acquire all of the outstanding shares of privately-held Skype for a total up-front consideration of approximately EUR 2.1 billion, or approximately $2.6 billion, which is comprised of $1.3 billion in cash and the value of 32.4 million shares of eBay stock, which are subject to certain restrictions on resale.

The maximum amount potentially payable under the performance-based earn-out is approximately EUR 1.2 billion, or approximately $1.5 billion, and would be payable in cash or eBay stock, at eBay's discretion, with an expected payment date in 2008 or 2009. Skype shareholders were offered the choice between several consideration options for their shares. Shareholders representing approximately 40% of the Skype shares chose to receive a single payment in cash and eBay stock at the close of the transaction. Shareholders representing the remaining 60% of the Skype shares chose to receive a reduced up-front payment in cash and eBay stock at the close plus potential future earn-out payments which are based on performance-based goals for active users, gross profit and revenue.

Skype generated approximately $7 million in revenues in 2004, and the company anticipates that it will generate an estimated $60 million in revenues in 2005 and more than $200 million in 2006. For Q4-05, eBay expects the acquisition to be dilutive to pro forma and GAAP earnings per share by $0.01 and $0.04 respectively. For the full year 2006, eBay expects the transaction to be dilutive to pro forma and GAAP earnings per share by $0.04 and $0.12 respectively, with breakeven on a pro forma basis expected in the fourth quarter of 2006. On a long-term basis, eBay expects Skype operating margins could be in the range of 20% to 25%.

(c) BUSINESS WIRE

News Corp. / IGN Entertainment

News Corp. said on Thursday it would acquire Internet video game company IGN Entertainment Inc. for about $650 million as it expands into online entertainment and media platforms.

The acquisition comes on the heels of News Corp.'s agreement to purchase Intermix, owner of the popular MySpace.com social networking Web site in July.

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp said the new deals, along with its existing sites, would increase its total Web traffic to 70 million unique monthly users.

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter. In July, IGN filed for a U.S. initial public offering of as much as $200 million in common shares. In 2004, IGN Entertainment lost $14.3 million on sales of $42.9 million, mostly derived from advertising.

(c) Reuters

Internet Brands / VacationHomes.com - Vamoose.com

Internet Brands, Inc., a leading operator of media and e-commerce sites for "large ticket" consumer purchases, today announced the acquisition of online vacation rental sites VacationHomes.com and Vamoose.com. This expansion creates the third major category for Internet Brands, which pioneered consumer direct online car buying in 1999 with CarsDirect.com and expanded into the home mortgage lending category in 2004.

Internet Brands' interest in the vacation rentals market is due to its large size and tight fit with the Internet. Vacation rentals represent approximately 20% of all lodging expenditures worldwide and are gaining share as the Internet makes a highly fragmented market far more accessible to consumers.

With these latest acquisitions, Internet Brands continues to expand its portfolio of companies that are benchmarks for consumer choice and convenience in the highest value Internet categories.

Rakuten / LinkShare

Rakuten, Inc. announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire LinkShare Corporation, a privately held New York-based performance- based marketing firm, for a cash purchase price of approximately $425 million. The acquisition is expected to be completed within four to six weeks.

Founded in 1997, Rakuten is Japan's most diversified Internet portal, with the number one sites in Japan for on-line shopping, travel, golf reservations, community and greeting cards. Rakuten's on-line and Internet-related businesses also include shopping via Internet-enabled cell phones, auctions, financial services, broadband entertainment and business-to-business services. Rakuten, which has one of the most recognized Internet brands in Japan, is also the owner of Japanese professional baseball's newest franchise, the Rakuten Eagles.

LinkShare Corporation is a leader in performance- based marketing solutions, having created the largest network of affiliates of any program provider, with over 10 million e-commerce relationships. LinkShare has over 500 clients including J.C. Penney, 1-800-Flowers.com, American Express, Avon Products and Dell. LinkShare has been named the New York area's fastest growing technology company for two years in a row on the Deloitte & Touche Fast 50 list.

Iliad / Altitude Telecom

Iliad Group (Free) has reached an agreement with Altitude Telecom’s shareholders to acquire 100% of the shares of the company. The transaction, which has been approved by Iliad’s Board of Directors, is anticipated to close on or about November 15th, 2005. This acquisition is not expected to have a significant impact on the consolidated results in the medium term.

Altitude Telecom owns the only national WiMAX licence (3.5 Ghz frequency) granted by ARCEP, the French Telecommunications Regulatory Authority.

The transaction has been structured such that Iliad will acquire Altitude Telecom’s residential and WiMAX activities. Altitude Développement, a company majority owned by Mr. Jean-Paul Rivière, will continue to develop the enterprise and public contracts activities previously operated within Altitude Telecom.

PowWeb / FAQTs.com

Webhost PowWeb announces that they have acquired the online FAQ site FAQTs.com. FAQTs allows users to build Frequently Asked Question lists on any topic from Music to Travel. All of the FAQ's built through the site are available to the public, creating a vast base of knowledge on many interesting topics.

Almost a quarter of a million visitors flock to FAQTs.com each month to find information, respond to a single question or upload an entire compiled FAQ. These are then reviewed and posted for everyone in the community to use. Through sharing ideas, a collective knowledgebase is built.

FAQTs.com was launched in 1999 as a private website to build a community resource for anyone on the Internet to use. Initially containing mostly technical FAQs, the community quickly started posting information about other topics of interest.

(c) PRNewswire