printer-friendly

Sample Business Contracts

Securities Purchase Agreement - Open Market Inc. CMG Information Services Inc.

Sponsored Links


                         SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                         -----------------------------

     SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT"), dated as of July 30,
1998, by and among OPEN MARKET, INC., a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Delaware (the "COMPANY"), with executive offices located at One
Wayside Road, Burlington, MA  01803, and the purchaser (the "PURCHASER") set
forth on the execution page hereof (the "EXECUTION PAGE").

     WHEREAS:

     A.     The Company and the Purchaser are executing and delivering this
Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded
by the provisions of Regulation D ("REGULATION D"), as promulgated by the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT");

     B.     The Purchaser desires to purchase, upon the terms and conditions
stated in this Agreement, (i)  Five  Million United States Dollars ($5,000,000)
of the Company's common stock, par value $.001 per share (the "COMMON STOCK")
and (ii)  warrants (the "WARRANTS"), in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A,
                                                                    ---------
to acquire such number of shares of Common Stock as is equal to twenty-five
percent (25%) of the number of Initial Shares issued on the Closing Date, as
defined in Section 1(f) below.  The Initial Shares and the Adjustment Shares, as
defined in Section 1(d) below, if any, are collectively referred to herein as
the "SHARES" and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of or
otherwise pursuant to the Warrants are referred to herein as the "WARRANT
SHARES."  The Shares, the Warrants and the Warrant Shares are collectively
referred to herein as the "SECURITIES."

     C.     Contemporaneous with the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
the parties hereto are executing and delivering a Registration Rights Agreement,
in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the "REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT"),
                               ---------                         
pursuant to which the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights
under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,
and applicable state securities laws, and to repurchase certain Securities under
certain circumstances;

                                       1
<PAGE>

     NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:

1.   PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHARES  AND WARRANTS.
     -----------------------------------------

     a.   Certain Definitions.  For purposes of Agreement, the  following terms
          -------------------                                                 
shall have the meanings ascribed to them as provided below:

          "ADJUSTMENT DATE" shall mean the earlier of (i) the date a
                                           -------                 
registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Section 2(a)(i) of the
Registration Rights Agreement and covering at least the Initial Shares is
declared effective by the SEC, as defined below, or (ii) the 360th day after the
Closing Date.

          "ADJUSTMENT DATE MARKET PRICE" shall mean the average Closing Price
during the five (5) Trading Days, as defined below,  immediately preceding the
Adjustment Date, appropriately adjusted to reflect any pending stock dividend,
stock split or similar transaction.

          "BUSINESS DAY" means any day on which the principal United States
securities exchange or trading market where the Common Stock  is listed or
traded as reported by Bloomberg, as defined below, is open for trading.

          "CLOSING DATE  MARKET PRICE" shall mean the average Closing Price
during the twenty (20)  Trading Days immediately preceding the Closing Date,
appropriately adjusted to reflect any pending stock dividend, stock split or
similar transaction.

          "CLOSING PRICE" means, for the Common Stock as of any date, the
closing bid price of such security on the principal United States securities
exchange or trading market where such security is listed or traded as reported
by Bloomberg Financial Markets (or a comparable reporting service of national
reputation selected by the Purchaser and reasonably acceptable to the Company
if Bloomberg Financial Markets is not then reporting closing bid prices of such
security) (collectively, "BLOOMBERG"), or if the foregoing does not apply, the
last reported sale price of such security in the over-the-counter market on the
electronic bulletin board for such security as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no
sale price is reported for such security by Bloomberg, the average of the bid
prices of any market makers for such security as reported in the "pink sheets"
by the National Quotation Bureau, Inc., in each case for such date or, if such
date was not a Trading Day (as defined below) for such security, on the next
preceding day which was a Trading Day.  If the Closing Price cannot be
calculated for a share of Common Stock as of either of such dates on any of the
foregoing bases, the Closing Price of such security on such date shall be the
fair market value as reasonably determined by an investment banking firm
selected by the Purchaser  and reasonably acceptable to the Company, with the
costs of such appraisal to be borne by the Company.

          "SEC" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                       2
<PAGE>

          "TRADING DAY" shall mean a Business Day on which the Common Stock
trades on the principal United States securities exchange or trading market
where such security is  listed or traded as reported by Bloomberg.

     If the Closing Date is not a Trading Day then for purposes of sublclause
(ii) of the definition Per Share Price set forth in Section 1 (b) below, the
Closing Price on the Closing Date shall be the Closing Price on the immediately
preceding day which was a Trading Day.  If the Adjustment Date is not a Trading
Day, then for purposes of subclause (iv) of the definition Per Share Price, the
Closing Price on the Adjustment Date shall be the Closing Price on the
immediately preceding day which was a Trading Day.

     b.   Generally.  Except as otherwise provided in this Section 1 and subject
          ---------                                                            
to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions set forth in Section 6 and
Section 7 below,  the Purchaser shall purchase the Warrants and the  number of
Shares determined as provided in this Section 1, and  the Company shall issue
and sell such Shares to the Purchaser  for a per share purchase price (the "PER
SHARE PRICE") equal to the least of (i) the Closing Date Market Price (ii) the
                           -----                                             
Closing Price on the Closing Date, (iii) the Adjustment Date Market Price and
(iv) the Closing Price on the Adjustment Date; provided  however that the total
                                               --------  -------               
purchase price to be paid for the Warrant and the Shares shall be not more than
Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.)

     c.   Purchase on Closing Date.
          ------------------------

          i.   Number of Initial Shares.  On the Closing Date the Purchaser
               ------------------------                                   
shall acquire the number of whole shares of Common Stock as is equal to the
quotient of (A) Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) divided by (B) an amount (the
"ESTIMATED PER SHARE PRICE") equal to the lesser of (I) the Closing Date Market
                                          ------                              
Price and  (II) the Closing Price on the Closing Date.  The shares of Common
Stock acquired on the Closing Date are collectively referred to herein as the
"INITIAL SHARES".

