Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SINA.com and CarsDirect.com Provide New Car-Buying Services to Chinese-Americans
SUNNYVALE and LOS ANGELES, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 9, 2000–SINA.com (Nasdaq: SINA), a leading Internet media company serving Chinese communities worldwide, and CarsDirect.com, the leading automotive e-tailer, today announced a multi-year agreement to provide comprehensive, online car-buying services to the nation’s Chinese-American population. The North America site of SINA.com now features a co-branded car-buying site to provide Chinese-Americans with a comprehensive information resource center in Chinese for purchasing and leasing new vehicles online.
The co-branded car-buying site integrates CarsDirect.com’s “Model Walk” functionality, which effectively helps consumers narrow down a list of potential vehicle purchases by allowing them to enter the desired make and model of a vehicle using pull-down menus. These menus, along with detailed information ranging from performance features to gallery photos on car models can be viewed in Chinese at http://carsdirect.sina.com/.
SINA.com users purchasing cars on this site can select the desired car’s make and model and link to the CarsDirect.com site to complete the transaction. CarsDirect.com currently provides Chinese-language customer support.
The launch of the co-branded car-buying site coincides with the launch of SINA.com’s “auto center,” which seeks to provide visitors the convenience and comfort of car shopping, comparison and purchasing for virtually any new car in the U.S. — all in Chinese. Currently, Carsdirect.com is a major content provider for SINA.com’s auto center, located at http://auto.sina.com/.
“SINA.com is able to meet the needs of the Chinese language Internet market by offering best-of-breed content and services through partnerships with leading brands worldwide, such as CarsDirect.com,” said Hurst Lin, U.S. general manager and vice president of business development at SINA.com. “Our customers now have an easy way to research and purchase new cars online, and we look forward to working with CarsDirect.com to create a highly effective distribution and branding channel for reaching the Chinese-American population.” SINA.com is a popular Chinese portal network with separate sites in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and North America. It was voted as the number one website in China by both the July 1999 and January 2000 surveys conducted by the Chinese Internet Network Information Centre, China’s Internet authority.
“The Chinese Internet market is one of the fastest-growing online populations in the world,” said Bob Brisco, CEO, CarsDirect.com. “By partnering with SINA.com, CarsDirect.com can effectively reach Chinese Internet users in the United States and begin delivering our benefits to that population — speed, simplicity, convenience and great prices.”
CarsDirect.com was recently ranked by Gomez Advisors as the best overall car-buying site on the Web for the third consecutive quarter. Repeating its performance in the previous two scorecards, CarsDirect.com received accolades from Gomez Advisors for its customer service, up-front pricing and new online leasing programs.
About SINA.com
SINA.com is a leading Internet media company for Chinese communities worldwide, offering on-line news, entertainment, community and commerce. SINA.com offers a Chinese-language network of four localized Web sites that are produced and updated daily by local teams in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and North America. Voted number one by China Internet users in both the July 1999 and January 2000 semi-annual surveys conducted by the China Internet Network Information Centre, or CNNIC, SINA.com provides a popular Internet portal network for the world’s largest population group. As of February 2000, SINA.com had approximately 16.6 million average daily page views and 3.1 million registered users. To learn more about SINA.com, visit the company’s websites at www.sina.com, www.sina.com.cn, www.sina.com.hk, www.sina.com.tw, or the corporate site at http://www.sina.com/corp/about/index.html.
About CarsDirect.com
CarsDirect.com (www.carsdirect.com), the leading automotive e-tailer, is the first nationwide online service that puts consumers in control of the total car buying experience — from research, pricing and customization to financing and delivery. With CarsDirect.com, car buyers can see and compare real, upfront prices on virtually every vehicle sold in the U.S, obtain a loan or lease, place their orders directly online and arrange for home or office delivery. More than 2,500 franchised dealers are a part of CarsDirect.com’s Priority Dealer Network.
Based in Los Angeles, CarsDirect.com is an idealab! company. The company is also funded by idealab! Capital Partners, Primedia Ventures, Foundation Capital, MSD Capital LP, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Hambrecht & Quist, E*O Investors, LLC, Oracle Corp., Liberty Digital, TMCT Ventures, L.P, Hikari Tsushin and Soros Private Equity Partners LLC.
