Exhibit 99.1

                                VERTICALNET, INC.

                  CERTIFICATION BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
          RELATING TO A PERIODIC REPORT CONTAINING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


      I, Kevin S. McKay, President and Chief Executive Officer of Verticalnet,
Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (the "Company"), hereby certify that:

      (1) The Company's periodic report on Form 10-Q for the period ended
September 30, 2002 (the "Form 10-Q") fully complies with the requirements of
Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

      (2) The information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.

                                      * * *


_____________________________________
Kevin S. McKay
President and Chief Executive Officer
Date: November 7, 2002