          ii.  Determination of Total Purchase Price.  On the Closing Date, the
               -------------------------------------                          
Purchaser shall pay the Company  an amount (the "TOTAL PURCHASE PRICE") equal to
the product of (i)  the number of Initial Shares to be acquired on the Closing
Date determined in accordance with Section 1(c)(i) above and (ii) the Estimated
Per Share Price, which amount  shall constitute the total purchase price for the
Warrants, the Initial Shares and the Adjustment Shares, if any, to be acquired
by and issued to the Purchaser pursuant to the terms hereof.

     d.   Adjustment Shares.  If the Estimated Per Share Price paid by the
          -----------------                                              
Purchaser on the Closing Date exceeds the Per Share Price, then, within three
days of the Adjustment Date, the Company shall cause to be issued to the
Purchaser a number of additional shares of Common Stock (the "ADJUSTMENT
SHARES") as is equal to the lesser of (i) twenty percent (20%) of the number of
                            ------                                            
Initial Shares and (ii) the difference between (A) the quotient of  (I) the
Total Purchase Price divided by (II) the Per Share Price and (B) the number of
Initial Shares acquired on the Closing Date.  ( In calculating the number of
Adjustment Shares to be issued to the Purchaser pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement, appropriate adjustments shall be made to

                                       3
<PAGE>

reflect any stock dividend, stock split or similar transaction affecting the
Common Stock from the Closing Date through the close of business on the
Adjustment Date.)

     e.   Form of Payment. On the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall pay the
          ---------------                                                 
Total Purchase Price for the Warrants and Shares hereunder by wire transfer to
the Company, in accordance with the Company's written wiring instructions,
against delivery of certificates representing the Initial Shares and duly
executed Warrants and the Company shall deliver such Initial Shares  and
Warrants against delivery of the Total Purchase Price.

     f.   Closing Date.  Subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the
          ------------                                                
conditions thereto set forth in Section 6 and Section 7 below, the date and time
of the sale of the  Shares  and the Warrants pursuant to this Agreement (the
"CLOSING") shall be 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on July 30, 1998 or earlier, if
practicable and if mutually agreed by the parties hereto ("CLOSING DATE").  The
Closing shall occur at the offices of the Company or at such other place as the
parties may otherwise agree.

2.   PURCHASER'S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
     ------------------------------------------

     The Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

     a.   Investment Purpose.  The Purchaser is purchasing the Securities for
          ------------------                                                
the Purchaser's own account and not with a present view towards the public sale
or distribution thereof.  The Purchaser understands that the Purchaser must bear
the economic risk of this investment indefinitely, unless the Securities are
registered pursuant to the Securities Act and any applicable state securities or
blue sky laws or an exemption from such registration is available, and that the
Company has no present intention of registering any such Securities other than
as contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement.  Notwithstanding anything
in this Section 2(a) to the contrary, by making the representations herein, the
Purchaser does not agree to hold the Securities for any minimum or other
specific term and reserves the right to dispose of the Securities at any time in
accordance with or pursuant to a registration statement or an exemption under
the Securities Act, and any applicable state securities law.

     b.   Accredited Investor Status.  The Purchaser is an "ACCREDITED INVESTOR"
          --------------------------                                           
as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D.

     c.   Reliance on Exemptions.  The Purchaser understands that the Securities
          ----------------------                                               
are being offered and sold to the Purchaser in reliance upon specific exemptions
from the registration requirements of United States federal and state securities
laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and the
Purchaser's compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements,
acknowledgments and understandings of the Purchaser set forth herein in order to
determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the
Purchaser to acquire the Securities.

                                       4
<PAGE>

     d.   Information.  The Purchaser and its counsel have been furnished all
          -----------                                                       
materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and
materials relating to the offer and sale of the Securities which have been
requested by the Purchaser or its counsel.  The Purchaser and its counsel have
been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Company and have received
what the Purchaser believes to be satisfactory answers to any such inquiries.
Neither such inquiries nor any other due diligence investigation conducted by
the Purchaser or its counsel or any of its representatives shall modify, amend
or affect the Purchaser's right to rely on the Company's representations and
warranties contained in Section 3 below.  The Purchaser understands that
Purchaser's investment in the Securities involves a high degree of risk.

     e.   Governmental Review.  The Purchaser understands that no United States
          -------------------                                                 
federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has
passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities.

     f.   Transfer or Resale.  The Purchaser understands that (i) except as
          ------------------                                              
provided in the Registration Rights Agreement, the Securities have not been and
are not being registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws,
and may not be transferred unless (a) subsequently registered thereunder, or (b)
the Purchaser shall have delivered to the Company an opinion of counsel
reasonably acceptable to the Company (which opinion shall be in form, substance
and scope customary for opinions of counsel in comparable transactions) to the
effect that the Securities to be sold or transferred may be sold or transferred
under an exemption from such registration, or (c) sold under Rule 144
promulgated under the Securities Act (or a successor rule) ("RULE 144"), or (d)
sold or transferred to an affiliate of the Purchaser pursuant to an exemption
under the Securities Act; and (ii) neither the Company nor any other person is
under any obligation to register such Securities under the Securities Act or any
state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any
exemption thereunder,  in each case, other than pursuant to the Registration
Rights Agreement.

     g.   Legends.  The Purchaser understands that the Initial Shares, the
          -------                                                        
Adjustment Shares, if any,  and the Warrants and, until such time as the Initial
Shares, the Adjustment Shares and Warrant Shares, respectively, have been
registered under the Securities Act (including registration pursuant to Rule 416
thereunder) as contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement or otherwise
may be sold by the Purchaser under Rule 144 (k), the certificates for the
Initial Shares, the Adjustment Shares and the Warrant Shares, respectively, may
bear a restrictive legend in substantially the following form:

     The securities represented by this certificate have not been registered
     under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the securities laws of any
     state of the United States.  The securities represented hereby may not be
     offered or sold in the absence of an effective registration statement for
     the securities under applicable securities laws unless offered, sold or
     transferred under an available exemption from the registration requirements
     of those laws.

