Avnet Electronics Marketing and Technology Forecasters Inc. Jointly Offer Supply Chain Services and Consulting to Mid-Tier OEMs.

PHOENIX & ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Avnet Electronics Marketing, an operating group of Avnet Inc. (NYSE: AVT), today announced the launch of The Avnet Connection, powered by Technology Forecasters Inc.

The Avnet Connection, a joint offering between Avnet Electronics Marketing and Technology Forecasters Inc., helps mid-sized Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) seamlessly build and maintain global manufacturing relationships with contract manufacturers and component suppliers. The Avnet Connection offers the following benefits for subscribers:

--Participation in the Global Supply Chain Optimization Workshop, held in Chicago on Feb. 7, 2006. To register, please visit: https://www.seeuthere.com/rsvp/invitation/invitation.asp?id=/ m2c76a-175216128429

--Participation in the Global Pricing Workshop -- A robust methodology for comparing Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) pricing services in different regions -- workshops will be conducted in Denver on March 1; and elsewhere in 2006. The workshops will give participating OEMs the necessary tools to build a global manufacturing strategy that makes sense for their products and customers. To register for the Denver event, please visit: https://www.seeuthere.com/register/m2c76a-265407440278

--Participation in the Quarterly Forum -- A community for gathering and sharing information about best practices in global outsourcing. OEMs can network informally with EMS Quarterly Forum members and obtain objective third-party business data about the industry.

--Access to Avnet's "Support Across the Globe" Network for their complete electronic component Bill Of Materials (BOM) -- offering design and supply chain services to get the latest technology and global supply chain support, no matter where they build and sell their electronic products.

"When a large OEM outsources manufacturing to a contract manufacturer or Original Design Manufacturers (ODMs) with facilities in a region with low-cost labor, typically they continue to enjoy tremendous leverage with their component suppliers. They have high volume manufacturing, and procure large quantities of components for several product lines, and therefore are in a position of strength," explained Greg Frazier, executive vice president of global supply chain services for Avnet Electronics Marketing.

"As mid-sized North American or European OEMs embark on the strategic global migration journey, or explore their options, they have a whole different experience than do the large OEMs. They don't have the size and scale to obtain mindshare with component suppliers, or with contract manufacturers. They want the same command, control and continuity of their supply chains that they enjoy with their North American or Western European operations. They face significant challenges as they select contract manufacturers and ODMs in so-called low-cost regions - with intellectual property protection, finance, logistics, and international trade. The Avnet Connection alliance will help these mid-sized OEMs work through challenges and develop profitable and effective manufacturing relationships," Frazier concluded.

"The challenges related to product design, prototyping, component sourcing, production, and end-product distribution as well as compliance to new global environmental requirements are daunting even for the largest companies. Mid-sized companies are increasingly challenged to produce and ship products globally in a profitable manner," noted Pamela Gordon, president of Technology Forecasters Inc. "Now mid-sized OEMs can leverage the design and supply chain resources of Avnet Electronics Marketing and the Technology Forecasters Inc. Quarterly Forum community, giving them a huge advantage."

Through TFI's Quarterly Forum for Outsourced Manufacturing and Supply Chain, Global Pricing Workshop and services such as the Industry Report Card and Buyers' Guide, as well as the complete suite of Avnet Electronic Marketing's global design and supply chain services, these companies can mitigate much of the risk that comes from global electronics manufacturing. For more information about The Avnet Connection, please contact Greg Frazier with Avnet at: [e-mail], 480-643-4146; OR Jennifer Read with TFI at: [e-mail], 623-293-6985. To download a white paper titled The Evolution and Future of Global Outsourcing, go to www.techforecasters.com/contact_wp.html.

About Avnet Electronics Marketing

Avnet Electronics Marketing is the largest operating group of Phoenix-based Avnet Inc., a Fortune 500 company. Avnet Electronics Marketing serves electronic original equipment manufacturers (EOEMs) and electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers in 68 countries, distributing electronic components from leading manufacturers and providing associated design-chain and supply-chain services. The group's Web site is located at http://www.em.avnet.com.

Avnet enables success from the center of the technology industry, providing cost-effective services and solutions vital to a broad base of more than 100,000 customers and 300 suppliers. The company markets, distributes and adds value to a wide variety of electronic components, enterprise computer products and embedded subsystems. Through its premier market position, Avnet brings a breadth and depth of capabilities that help its trading partners accelerate growth and realize cost efficiencies. Avnet and the company it acquired in July 2005, Memec Group Holdings Limited, together generated more than $13 billion in revenue in the past year through sales in 68 countries. Visit www.avnet.com/.

About Technology Forecasters Inc.

Technology Forecasters Inc. brings market insight and strategic advice for effective global outsourcing decisions and profitable environmental strategies. With an unbiased perspective on the market and the Quarterly Forum -- the only member-directed community for electronics companies, their manufacturers, and suppliers -- TFI provides a unique combination of information, resources, and peer interaction to support customer and supplier relationship management. www.techforecasters.com