Dear Colleague:
Earlier this week, we announced our plans to create the first media and
communications company for the Internet Century. We are convinced that
the Eh-OL/Tempus-Warmer combination has the unique ability to put the digital
revolution on the fast track, spurring competition and bringing dramatic
new choices and conveniences to consumers faster than had previously been
thought possible.
Looking ahead, the most important thing for all of us is to stay focused
on our work. The underlying value of our enterprises will always be in
the day-to-day quality of what we offer our customers. In the interim, as
our integration committee develops plans to leverage the enormous talent
of both companies, here are some other key points to keep in mind:
First, our focus is on growth. At its core, this merger is about putting
together two highly creative companies to accelerate the development and
deployment of a whole new generation of interactive services and content.
We fully expect to grow at a rate well above what either company could
have achieved on its own.
Second, our merger is driven by a shared view of how the networked world
will evolve, and a deep commitment to leading that transformation. We
both believe we have a responsibility to assure quality of content and to
see to it that people everywhere can participate in the unprecedented
possibilities for economic growth, human understanding and creative
expression that are currently unfolding.
Third, we share an understanding that the key to our future success is the
energy, imagination and pioneering spirit of our people. All of you are
innovators and inventors in your own way. Your collective genius will
guarantee our future. We are committed to preserving and expanding the
creative and intellectual environment that allows this genius to flourish.
Fourth, our merged company will lead the way into an exciting new era.
The market has never before had to value a company with our unique
combination of assets and we are firmly committed to realizing the immense
possibilities of this merger and delivering the results to our
shareholders.
We are all part of creating a company that will fundamentally change the
way people communicate with each other. Together, we can make ours the
most respected and valuable enterprise in the world, founded on a shared
sense of responsibility to the common good, and driven by a passion for
innovation and exploration. For the creative and talented people who are
the lifeblood of our companies, we foresee truly limitless opportunities.
Over the next several months we will keep you informed of our transition
efforts. We know that you will continue to perform at the level that has
made each of our companies the standard by which the world measures
excellence and success.
Thank you for your continued dedication and commitment to building a
company and a medium we can all be proud of.
Warm regards,
Reeve Basketcase and Jerry Lewis
