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Press Releases > Travidia Inc. Closes Strategic Series B Financing

TRAVIDIA INC. CLOSES STRATEGIC SERIES B FINANCING

CHICO, Calif., March 24, 2003 – Travidia Inc., a leading provider of innovative Internet marketing services formerly known as AdExpedia, Inc., today announced the completion of its Series B financing round – a round led by the founders of one of the world’s most successful marketing corporations.

The five founders of the Catalina Marketing Corporation (NYSE: POS) are leading the Series B round, which also includes an investment by Kevin O’Connor, Founder and Chairman of DoubleClick Inc. (NASDAQ: DCLK). The president of Catalina Marketing Services Manufacturer and International, Michael Bechtol, is also an investor. Terms of the investments were not disclosed.

“We are very pleased to have attracted investors of this caliber, particularly in this difficult market for raising capital,” said John Strisower, CEO of Travidia. “Our management team has worked to gain the traction necessary to attract this kind of support.”

“These strategically aligned veteran entrepreneurs bring great assets to Travidia and provide the necessary propellant to drive Travidia during its breakout year of 2003,” Mr. Strisower said.

“Travidia’s unique services, industry responsive development and marketing approach has allowed it to grow its media network and prove its capability in the online advertising and marketing space,” Mr. O’Connor said. “My interest in joining Travidia is to add value through the leveraging of my experience and relationships in building successful companies.”

"We like Travidia’s approach and its talented management team," said Brian Yeatman, speaking for the Catalina founders' investment group. "We look forward to working with Travidia to help create growth and significantly higher value at the company."

Travidia also announced new members of its board of directors:

  • Brian Yeatman, co-founder of Catalina Marketing Corporation, who will serve as Chairman
  • Michael Bechtol, President of Catalina Marketing Services
  • Kevin O’Connor, founder and Chairman of DoubleClick Inc.
  • Patrick Nesbitt, founder and Chairman, Windsor Capital Group, lead investor of Travidia’s $2 million Series A round
  • Hal Ladue, a senior executive of Windsor Capital Group

Travidia combines the best features of the print and online media by using its technology to convert print ads to the web, providing online shoppers with access to display ads, special sections and circulars. In addition, Travidia’s Integrated Marketplace provides a searchable database so a web surfer can search a newspaper's display advertising, inserts and special sections by advertiser, brand, category, keyword or product. Users can register for alerts by any search parameter.

About Travidia, Inc.

Travidia Inc. is a leading provider of Internet marketing management and Internet-based preprint advertising services for brand-name Global 2000 retail advertisers including: Lowe’s Home Improvement, Meijer Stores, Petco, Jo-Ann Stores, Michaels Arts & Crafts and major newspapers including: The San Francisco Chronicle, The Houston Chronicle, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Dallas Morning News and all 32 Knight Ridder newspapers. Travidia Inc. is a privately held California corporation. For further information about Travidia Inc. visit www.travidia.com on the web or call (530) 893-6195.

About Catalina Marketing Corporation Founders Group

The original five founders of Catalina Marketing Corporation have been friends and colleagues for over 20 years. They formed Catalina, which has become one of the most successful marketing corporations in the world. Since then, these “retired” executives have created and participated in other ventures where their expertise and influence has been a catalyst to success.

In his role as President of Catalina Marketing Services Manufacturer and International, Mike Bechtol is responsible for all sales, marketing, operations and client services related to Catalina Marketing’s network for consumer packaged goods manufacturers. In addition, he is responsible for all aspects of the Catalina Marketing Network in Europe and Japan.

Prior to his promotion to president, Bechtol held the position of President of Catalina Marketing Services, where he was responsible for all U.S. sales, marketing, operations and client services. He also held the title of Executive Vice President of Retail for Catalina Marketing, where he oversaw all retail activities of the company’s core products in the United States. His responsibilities included managing over 300 employees while directing merchandising and operating functions for the company’s portfolio of products.

Since joining the company in 1986 as one of the original employees, Bechtol has held various management positions focused on both the retail and manufacturer sides of the business.

Prior to joining Catalina Marketing, Bechtol spent 14 years with the southern California division of Lucky Stores, Inc. where he served as store manager, store systems coordinator and labor scheduling manager.

About Kevin O’Connor

With extensive experience in high-tech software and online marketing, Kevin O'Connor serves as Chairman of DoubleClick Inc. He is charged with overseeing new market development, long-term strategic direction and the overall vision of the digital marketing solutions company. As co-founder and formerly the company’s CEO, O’Connor has grown DoubleClick from two people in a basement to a global corporation employing nearly 1,200 people.

O’Connor possesses more than 17 years experience in business and consumer software product development, specifically in start-up software technology for both the Internet and publishing markets. Prior to founding DoubleClick in February of 1996, he co-founded the Internet Advertising Network (IAN) in 1995. The software technology pioneered by IAN paved the way for the creation of DoubleClick and the first full-service Web advertising Network.

In 1995, O’Connor helped fund and build ISS Group (Nasdaq: ISSX), an Internet security software company in Atlanta. O’Connor continues to serve on the Board of Directors for ISS Group.

In addition, O’Connor co-founded ICC, a software company in Atlanta, which created numerous communication products to address PC connectivity. In nine years, the company grew to annual revenues of $35MM. While at ICC, O'Connor launched the remote LAN market with the creation of Remote LAN Node (RLN). In 1992, ICC was acquired by DCA (now Attachmate). From 1992 to 1995, O’Connor served various roles at DCA including Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Research.

O'Connor received his BSEE degree, with honors, from the University of Michigan.

About Patrick Nesbitt, Windsor Capital Group

Undergraduate degree U.S. Air Force Academy, Masters Degree in Systems Engineering from University of Michigan, J.D. degree from Whittier College. Member of Los Angeles and American Bar Associations. Formed his own brokerage company to provide specialized services in market research, site acquisition, and development to the hospitality industry. In 1977 formed partnership with a local developer to develop restaurant sites for his own portfolio. Expanded expertise to include the acquisition of shopping centers, apartment projects, and multi-use commercial properties which were economically enhanced through redevelopment, repositioning and retenanting. Developed and built almost 2,000,000 square feet of retail and office space in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Acquired franchise to develop a Granda Royale Hometel (later Embassy Suites Hotel) in Colorado Springs, and began to develop other hospitality properties throughout the U.S. Became the largest private owner of Embassy Suites (15) in the country while developing other properties (6) under the Radisson, Marriott & USFS, Inc. flags. In 1991 formed his own management company, Windsor Capital Group, to operate hotels and now is one of the leading companies in its field. Through a series of financial transactions acquired essentially 100% ownership in his hotels.

This news release contains statements of a forward-looking nature relating to the future events or the future financial results of Travidia, Inc. Investors are cautioned that such statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. In evaluating such statements, investors should specifically consider the various factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated from forward-looking statements.

Related links:

AdExpedia, Inc. Closes $2M Series A Venture Capital Round

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