     The legend set forth above shall be removed and the Company shall issue a
certificate without such legend to the holder of any Security upon which it is
stamped, if, unless otherwise

                                       5
<PAGE>

required by state securities laws, (a) the sale of such Security is registered
under the Securities Act (including registration pursuant to Rule 416
thereunder), or (b) such holder provides the Company with an opinion of counsel
reasonably acceptable to the Company, in form, substance and scope customary for
opinions of counsel in comparable transactions, to the effect that a public sale
or transfer of such Security may be made without registration under the
Securities Act or (c) such holder provides the Company with reasonable
assurances that such Security can be sold under Rule 144(k). The Purchaser
agrees to sell all Securities, including those represented by a certificate(s)
from which the legend has been removed, pursuant to an effective registration
statement or under an exemption from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act. Such legend shall be removed when such Security may be sold
pursuant to an effective registration statement or sold under Rule 144(k).

     h.   Authorization; Enforcement.  The Purchaser has the requisite corporate
          --------------------------                                           
power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this
Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and to purchase the Initial
Shares, the Adjustment Shares and the Warrants in accordance with the terms
thereof.  This Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement have been duly
and validly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of the Purchaser and
are valid and binding agreements of the Purchaser enforceable in accordance with
their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium, fraudulent transfer and other laws affecting creditors' rights and
remedies generally and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether
enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).

3.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.
     ---------------------------------------------

     The Company represents and warrants to the Purchaser as follows:

     a.   Organization and Qualification.  The Company and each of its
          ------------------------------                             
subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized and existing in good standing under
the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated, and has the requisite
corporate power to own its properties and to carry on its business as now being
conducted.  The Company and each of its subsidiaries is duly qualified as a
foreign corporation to do business and is in good standing in every jurisdiction
in which the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification
necessary and where the failure so to qualify would have a Material Adverse
Effect.  "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means any material adverse effect on (i) the
Securities, (ii) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder
(including the issuance of the Initial Shares, the Adjustment Shares and the
Warrants) and under the Warrants (including the issuance of the Warrant Shares)
or the Registration Rights Agreement or (iii) the business, operations,
properties, or financial condition of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as
a whole.

     b.   Authorization; Enforcement.  (i) The Company has the requisite
          --------------------------                                   
corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under
this Agreement,  the Warrants and the Registration Rights Agreement, to issue
and sell the Initial Shares, the Adjustment Shares and the Warrants in
accordance with the terms hereof  and to issue the Warrant Shares upon exercise
of the Warrants in accordance with the terms thereof; (ii) the execution,
delivery and performance

                                       6
<PAGE>

of this Agreement, the Warrants and the Registration Rights Agreement by the
Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Initial Shares, the
Warrants, and the issuance and reservation for issuance of the Adjustment Shares
and the Warrant Shares) have been duly authorized by the Company's Board of
Directors and no further consent or authorization of the Company, its Board of
Directors or its stockholders is required; (iii) this Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by the Company; and (iv) this Agreement constitutes, and,
upon execution and delivery by the Company of the Registration Rights Agreement
and the Warrants, such agreements will constitute, valid and binding obligations
of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their
respective terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium, fraudulent transfer and other laws affecting creditors' rights and
remedies generally and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether
enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).

     c.   Capitalization.  The capitalization of the Company as of the date
          --------------                                                  
hereof, including the authorized capital stock, the number of shares issued and
outstanding, the number of shares issuable and reserved for issuance pursuant to
the Company's stock option plans, the number of shares issuable and reserved for
issuance pursuant to securities exercisable for, or convertible into or
exchangeable for any shares of capital stock and the number of Adjustment Shares
to be reserved for  issuance as required by Section 1(c) hereof and the number
of Warrant Shares to be issued upon the exercise of the Warrants is set forth on
                                                                               
Schedule 3(c).  All of such outstanding shares of capital stock have been, or
- -------------                                                               
upon issuance will be, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.  Except as
set forth on Schedule 3(c), no shares of capital stock of the Company (including
             ------------                                                      
the Initial Shares, the Adjustment Shares and the Warrant Shares) are subject to
preemptive rights or any other similar rights of the stockholders of the Company
or any liens or encumbrances.  Except for the Securities and as disclosed in
                                                                           
Schedule 3(c), as of the date of this Agreement, (i) there are no outstanding
- -------------                                                               
options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any
character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries, or arrangements by which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is or may become bound to issue additional shares of capital stock
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and (ii) there are no agreements or
arrangements under which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is obligated to
register the sale of any of its or their securities under the Securities Act
(except the Registration Rights Agreement).  Except as set forth on Schedule
                                                                    --------
3(c), there are no securities or instruments containing antidilution or similar
- ----                                                                          
provisions that will be triggered by the issuance of the Securities in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement or the Warrants and the holders of
the securities and instruments listed on such Schedule 3(c) have waived any
                                              -------------               
rights they may have under such antidilution or similar provisions in connection
with the issuance of the Securities in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement or the Warrants.  The Company has made available to the Purchaser true
and correct copies of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation as in effect on
the date hereof ("CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION"), the Company's By-laws as in
effect on the date hereof (the "BY-LAWS"), and all other instruments and
agreements governing securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable
for capital stock of the Company, except for stock options granted under any
employee benefit plan or director stock option plan of the Company.

