CMGI Explores Options

Internet operator and investor CMGI Inc. said its fiscal second-quarter net loss widened dramatically and warned of slowing sales in the next quarter as it considers selling more businesses to make itself profitable. After the market closed, CMGI said it was exploring alternatives that included the sale of its majority-owned Web hosting provider NaviSite Inc., which has hired Goldman Sachs to review bidders. CMGI’s marketing unit AdForce and Activate, a provider of Internet broadcast services, also could be sold, executives said. Andover, Mass.-based CMGI, whose holdings include search engine AltaVista, said its net loss for the quarter ended Jan. 31 widened to $2.6 billion, or $7.86 a share, from $186 million, or 74 cents, a year ago. Revenue more than doubled to $342.7 million from $153.5 million. That fell within the company’s forecast of revenue between $335 million and $345 million for the quarter.