Avnet CMG Introduces Avnet Direct -- a New Electronic Commerce Business Unit; Putting 40,000 Computer Products at Customers' Fingertips.

TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 25, 1997--Rich Ward, president of Avnet's Computer Marketing Group (CMG), announced today the introduction of Avnet Direct, a new business dedicated to selling name brand computer products and services over the Internet to business customers. Avnet Direct's Web site, at www.avnetdirect.com, provides inventory availability, pricing, specifications, features and benefits for more than 40,000 computer products from 130 industry-leading manufacturers, such as Digital Equipment Corp., Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel and Microsoft.

According to Richard Lawson, Avnet Direct's general manager, the new business unit was created to meet the needs of customers who are looking for the most efficient way to acquire information technology. ``Our mission is to provide those companies who prefer to do business over the Internet easy access to CMG's world-class products and customer support services, as well as the flexibility to virtually build their own systems according to their specific requirements,'' said Mr. Lawson. ``More and more companies will standardize on Web commerce in the future. We intend to be well- placed and well-prepared to not only meet our customers' need for efficiency, but to help make them more educated buyers.''

Accessible seven days a week, 24 hours a day, Avnet Direct's Web site features a product search and configuration engine which allows customers to custom build their own computer system based on their unique specifications. Customers can specify processor type and speed, amount of RAM, disk drive size and more. The engine then searches for those systems that meet the specifications and lists them side-by-side for a price and feature comparison. Once the system has been ``virtually'' built at the Avnet Direct Web site, an order is automatically sent to Avnet CMG's Production Integration Center (PICenter) for the physical system build. Custom systems are shipped within 48 hours from order receipt. For those who want a proven entry-level, mid-range or high-performance system, Avnet Direct also offers more than 20 preconfigured name brand systems. Avnet Direct currently has one Web site but plans to introduce more sites in the future which are customized to specific environments.

Avnet CMG provides marketing support, pricing strategies and supplier relationship management, for Avnet Computer, Avnet Direct and Hall-Mark Computer Products. Avnet CMG is an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT). Avnet, Inc. is a Fortune 500 company with annual sales exceeding $5.4 billion.

CONTACT: Avnet EMG, Tempe

Mark Wood, 602/736-7711