Horsham, PA and Santa Clara, CA (July 19, 2001) -- VerticalNet, Inc. (Nasdaq: VERT) and Fatbrain™, a wholly owned subsidiary of Barnes & Noble.com (Nasdaq: BNBN) (www.bn.com), today announced an alliance to provide customers on VerticalNet's 59 online marketplaces with access to comprehensive, professional bookstores providing content tailored to each industry sector. Fatbrain will manage merchandising and fulfillment of the bookstores, doubling the number of titles currently available to VerticalNet's user base. This agreement is in keeping with VerticalNet's ongoing efforts to optimize the sites' effectiveness as a supplier lead generation tool, and to increase efficiencies throughout its industry marketplaces. VerticalNet selected Fatbrain because of its recognized ability to deliver and manage co-branded, custom online bookstores that serve targeted professional audiences. The bookstores will feature books and other information products categorized according to the specific interests of VerticalNet's 59 industry focused communities. "Aligning ourselves with a well respected brand such as Barnes & Noble.com's Fatbrain solidifies our ongoing efforts to create the most robust online marketplaces for our users," said Tom Roberts, Vice President and General Manager - Small/Medium Business Group. "In addition, by outsourcing key functions outside of our core areas of expertise, we continue to add value to our business-and most importantly, to our shareholders and customers." "We are very pleased to partner with VerticalNet to provide their user base with easy access to books and other professional materials," said Dennis Capovilla, Fatbrain president. "Their industry focused online marketplaces have strong followings, and our resources are a great fit to provide additional value to their offerings." Additionally, VerticalNet has agreed to promote Fatbrain's Corporate Publishing solution to its 25,000+ customer base. The solution offers a Web-based method for corporations to streamline the management and distribution of their own content such as product documentation, training materials and manuals.