BERTELSMANN ECOMMERCE GROUP APPOINTS CAROLA HOLTERMANN AS DIRECTOR MARKET COMMUNICATIONS.

Bertelsmann eCommerce Group strengthens corporate communications department

PR Newswire, London, September 1. This press release is transmitted on behalf of Bertelsmann eCommerce Group.

Cross-reference: photo was sent via satellite and is available at: http://recherche.newsaktuell.de/galerie.htx?type=obs

Hamburg, Germany and New York -

Carola Holtermann, will be joining the Bertelsmann eCommerce Group (BeCG) as of November 1, 2000. In her new capacity as Director Market Communications, she will be responsible for BeCG's worldwide market and expert communications, focusing specifically on the strategic role of eCommerce in corporate marketing concepts, and on the future development of digital distribution, channels and models. Her department will also concentrate on obtaining market-relevant data by means of the appropriate market research activity. Holtermann will report to Frank Sarfeld, BeCG Senior Vice President & CCO.

At present, Carola Holtermann is Director Marketing & Market Communications for AOL Europe IMG, where she is in charge of all pan-European sales marketing, market research and expert communications activities. Prior to this, she headed the Marketing & Communications department for Gruner + Jahr's Electronic Media Service, where she played a key role in pointing the way in the areas of online sales marketing and online market research. Frank Sarfeld, Senior Vice President & Chief Communications Officer commented:

"We are very happy to have an online market research and online marketing strategy expert such as Carola Holtermann for our BeCG Communications team. Distinguished professionals like Carola are an important prerequisite for achieving our goal of building up a globally leading eCommunity, Content and Commerce network as quickly as possible."

About BeCG Bertelsmann eCommerce Group (BeCG)

Formed in June, brings together Bertelsmann's entire portfolio of e-commerce companies and holdings such as BOL.com, BarnesandNobles.com, CDNow and the Bertelsmann Broadband Group in order to drive Bertelsmann's global e-content, community and commerce business. The group's objective is to build the leading global community and commerce network across all technologies and platforms while providing an unmatched consumer experience around all forms of media and entertainment. Through the acquisition of CDNOW and strategic alliances with AOL and TerraLycos, Bertelsmann has direct access to some 200 million customers worldwide. With 27 Million unique visitors per month, Bertelsmann is the global Internet leader among all media companies.

BeCG is a subsidiary of Bertelsmann AG, the world's most international media company with over 75,000 employees in more than 54 countries. Bertelsmann's business units include publishing firms, music and film companies, multimedia services, online commerce companies, daily newspapers, consumer magazines, radio and television stations, book clubs, trade journals, and other service companies that provide information, education and entertainment to a worldwide audience.