                                       7
<PAGE>

     d.   Issuance of Shares.  The Initial Shares and the Adjustment Shares are
          ------------------                                                  
duly authorized and when issued and  paid for in accordance with the terms
hereof will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and free from all
taxes, liens, claims and encumbrances and will not be subject to preemptive
rights or other similar rights of stockholders of the Company and will not
impose personal liability upon the holder thereof.  The Warrant Shares are duly
authorized and reserved for issuance, and, upon exercise of the Warrants in
accordance with the terms thereof, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-
assessable, and free from all taxes, liens, claims and encumbrances and will not
be subject to preemptive rights or other similar rights of stockholders of the
Company and will not impose personal liability upon the holder thereof.

     e.   No Conflicts.  The execution, delivery and performance of this
          ------------                                                 
Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Warrants by the Company,
and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby (including, without limitation, the issuance and reservation for
issuance, as applicable, of the Initial Shares, Adjustment Shares, the Warrants
and  the Warrant Shares) will not (i) conflict with or result in a violation of
the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws or (ii) conflict with, or constitute
a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a
default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment,
acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which
the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party, or result in a violation of
any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including United States
federal and state securities laws and regulations) applicable to the Company or
any of its subsidiaries or by which any property or asset of the Company or any
of its subsidiaries is bound or affected (except, with respect to clause (ii),
for such conflicts, defaults, terminations, amendments, accelerations,
cancellations and violations as would not, individually or in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect).  Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries is in violation of its Certificate of Incorporation, By-laws or
other organizational documents and neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries is in default (and no event has occurred which, with notice or
lapse of time or both, would put the Company or any of its subsidiaries in
default) under, nor has there occurred any event giving others (with notice or
lapse of time or both) any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or
cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company or
any of its subsidiaries is a party, except for actual or possible violations,
defaults or rights as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect. The businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries are
not being  conducted and, so long as the Purchaser owns any of the Securities
the businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries shall not knowingly be
conducted, in violation of any law, ordinance or regulation of any governmental
entity, except for actual or possible violations, if any, the sanctions for
which either singly or in the aggregate would not have a Material Adverse
Effect.  Except as specifically contemplated by this Agreement and as required
under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws, the Company
is not required to obtain any consent, approval, authorization or order of, or
make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency or any
regulatory or self regulatory agency in order for it to execute, deliver or
perform any of its obligations under this Agreement (including, without
limitation the issuance and sale of the Common Stock as provided hereby),  the
Registration Rights Agreement or the Warrants, in each case in accordance with
the terms hereof or thereof.  The Company is not in violation of the listing
requirements of the

                                       8
<PAGE>

Nasdaq National Market ("NASDAQ") and does not reasonably anticipate that the
Common Stock will be delisted by NASDAQ in the foreseeable future.

     f.   SEC Documents, Financial Statements.  Since May 28, 1996, the Company
          -----------------------------------                                 
has timely filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents
required to be filed by it with the SEC pursuant to  the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT") and has filed all registration
statements and other documents required to be filed by it with the SEC pursuant
to the Securities Act (all of the foregoing filed prior to the date hereof and
after May 28, 1996, and all exhibits included therein and financial statements
and schedules thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, being
hereinafter referred to herein as the "SEC DOCUMENTS").  The Company has made
available to the Purchaser true and complete copies of the SEC Documents, except
for the exhibits and schedules thereto and the documents incorporated therein.
As of their respective dates, the SEC Documents complied in all material
respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as the
case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder
applicable to the SEC Documents, and none of the SEC Documents, at the time they
were filed with the SEC, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading.  Any statements made in any such SEC Documents
that are or were, required to be updated or amended under applicable law has
been or have been so updated or amended.  As of their respective dates, the
financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Documents complied as to
form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the
published rules and regulations of the SEC applicable with respect thereto.
Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States
generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, during the
periods involved (except (i) as may be otherwise indicated in such financial
statements or the notes thereto, or (ii) in the case of unaudited interim
statements, to the extent they may not include footnotes or may be condensed or
summary statements) and fairly present in all material respects the consolidated
financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the
dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows
for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to
normal and recurring  year-end audit adjustments).  Except as set forth in the
SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof, the Company has no liabilities,
contingent or otherwise, other than (i) liabilities incurred in the ordinary
course of business subsequent to the date of such SEC Documents and (ii)
obligations under contracts and commitments incurred in the ordinary course of
business and not required under generally accepted accounting principles to be
reflected in such SEC Documents, which liabilities and obligations referred to
in clauses (i) and (ii), individually or in the aggregate would not have a
Material Adverse Effect.

     g.   Absence of Certain Changes.  Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents,
          --------------------------                                           
since December 31, 1997, there has been no change or development which
individually or in the aggregate has had or would have a Material Adverse
Effect.

                                       9
<PAGE>

     h.   Absence of Litigation.  There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry
          ---------------------                                               
or investigation before or by any court, public board, government agency, self-
regulatory organization or body pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries, threatened against or affecting the Company, any of its
subsidiaries, or any of their respective directors or officers in their
capacities as such which would have a Material Adverse Effect or which would
adversely affect the validity, enforceability of, or the authority or ability of
the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement (including the
issuance of the Initial Shares and the Adjustment Shares and the Warrants), the
Registration Rights Agreement, the Warrant (including the issuance of the
Warrant Shares) or any other agreement or document delivered pursuant hereto or
thereto.

     i.   Intellectual Property.  Each of the Company and its subsidiaries owns
          ---------------------                                               
or is licensed to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark
applications, trade names, service marks, copyrights, copyright applications,
licenses, permits, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or
unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) and
other similar rights and proprietary knowledge (collectively, "INTANGIBLES")
necessary for the conduct of its business as now being conducted and as
described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997 and any Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Current Report on
Form 8-K filed after December 31, 1997. To the best knowledge of the Company,
neither the Company nor any subsidiary of the Company is infringing upon third
party Intangibles which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an
unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect.
Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received written notice that
it is infringing upon third party Intangibles which if determined unfavorably to
the Company, individually or in the aggregate would have a Material Adverse
Effect. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents or as set forth in Schedule
                                                                    --------
3(i), neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has entered into any
- ----                                                                     
material consent, indemnification, forbearance to sue or settlement agreements
with respect to the validity of the Company's or its subsidiaries' ownership or
right to use its Intangibles. The Company and its subsidiaries have complied, in
all material respects, with their respective contractual obligations relating to
the protection of the Intangibles used pursuant to licenses.  To the best
knowledge of the Company, no person is infringing on or violating the
Intangibles owned or used by the Company or its subsidiaries which infringement
or violation would have a Material Adverse Effect.

     j.   Foreign Corrupt Practices.  Neither the Company, nor any of its
          -------------------------                                     
subsidiaries, nor any director, officer, agent, employee or other person acting
on behalf of the Company or any subsidiary has, in the course of his actions
for, or on behalf of, the Company, used any corporate funds for any unlawful
contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to
political activity; made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign
or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; violated or is
in violation of any provision of the United States  Foreign Corrupt Practices
Act of 1977; or made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or
other unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or
employee.

