RENTON, WA U.S.A. and STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - May 13, 2004 - Classmates Online, Inc., a leader in community-based networking that connects more than 38 million members with friends and acquaintances from school, work and the military, today announced that it has acquired Klasstraffen.com, the No. 1 website in Sweden which helps people reconnect with school friends and acquaintances.
"The success of Klasstraffen.com, which has grown to more than 350,000 member listings and counting, is a great example of the worldwide human desire to reconnect with people we care about," said Marco Menato, Vice President of International Operations for Classmates Online, Inc. "We are excited to help Klasstraffen.com continue to grow its high quality site in Sweden, as we are doing with our recently acquired StayFriends.de site in Germany."
"When people move, get new jobs and experience other changes in their lives, contacts with loved ones and friends are often lost. Klasstraffen.com helps people easily reconnect and stay in touch with their school friends and others through a community-based approach," said Otto Rimmerfeldt, founder of Klasstraffen.com. "We are happy to join forces with Classmates and to have Klasstraffen.com members benefit from its experience and resources which will help execute our next phase of growth."
Klasstraffen.com will keep its name and operate as part of a wholly owned subsidiary of Classmates International, Inc. under the direction of Rimmerfeldt.
Quick Klasstraffen.com Facts:
- Klasstraffen.com has more than 350,000 member listings, which creates a good probability of meeting an acquaintance or friend when searching the database.
- Members receive a personal page on Klasstraffen.com where they can post and update photos, a text greeting and personal data anytime.
- Klasstraffen.com's secure email service protects member privacy by not revealing email addresses, enabling members to make first contact without disclosing personal information.
- Message board forums for each school class enable members to enjoy unlimited discussions within their communities.
- Unique and customizable avatars can be created and shared by Klasstraffen.com members in their communications within the community and beyond.
- Klasstraffen.com members already registered in a school class are notified by weekly emails when newcomers to their class register.
- Registrations are monitored by Klasstraffen.com staff in order to remove duplicates and maintain database integrity.
- Klasstraffen.com has a help desk for its members, who can call or email if they have questions or issues regarding the service.
Klasstraffen.com, the No. 1 site in Sweden for reuniting old friends from schools and universities, has more than 350,000 member listings. Founded in March 2000 and based in Stockholm, Klasstraffen.com is owned and operated by Klassträffen Sweden AB, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Classmates International, Inc.
About Classmates Online, Inc.
Classmates Online, Inc., founded in 1995 and based in Renton, WA, is a leader in online community-based networking. The company operates Classmates.com (www.classmates.com), connecting millions of members throughout the U.S. and Canada with friends and acquaintances from school, work and the military. Its Classmates International subsidiary also operates leading community-based networking sites in Sweden, through Klasstraffen Sweden AB (www.klasstraffen.com), and in Germany, through StayFriends GmbH (www.stayfriends.de). Classmates Online is a wholly owned subsidiary of United Online, Inc. (Nasdaq: UNTD). For more information about United Online and its Internet subscription services, please visit www.untd.com.
PRESS CONTACTS:
Classmates Online, Inc.
John Uppendahl,
Director of Public Relations & Community Affairs
john.uppendahl@classmates.com, 425.917.4933 (United States)
Klassträffen
Jennie Sinclair,
Account Director PR
direct nr +46 8-545 51 775, mobile nr 070-777 73 08
jennies@text100.se (Sweden)
