| Brick-and-mortar companies looking for swift entree to e-business may find a shortcut by investing in fledgling—even ailing—dotcoms.
European grocer Royal Ahold will pay $73 million for 51 percent of online grocer Peapod Inc., rescuing a company that had just lost its CEO and a round of critical financing. Meanwhile, Safeway Inc. took a shortcut to online sales by putting up $30 million for half of GroceryWorks.com.
It’s not just a grocery phenomenon. If industry watchers are right, these old/new economy couplings may be just the beginning. Many expect brick-and-mortar companies in other industry segments to take advantage of depressed dotcom valuations to grab cheap and speedy access to technology expertise and infrastructure, and other specialized knowledge built upon a pure Internet strategy.
The result may be more hybrid firms with established brick-and-mortar customers and the technology and know-how of a dotcom. | 