                                       10
<PAGE>

     k.   Disclosure.  All information relating to or concerning the Company set
          ----------                                                           
forth in this Agreement or provided to the Purchaser pursuant to Section 2(d)
hereof and otherwise in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby is
true and correct in all material respects and the Company has not omitted to
state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made herein or
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.  No event or circumstance has occurred or exists with respect to the
Company or its subsidiaries or their respective businesses, properties,
operations or financial conditions, which has not been publicly disclosed but,
under applicable law, rule or regulation, would be required to be disclosed by
the Company in a registration statement filed on the date hereof by the Company
under the Securities Act with respect to a primary issuance of the Company's
securities. The Company has not provided, and without the Purchaser's consent
thereto, will not hereafter provide to the Purchaser, any information which,
according to applicable law, rule or regulation, should have been disclosed
publicly by the Company but which has not been disclosed.

     l.   Acknowledgment Regarding the Purchaser's Purchase of the Securities.
          ------------------------------------------------------------------- 
The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Purchaser is not acting as a
financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company (or in any similar capacity) with
respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, and the
relationship between the Company and the Purchaser is "arms length" and that any
statement made by the Purchaser or any of its representatives or agents in
connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby is not
advice or a recommendation and is merely incidental to the Purchaser's purchase
of Securities and has not been relied upon by the Company, its officers or
directors in any way.  The Company further represents to the Purchaser that the
Company's decision to enter into this Agreement has been based solely on an
independent evaluation by the Company and its representatives.

     m.   Form S-3 Eligibility.  The Company is currently eligible to register
          --------------------                                               
the resale of its Common Stock on a registration statement on Form S-3 under the
Securities Act.   There exist no facts or circumstances that would prohibit or
delay the preparation and filing of a registration statement on Form S-3 with
respect to the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement).

     n.   No General Solicitation.  Neither the Company nor any of its
          -----------------------                                    
affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf  has conducted any
"general solicitation," as such term is defined in Regulation D, with respect to
any of the Securities being offered hereby.

     o.   No Integrated Offering.  Neither the Company, nor any of its
          ----------------------                                     
affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf, has directly or
indirectly made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offerers to
buy any security under circumstances that would require registration of the
Securities being offered hereby under the Securities Act or cause this offering
of Securities to be integrated with any prior offering of securities of the
Company that would require registration of the offering contemplated hereby
under the Securities Act or for purposes of  any applicable stockholder approval
provisions.

     p.   Intentionally Deleted.
          ---------------------

                                       11
<PAGE>

     q.   Acknowledgment of Dilution.  Assuming there is no stock dividend,
          --------------------------                                      
stock split or other similar transaction affecting the Common Stock, the number
of Initial Shares issuable on the Closing Date in accordance with Section 1(c)
hereof, may increase from the date hereof and the number of Adjustment Shares
issuable in accordance with Section 1(d) hereof, may increase from the date
hereof  if the Closing Price  of  Common Stock declines from the date hereof
until the Adjustment Date.   The Company acknowledges that its obligation to
sell the Shares, including its obligation to issue Adjustment Shares, if any,
in accordance with the terms of the hereof  is absolute and unconditional,
regardless of the dilution that such issuance may have on the ownership
interests of other stockholders subject to the Purchaser's performance of its
material obligations hereunder and subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, fraudulent transfer and other laws affecting creditor's rights
and remedies generally and to general principles of equity (regardless of
whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).

     r.   Tax Status. The Company and each of its subsidiaries has made or filed
          ----------                                                           
all federal, state and local income and all other tax returns, reports and
declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject (unless and
only to the extent that the Company and each of its subsidiaries has set aside
on its books provisions reasonably adequate for the payment of all unpaid and
unreported taxes) and has paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and
charges that are material in amount, shown or determined to be due on such
returns, reports and declarations, except those being contested in good faith
and has set aside on its books provisions reasonably adequate for the payment of
all taxes for periods subsequent to the periods to which such returns, reports
or declarations apply.  There are no unpaid taxes in any material amount claimed
to be due by the taxing authority of any jurisdiction.  The Company has not
executed a waiver with respect to any statute of limitations relating to the
assessment or collection of any federal, state or local tax.  Except as set
forth in Schedule 3(r), none of the Company's tax returns has been or is being
         -------------                                                       
audited by any taxing authority.

     s.   Title.  The Company and its subsidiaries have good  title in fee
          -----                                                          
simple to all real property and good  title to all personal property owned by
them which is material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, in
each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except as set
forth on Schedule 3(s) and  such as do not materially affect the value of such
property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be
made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries.  Any real property
and facilities held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries are held by
them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are
not material and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to
be made of such property and buildings by the Company and its subsidiaries.


4.   COVENANTS.
     ---------

     a.   Best Efforts.  The parties shall use their best efforts timely to
          ------------                                                    
satisfy each of the conditions described in Section 6 and Section 7 of this
Agreement.