Note: A Photo is available at URL:
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.050900/bb2
CONTACT:
SINA.com
Ying Ma, 408/548-0000
or
McGrath/Power Public Relations
Terri Cook or Gene Fruge, 408/727-0351
terric@mcgpr.com
genef@mcgpr.com
or
CarsDirect.com
Wendy Barbour, 310/280-4494
wendy@carsdirect.com
or
Edge Communications, Inc. for CarsDirect.com
Ken Greenberg, 818/719-9292
edgepress@mindspring.com
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SINA.com Teams With China Online to Provide Comprehensive News and Analysis About China; Leading Chinese Website Continues to Bring the Chinese World into Focus
SUNNYVALE, Calif.–May 5, 2000–(BUSINESS WIRE)–SINA.com (Nasdaq:SINA), a leading Internet destination network for Chinese communities worldwide, announced a strategic alliance with China Online, a business information service that offers a single, reliable online resource for understanding the business climate in China. China Online’s timely news and analysis will be delivered to SINA.com’s English news center, a new addition to SINA.com’s popular Chinese-language network of websites in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the United States. The English news center features daily-updated business, finance and technology stories from China Online to provide succinct, one-stop information shopping for China watchers across the globe. With the aim of “bringing the Chinese world into focus,” the news center will also regularly provide analysis, commentary and overviews about major business trends and key economic decisions in China. This content can be accessed by clicking the “English News” button on SINA.com’s homepage or at http://www.sina.com/news/index.html.
“We’re very pleased with this new strategic relationship with China Online,” commented Hurst Lin, U.S. General Manager and Vice President of Business Development for SINA.com. “It demonstrates our commitment to not only connecting the global Chinese community to the latest, locally-tailored Chinese news from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the United States, but also to providing anyone interested in China with first class, multifaceted content on this fascinating country.”
“With an average daily pageview of approximately 16.6 million and a strong register user base of 3.1 million, SINA.com has consistently demonstrated its vast appeal for Chinese audiences around the world,” said Lyric Hughes, Chief Executive Officer at China Online. “Specializing in impartial, timely news reporting by reliable and informed sources in China, China Online is glad to be working with SINA.com to bring into focus the rapidly changing world of China.”
About SINA.com
SINA.com is a leading Internet destination network for Chinese communities worldwide, offering on-line news, entertainment, community and commerce. SINA.com offers a Chinese-language network of four localized Web sites that are produced and updated daily by local teams in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and North America. Voted number one by China Internet users in both the July 1999 and January 2000 semi-annual surveys conducted by the China Internet Network Information Centre, or CNNIC, SINA.com is a popular full service media company for the world’s largest population group. As of February 2000, SINA.com had approximately 16.6 million average daily page views and 3.1 million registered users. To learn more about SINA.com, visit the company’s web sites at www.sina.com, www.sina.com.cn, www.sina.com.hk, www.sina.com.tw, or the English-language demo site at www.sina.com/eng.
About China Online.com
China Online, L.L.C. is an Internet media company focused exclusively on China. Its website (www.chinaonline.com) offers businesses a single reliable source for understanding the business climate in China. The company scans more than 200 electronic and print media sources each day and provides original perspectives from analysts in China and around the world. China Online is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with correspondents in Asia and Europe. For more information on China Online, call 312/335-8881, fax 312/335-9299, or visit the website at www.chinaonline.com. China Online is a registered trademark.
All trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
CONTACT:
SINA.com
Ying Ma, 408/548-0000
or
McGrath/Power Public Relations
Terri Cook or Gene Fruge, 408/727-0351
terric@mcgpr.com
genef@mcgpr.com
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SINA.com Over-allotment Option Exercised
Sunnyvale, CA –April 27, 2000 – SINA.com (Nasdaq NM: SINA), a leading Chinese-focused Internet company, announced today that its underwriters had exercised their option to purchase an additional 600,000 ordinary shares at US$17 per share, less underwriting discounts and commissions, for the purpose of covering over-allotment made in connection with the initial public offering of its ordinary shares.
SINA.com offered 4,000,000 ordinary shares to the public on April 12, 2000. The sale of the additional shares was closed today and the underwriters’ exercise of the over-allotment option raised the number of shares offered by SINA.com to 4.6 million. SINA.com has raised a total of US$78.2 million before deducting the underwriting discount and offering expenses through its initial public offering.
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and China International Capital Corporation Limited acted as the joint lead managing underwriters for the offering. Morgan Stanley acted as the sole book-runner for the transaction. Chase Securities Inc. and FleetBoston Robertson Stephens Inc. acted as co-managers. A copy of the final prospectus related to the offering may be obtained from Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036.
A registration statement relating to these securities was filed and declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities law of such jurisdiction.
About SINA.com
SINA.com is a leading Internet destination network for Chinese communities worldwide, offering on-line news, entertainment, community and commerce. SINA.com offers a Chinese-language network of four localized Web sites that are produced and updated daily by local teams in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and North America. Voted number one by China Internet users in both the December 1999 and June 1999 semi-annual surveys conducted by the China Internet Network Information Centre, or CNNIC, SINA.com is a popular Internet portal for the world’s largest population group. As of February 2000, SINA.com had approximately 16.6 million average daily page views and 3.1 million registered users.
