Boston, MA (August 15, 2000) - Homesite, the first U.S. company to enable customers to purchase property insurance online, and Aquent, the first company to launch a specialty search engine that catalogs independent talent, announced a joint marketing agreement today. As part of this agreement, independent professionals can now get real time quotes and purchase Homesite homeowners, renters, and condominium insurance online through the Aquent Website, ../../../../financial/insurance.html or ../../../...

“Teaming with Aquent allows Homesite to offer a quality insurance product and fast, friendly customer service to contractors, freelancers, and other independent professionals.” said Homesite President, Fabian Fondriest. “Our online Apply-’n-BuyTM technology enables consumers to get real-time quotes, purchase a policy tailored to their needs, and print a proof of coverage. The whole process typically takes 10 minutes or less for homeowners and 5 minutes or less for renters -giving our customers more time to concentrate on other important issues.”

“Homesite and Aquent share a similar focus in that both companies are looking to offer consumers a time-savings solution,” said Peter McCann, President of Aquent Insurance Brokerage Services. “If we can offer this time-savings solution at a lower cost to our clients, that’s all the better. The addition of Homesite to the Aquent Insurance Brokerage Services site moves us closer to our goal of providing independent professionals with a one-stop shop for all of their insurance needs.”

About Aquent - Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Aquent has offices in more than 50 cities in 12 countries on 4 continents. The company originated the concept of specialized staffing, was the first to launch a specialty search engine that catalogs independent talent, and was the first to provide and pay for benefits for Independent Professionals. Aquent Insurance Brokerage Services was designed exclusively to provide Independent Professionals with a full range of personal and business insurance products such as property, dental, health, long-term care, professional liability, and disability insurance coverages.

About Homesite - Homesite is a specialized insurer of homes, designed specifically to enable customers to access its products and services in any way they prefer, including 100% through the Internet. Formed in 1997 and launched in 1999, Homesite Group Inc. dedicates itself to providing U.S. consumers with lower-priced property insurance coverage and outstanding service. The company is currently marketing in twenty states, and is on schedule to expand throughout much of the U.S. this year.