                                       12
<PAGE>

     b.   Form D; Blue Sky Laws.  The Company agrees to file a Form D with
          ---------------------                                          
respect to the Securities as required under Regulation D and to provide a copy
thereof to the Purchaser promptly after such filing.  The Company shall, on or
before the Closing Date, take such action as the Company shall reasonably
determine is necessary to qualify the Securities for sale to the Purchaser
pursuant to this Agreement under applicable securities or "blue sky" laws of the
states of the United States or obtain exemption therefrom, and shall provide
evidence of any such action so taken to the Purchaser on or prior to the Closing
Date.

     c.   Reporting Status.  So long as the Purchaser beneficially owns any of
          ----------------                                                   
the Securities, the Company shall timely file all reports required to be filed
with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act, and until the Shares have been
subject to an effective registration statement for a period of thirty (30)
consecutive days the Company shall not terminate its status as an issuer
required to file reports under the Exchange Act even if the Exchange Act or the
rules and regulations thereunder would permit such termination.

     d.   Use of Proceeds.  The Company shall  use the net proceeds from the
          ---------------                                                  
sale of the Shares and the Warrant for working capital purposes which may
include acquiring or investing in other related businesses or technologies or
acquiring the rights to use complementary technologies.

     e.   Lock-up.  The Purchaser agrees not to offer to sell, sell, contract to
          -------                                                              
sell or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock
of the Company, any right to acquire such shares of Common Stock of the Company
or any securities exercisable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock of
the Company, which are beneficially owned (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Rules
and Regulations of the SEC under the Exchange Act) by the Purchaser prior to the
date which is 180 days after the Closing Date.

     f.   Financial Information. For a period of two (2) years following the
          ---------------------                                            
Closing, the Company agrees to send the following reports to the Purchaser: (i)
within ten (10) days after the filing with the SEC, a copy of its Annual Report
on Form 10-K, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, its proxy and  information
statements and any Current Reports on Form 8-K; and (ii) within one (1) day
after release, copies of all press releases issued by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries.

     g.   Reservation of Shares.  The Company has and shall at all times have
          ---------------------                                             
authorized and reserved for the purpose of issuance a sufficient number of
shares of Common Stock to provide for the issuance of the maximum number of
Initial Shares and Adjustment Shares as provided in Section 1 hereof and the
full exercise of the Warrants and the issuance of the Warrant Shares in
connection therewith and as otherwise required hereby and by the Warrants. The
Company shall not reduce the number of shares reserved for issuance hereunder or
upon the full exercise of the Warrants (except as a result of any such
conversion or exercise) without the consent of the Purchaser.

                                       13
<PAGE>

     h.   Listing. On the Closing Date, the Company shall have secured the
          -------                                                        
listing of the Initial Shares and promptly following the Closing, the Company
shall secure the listing of the Adjustment Shares, if any, and  Warrant Shares,
in each case, upon each national securities exchange or automated quotation
system, if any, upon which shares of Common Stock are then listed or quoted
(subject to official notice of issuance) and shall maintain, so long as any
other shares of Common Stock shall be so listed, such listing of all Shares from
time to time issuable hereunder and all Warrant Shares from time to time
issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.  The Company will use its best efforts
to continue the listing and trading of its Common Stock on the NASDAQ, the New
York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") or the American Stock Exchange (the "AMEX ")
and will comply in all respects with the Company's reporting, filing and other
obligations under the bylaws or rules of the National Association of Securities
Dealers ("NASD") and such exchanges, as applicable.  In the event the Common
Stock is not eligible to be traded on any of the NASDAQ, NYSE or AMEX and the
Common Stock is not eligible for listing on any such exchange or system, the
Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Common Stock to be eligible for
trading in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board at the
earliest practicable date and remain eligible for trading while any Shares and
Warrant Shares are outstanding.  The Company shall promptly provide to the
holders of the Securities copies of any notices it receives regarding the
continued eligibility of the Common Stock for trading in the over-the-counter
market or, if applicable, any securities exchange (including the NASDAQ) on
which securities of the same class or series issued by the Company are then
listed or quoted, if any.

     i.   Corporate Existence.  Until all Shares have been subject to an
          -------------------                                          
effective registration statement for a period of at least thirty (30)
consecutive days, the Company shall maintain its corporate existence, except in
the event of a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the
Company's assets, as long as the surviving or successor entity in such
transaction assumes the Company's obligations hereunder and under the Warrants
and the agreements and instruments entered into in connection herewith
regardless of whether or not the Company would have had a sufficient number of
shares of Common Stock authorized and available for issuance in order to effect
the issuance of all Shares and the exercise in full of all Warrants outstanding
as of the date of such transaction.

     j.   No Integrated Offerings.  The Company shall not make any offers or
          ------------------------                                         
sales of any security (other than the Securities) under circumstances that would
require registration of the Securities being offered or sold hereunder under the
Securities Act or cause this offering of Securities to be integrated with any
other offering of securities by the Company for purposes of any stockholder
approval provision applicable to the Company or its securities.

     k.   Redemptions and Dividends.  Until all Shares have been issued in
          -------------------------                                      
accordance with the terms hereof, the Company shall not, without first obtaining
the written approval of the Purchaser, redeem, or declare or pay any cash
dividend or distribution on, any shares of capital stock of the Company.