CONTACT:
SINA.com
Ying Ma, 408/548-0000
or
McGrath/Power Public Relations
Terri Cook or Gene Fruge, 408/727-0351
terric@mcgpr.com
genef@mcgpr.com
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SINA.com Announces Initial Public Offering;
SINA.com IPO Was Priced At US$17 Per Share
SUNNYVALE, Calif.–April 13, 2000–(BUSINESS WIRE)–SINA.com, a Chinese-focused Internet company announced today that its initial public offering of 4,000,000 ordinary shares was priced at US$17 per share. The shares will be listed on the NASDAQ National Market and are expected to commence trading on April 13, 2000 under the symbol “SINA”. Net proceeds of the offering will be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes.
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and China International Capital Corporation Limited are acting as the joint lead managing underwriters for the offering. Chase Securities Inc. and FleetBoston Robertson Stephens Inc. are acting as co-managers. A copy of the final prospectus related to the offering may be obtained from Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036.
A registration statement relating to these securities was filed and declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities law of such jurisdiction.
About SINA.com
SINA.com is a leading Internet destination network for Chinese communities worldwide, offering on-line news, entertainment, community and commerce. SINA.com offers a Chinese-language network of four localized Web sites that are produced and updated daily by local teams in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and North America. Voted number one by China Internet users in both the December 1999 and June 1999 semi-annual surveys conducted by the China Internet Network Information Centre, or CNNIC, SINA.com is a popular Internet portal for the world’s largest population group. As of February 2000, SINA.com had approximately 16.6 million average daily page views and 3.1 million registered users.
CONTACT:
SINA.com
Ying Ma, 408/548-0000
or
McGrath/Power Public Relations
Terri Cook or Gene Fruge, 408/727-0351
terric@mcgpr.com
genef@mcgpr.com
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GREAT AMERICA SURFS INTO SUMMER WITH THE DEBUT OF ITS ALL-NEW GREAT BARRIER REEF ™ WAVE POOL
This summer the fun will come in waves as Great America debuts its newest attraction, the 355,000-gallon GREAT BARRIER REEF ™ wave pool. GREAT BARRIER REEF ™ is located in Boomerang Bay, the Australian inspired water park inside Great America. The ride combines the exhilaration and feel of real ocean waves without the sand. The GREAT BARRIER REEF ™ wave pool adds an additional two acres to Boomerang Bay, totaling roughly thirteen acres of water park within Great America. The wave pool depth range is from 0 to a maximum of 6 feet, and has 21,882 square feet of water surface area. Lifeguards are always on duty and the 355,000-gallons of water in the wave pool provide for the cleanest splashin’ good fun around. For the comfort and convenience of guests, Great America has also added new cabanas around the wave pool.
New to Great America’s list of summer shows are Twistin’ to the 60’s and The Misfit of Magic. The Misfit of Magic, international comedic magician Ed Alonzo, 2-time winner of the ‘Stage Magician of the Year’ and best known as Max on “Saved by the Bell” will grace our Showtime Theatre stage this season from June 16 through August 26. Ed’s amazing illusions are hilarious, mesmerizing and FUN for all ages. Don’t miss seeing this show – there’s no one like Ed!
Twistin’ to the 60’s is a ca-raaazy rockin’ and rollin’ dance party featuring the best sounds and moves of the 1960’s. Twist yourself over to the Paramount Theatre, relax and enjoy our 30-minute blast to the past that will have you dancing in your seats! Twistin’ to the 60’s will run from May 19 through August 26.
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Great America offers the most roller coasters in Northern California as well as the most rides and the most water rides. The 100-acre theme park is also the only place in the Bay Area where kids can meet their favorite Nickelodeon® friends. Bring the camera and visit Nicktoons™ Central where young children can get acquainted with SpongBob SquarePants™, Patrick™, the Rugrats™, Cosmo™ & Wanda™ and Jimmy Neutron™ as they stop by to visit throughout the day. Kids who are fans of Nick Jr. should also visit the Nick Jr. House and The Wild Thornberrys™ Comvee where they can meet Dora the Explorer™, Diego™, Blue™ and Little Bill™ as well as Eliza™ and Donnie™ who are waiting to play all day. Great America also provides other Nickelodeon® shows and attractions throughout the 2007 season that are included with the price of admission that kids are sure to love including, Meet the Nicktoons™, the Nickelodeon® Parade and Nick or Treat.
