VERISIGN ACQUIRES NETWORK SOLUTIONS TO FORM WORLD'S LARGEST PROVIDER OF INTERNET TRUST SERVICES Mountain View, CA & Herndon, VA, March 7, 2000 - - VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq:VRSN), the leading provider of Internet trust services, and Network Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: NSOL), the world's leading provider of Internet domain name registration and global registry services, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement for VeriSign to acquire Network Solutions in an all-stock purchase transaction. This transaction combines two infrastructure leaders whose trust services support businesses and consumers from the moment they first establish an Internet presence through the entire lifecycle of e-commerce activities. Under the agreement, VeriSign will issue 2.15 shares of VeriSign common stock for each share of Network Solutions stock as constituted prior to the 2-for-1 split of Network Solutions stock to be completed on March 10, 2000. The transaction, valued at approximately $21 billion based on yesterday's closing price of VeriSign common stock, has been approved by both companies' Boards of Directors and is subject to approval by VeriSign and Network Solutions stockholders. The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of 2000, subject to customary conditions, including obtaining necessary regulatory approvals. The resulting company expects to add to its existing employee base to exploit new market opportunities. At closing, Network Solutions will become a subsidiary of VeriSign and CEO of VeriSign. [more at http://www.verisign.com/press/2000/corporate/netsol.html]