                                       14
<PAGE>

5.   TRANSFER AGENT INSTRUCTIONS.
     ---------------------------

     a.   The Company shall instruct its transfer agent to issue certificates,
registered in the name of the Purchaser or its nominee, for the Adjustment
Shares and the Warrant Shares in such amounts as specified from time to time by
such Purchaser to the Company as provided herein and as required hereby and as
required upon the exercise of the Warrants, as applicable.  To the extent and
during the periods provided in Section 2(f) and Section 2(g) of this Agreement,
all such certificates shall bear the restrictive legend specified in Section
2(g) of this Agreement.

     b.   Except as may be otherwise required by law, the Company warrants that
no instruction other than such instructions referred to in this Section 5, and
stop transfer instructions to give effect to Section 2(f) hereof in the case of
the transfer of the Initial Shares, the Adjustment Shares and the Warrant Shares
prior to registration of the Initial Shares, the Adjustment Shares and the
Warrant Shares under the Securities Act or without an exemption therefrom, will
be given by the Company to its transfer agent and that the Securities shall
otherwise be freely transferable on the books and records of the Company as and
to the extent provided in this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.
Nothing in this Section shall affect in any way the Purchaser's obligations and
agreement set forth in Section 2(g) hereof to resell the Securities pursuant to
an effective registration statement or under an exemption from the registration
requirements of applicable securities law.

     c.   Except as may be otherwise required by law, if the Purchaser provides
the Company with an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Company,
which opinion shall be in form, substance and scope customary for opinions of
counsel in comparable transactions, to the effect that the Securities to be sold
or transferred may be sold or transferred pursuant to an exemption from
registration, or the Purchaser provides the Company with reasonable assurances
that such Securities may be sold under Rule 144 and such documentation as the
Company may reasonable require, the Company shall permit the transfer, and, in
the case of the Shares and Warrant Shares, promptly instruct its transfer agent
to issue one or more certificates in such name and in such denominations as
specified by the Purchaser.


6.   CONDITIONS TO THE COMPANY'S OBLIGATION TO SELL.
     ----------------------------------------------

     The obligation of the Company hereunder to issue and sell the Shares and
the Warrants to the Purchaser hereunder is subject to the satisfaction, at or
before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions thereto, provided
that these conditions are for the Company's sole benefit and may be waived by
the Company at any time in its sole discretion.

     a.   The Purchaser shall have executed the signature page to this Agreement
and the Registration Rights Agreement, and delivered the same to the Company.

     b.   The Purchaser shall have delivered the Total Purchase Price in
accordance with Section 1(e) above.

                                       15
<PAGE>

     c.   The representations and warranties of the Purchaser shall be true and
correct as of the date when made and as of the Closing Date as though made at
that time (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific
date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such
date), and the Purchaser shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all
material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by this
Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Purchaser at or
prior to the Closing Date.

     d.   No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or
injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any
court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory
organization having authority over the matters contemplated hereby which
prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.

7.   CONDITIONS TO THE PURCHASER'S OBLIGATION TO PURCHASE THE SHARES AND THE
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------
WARRANTS.
- -------- 

     The obligation of the Purchaser hereunder to purchase the Shares and the
Warrants hereunder is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing
Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are
for the Purchaser's sole benefit and may be waived by the Purchaser at any time
in the Purchaser's sole discretion:

     a.   The Company shall have executed the signature page to this Agreement
and the Registration Rights Agreement, and delivered the same to the Purchaser.

     b.   The Company shall have delivered to the Purchaser certificates
representing the number of Initial Shares determined as provided in Section 1
above and the duly executed Warrants in accordance with Section 1 above.


     c.   The Shares shall be authorized for quotation on NASDAQ and trading in
the Common Stock (or NASDAQ generally) shall not have been suspended or be under
threat of suspension by the SEC or NASDAQ.

     d.   The representations and warranties of the Company shall be true and
correct as of the date when made and as of the Closing Date as though made at
that time (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific
date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such
date) and the Company shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all
material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by this
Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Company at or prior
to the Closing Date.  The Purchaser shall have received a certificate, executed
on behalf of the Company by its Chief Financial Officer, dated as of the Closing
Date, to the foregoing effect.

                                       16
<PAGE>

     e.   No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling,
injunction, action, proceeding or interpretation shall have been enacted,
entered, promulgated , endorsed or adopted by any court or governmental
authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization, or the
staff of any thereof,  having authority over the matters contemplated hereby
which questions the validity of, or challenges or prohibits the consummation of,
any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     f.   The Purchaser shall have received an opinion of the Company's counsel,
dated as of the Closing Date, in substantially the form of Exhibit C attached
                                                           ---------        
hereto.

     g.   The Company shall have delivered evidence reasonably satisfactory to
the Purchaser that the Company's transfer agent has agreed to act in accordance
with irrevocable instructions in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.
                                                             ---------

     h.   Since July 3, 1998, there has occurred no change or development which
would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 8.  GOVERNING LAW; MISCELLANEOUS.
     ----------------------------

     a.   Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by and
          ---------------------------                                        
construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
applicable to contracts made and to be performed in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.   The Company irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of the
United States federal courts and the state courts located in Boston,
Massachusetts in any suit or proceeding based on or arising under this Agreement
and irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of such suit or proceeding may
be determined in such courts. The Company irrevocably waives the defense of an
inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such suit or proceeding. The Company
further agrees that service of process upon the Company mailed by first class
mail shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the
Company in any such suit or proceeding. Nothing herein shall affect the right of
the Purchaser to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. The Company
agrees that a final non-appealable judgment in any such suit or proceeding shall
be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on such
judgment or in any other lawful manner.

     b.   Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more
          ------------                                               
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and
shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and
delivered to the other party.  This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be
delivered to the other parties hereto by facsimile transmission of a copy of
this Agreement bearing the signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.
In the event any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission, the party
using such means of delivery shall cause the manually executed Execution Page(s)
hereof to be physically delivered to the other party within five (5) days of the
execution hereof.

     c.   Headings.  The headings of this Agreement are for convenience of
          --------                                                       
reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this
Agreement.