Great America, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (NYSE: FUN), a publicly traded partnership, which owns and operates 12 amusement parks and five water parks. Cedar Fair’s 12 amusement parks include: Canada’s Wonderland in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Carowinds in Charlotte, N.C., Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pa., Geauga Lake and Wildwater Kingdom in Aurora, Ohio, Great America in Santa Clara, Calif., Kings Dominion in Doswell, Va., Kings Island in Kings Mills, Ohio, Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, Calif., Michigan’s Adventure in Muskegon, Mich., Valleyfair in Shakopee, Minn., Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Mo., and three separately gated Knott’s Soak City Water Parks in San Diego, Palm Springs and Orange County. Cedar Fair also owns and operates the Castaway Bay Indoor Waterpark Resort in Sandusky, Ohio, and Star Trek: The Experience, an interactive adventure, in Las Vegas. Cedar Fair also has a management contract with Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park (formerly Bonfante Gardens) in Gilroy, Calif.
More information and downloadable photos can be found online at the park’s media center: visit www.pgathrills.com or call 408-986-5856.
CONTACT:
Paramount’s Great America
Gene Fruge
408712-5179
genefruge@paramountparks.com
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NICK OR TREAT™ AT GREAT AMERICA CELEBRATES HALLOWEEN WITH SIX DAYS OF COSTUMES, CANDY AND CHARACTER
Nick or Treat™ returns to Paramount’s Great America for six days of family-friendly Halloween fun! Weekends only, October 13 – 28, 2007 the Santa Clara theme park will be costumed in thousands of pumpkins, hay bales, corn stalks and skeletons to create a unique Northern California Halloween experience that the entire family can enjoy together.
In addition to the park’s array of rides and attractions, families can:
Trick-or-treat along with Nickelodeon characters like SpongeBob SquarePants™ and Dora the Explorer™ at five designated trick-or-treat stations in Nickelodeon Central™. Paramount’s Great America is the only place in Northern California where kids can trick-or-treat along with their Nickelodeon friends. This safe and fun trick-or-treating experience for kids ages 12 and younger runs from noon to 4 p.m.
Join Nickelodeon® friends in a Halloween-version of the Nickelodeon™ Celebration Parade at 5 p.m. daily! Halloween music, more than 20 Nickelodeon characters, seven floats including the SpongeBob SquarePants™ and Dora the Explorer™ brigades and a cast of nearly 100 costumed performers will dance through the guest-lined streets of Paramount’s Great America in a 30-minute spectacular. Costumed children 12 years of age and under, along with their parents, are encouraged to take part in the parade for a one-of-a-kind experience.
Ride the Scary-Go-Round, the world’s tallest double-decker carousel, complete with giant spider webs, skeletons and fog to help create a mystical experience.
Take a haunted ride among dim lighting, fog and bats on the Collision Caverns bumper cars.
Join skeletons and grim reapers for a leisurely skyward journey in gondolas along the park’s Phantom Flyer.
Jump around in bubbling pumpkin patch foam pits or weave through a corn maze
Experience the thrills of two motion-simulator movies, Elvira’s “Superstition” and “Fun House Express” in the park’s Action FX Theater.
Sing along at Scary-okie, a frightfully-fun Halloween version of karaoke that includes songs such as “Monster Mash” and “Thriller.”
See sun-loving skeletons frolicking in and around the park’s reflection pond at Skeleton Beach.
Interact with a funny talking pumpkin that has its eyes on all the guests!
Great America is committed to the safety of all park guests. Parents and guardians are asked to use good judgment on masks and make-up that could obstruct a child’s vision while visiting the park.
Nick or Treat is free with park admission and runs Saturdays and Sundays, October 13 – 28, 2007. For more information and to purchase discount tickets, visit www.pgathrills.com or call 408-988-1776.
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Great America, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (NYSE: FUN), a publicly traded partnership, which owns and operates 12 amusement parks and five water parks. Cedar Fair’s 12 amusement parks include: Canada’s Wonderland in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Carowinds in Charlotte, N.C., Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pa., Geauga Lake and Wildwater Kingdom in Aurora, Ohio, Great America in Santa Clara, Calif., Kings Dominion in Doswell, Va., Kings Island in Kings Mills, Ohio, Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, Calif., Michigan’s Adventure in Muskegon, Mich., Valleyfair in Shakopee, Minn., Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Mo., and three separately gated Knott’s Soak City Water Parks in San Diego, Palm Springs and Orange County. Cedar Fair also owns and operates the Castaway Bay Indoor Waterpark Resort in Sandusky, Ohio, and Star Trek: The Experience, an interactive adventure, in Las Vegas. Cedar Fair also has a management contract with Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park (formerly Bonfante Gardens) in Gilroy, Calif.
More information and downloadable photos can be found online at the park’s media center: visit www.pgathrills.com or call 408-986-5856.
CONTACT:
Paramount’s Great America
Gene Fruge
408712-5179
genefruge@paramountparks.com
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