                                       17
<PAGE>

     d.   Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or
          ------------                                                        
unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement or the
validity or enforceability of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction.

     e.   Entire Agreement; Amendments.  This Agreement and the instruments
          ----------------------------                                    
referenced herein contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect
to the matters covered herein and therein and, except as specifically set forth
herein or therein, neither the Company nor the Purchaser make any
representation, warranty, covenant or undertaking with respect to such matters.
No provision of this Agreement may be waived other than by an instrument in
writing signed by the \party to be charged with enforcement and no provision of
this Agreement may be amended other than by an instrument in writing signed by
the Company and the Purchaser.

     f.   Notices.  Any notices required or permitted to be given under the
          -------                                                         
terms of this Agreement shall be sent by certified or registered mail (return
receipt requested) or delivered personally or by courier or by confirmed
telecopy, and shall be effective five days after being placed in the mail, if
mailed, or upon receipt or refusal of receipt, if delivered personally or by
courier or confirmed telecopy, in each case addressed to a party.  The addresses
for such communications shall be:

               If to the Company:

                    OPEN MARKET, INC.
                    One Wayside Road
                    Burlington, MA 01803
                    Telephone No.: (781) 359-3000
                    Telecopy No.: (781) 359-8118
                    Attention:    Regina O. Sommer

                         with a copies  to:

                    OPEN MARKET, INC.
                    One Wayside Road
                    Burlington, MA 01803
                    Telephone No.: (781) 359-3000
                    Telecopy No.: (781) 359-8129
                    Attention:    Legal Counsel

                         and

                    HALE & DORR LLP
                    60 State Street
                    Boston, MA 02109
                    Telephone No.: (617) 526-6000
                    Telecopy No.: (617) 526-5000
                    Attention:    John H. Chory, Esq.


                                       18
<PAGE>

     If to the Purchaser, to the address set forth under the Purchaser's name on
the signature page hereto executed by the Purchaser.

     Each party shall provide notice to the other parties of any change in
address.

     g.   Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and
          ----------------------                                          
inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and assigns.  Except as
provided herein, neither the Company nor the Purchaser shall assign this
Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Purchaser may assign its rights hereunder to any of its "affiliates," as
that term is defined under the Exchange Act, without the consent of the Company
or to any other person or entity with the consent of the Company.  This
provision shall not limit the Purchaser's right to transfer the Securities
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Warrants or the Registration Rights
Agreement or to assign the Purchaser's rights hereunder to any such transferee.

     h.   Third Party Beneficiaries.  This Agreement is intended for the benefit
          -------------------------                                            
of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and
is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any
other person.

     i.   Survival.  The representations and warranties of the Company and the
          --------                                                           
agreements and covenants set forth in Sections 3, 4, 5 and 8 shall survive the
Closing hereunder notwithstanding any due diligence investigation conducted by
or on behalf of the Purchaser so long as the Purchaser or any of its permitted
assigns own Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement).  Moreover, none of the representations and warranties made by the
Company herein shall act as a waiver of any rights or remedies the Purchaser may
have under applicable federal or state securities laws.  The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser and each of the Purchaser's officers,
directors, employees, partners, members, agents and affiliates for loss or
damage relating to the Securities purchased hereunder arising as a result of or
related to any breach by the Company of any of its representations or covenants
set forth herein, including advancement of expenses as they are incurred.

     j.   Publicity.  The Company and the Purchaser shall have the right to
          ---------                                                       
approve before issuance any press releases, SEC, NASDAQ or NASD filings, or any
other public statements with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby;
provided, however, that the Company shall be entitled, without the prior
approval of the Purchaser, to make any press release or SEC, NASDAQ or NASD
filings with respect to such transactions as is required by applicable law and
regulations (although the Purchaser shall be entitled to review and comment upon
any such press release prior to its release).  In furtherance of the foregoing,
the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC within five (5) calendar days of
the Closing, a Current Report on Form 8-K describing the transactions
contemplated herein, which Current Report shall include as exhibits copies of
this Agreement, the Warrant and the Registration Rights Agreement.

                                       19
<PAGE>

     k.   Further Assurances.  Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be
          ------------------                                                 
done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and
deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as
the other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and
accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby.

     l.   Termination.  In the event that the Closing Date shall not have
          -----------                                                   
occurred on or before July 31, 1998, unless the parties agree otherwise, this
Agreement shall terminate at the close of business on such date.
Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, any party not in breach of
this Agreement shall preserve all rights and remedies it may have against
another party hereto for a breach of this Agreement prior to or relating to the
termination hereof.

     m.   Exclusivity.  Until the earlier of the Closing Date or the date this
          -----------                                                        
Agreement is terminated as provided in Section 8(l) hereof, the Company shall
not directly or indirectly, solicit, initiate, consider or encourage any
proposal or offer from any person other than the Purchaser, relating to the
issuance and the sale of any Common Stock or security, warrant or right
convertible into or exercisable for any Common Stock.


     n.   Joint Participation in Drafting.  Each party to this Agreement has
          -------------------------------                                  
participated in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement,  the Warrants
and the Registration Rights Agreement.  As such, the language used herein and
therein shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to
express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction will be applied
against any party to this Agreement.

     o.   Equitable Relief.  The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its
          ----------------                                                     
obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Purchaser by vitiating
the intent and purpose of the transactions contemplated hereby.  Accordingly,
the Company acknowledges that the remedy at law for a breach of its obligations
hereunder (including, but not limited to, its obligations pursuant to Section 5
hereof) will be inadequate and agrees, in the event of a breach or threatened
breach by the Company of the provisions of this Agreement (including, but not
limited to, its obligations pursuant to Section 5 hereof), that the Purchaser
shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an injunction
restraining any breach and requiring immediate issuance and transfer, without
the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security
being required.

                                       20
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Purchaser and the Company have caused
this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.


                    COMPANY:

                    OPEN MARKET, INC.

                          
                    By: /s/ Regina O. Sommer
                        _____________________________________________
                    Name: Regina O. Sommer
                    Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


                    PURCHASER:

                    CMG INFORMATION SERVICES, INC.


                    By: /s/ Andrew Hajducky
                        _____________________________________________
                    Name: Andrew Hajducky
                    Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
                    Address:        100 Brickstone Square
                                    Andover, MA 10810
                    Telephone No.:  (978) 684-3660
                    Telecopy No.:   (978) 684-3672
                    Attention:      Andrew Hajducky
                                    Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

                        with copies of all notices to:

                                       21