Cerplex Releases Enhanced Version of the PartSmart Network; Access to More Than 16 Million Computer Parts and Supplies Now Available From the E-Commerce Service.

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 2, 1999--

The Cerplex Group Inc. (OTC BB:CPLX), a leading provider of parts, repair and logistics services to the high-tech industry, Thursday announced the official launch of the enhanced version of the PartSmart Network(TM) (PSN).

The network facilitated the company's successful progression into a full-service information exchange and expanded parts inventory business.

PartSmart has revolutionized the parts procurement process. Users can easily search the parts inventories of multiple parts suppliers to find the parts they need faster and more efficiently. PSN enables buyers to search for multi-vendor parts, obtain up-to-date part availability and prices, order parts immediately online, track orders, request quotes and view procurement reports by product, company or user. By providing an enormous inventory and easy and convenient ordering access, Cerplex has lowered procurement costs and increased efficiency for their customers.

Customers today are searching PartSmart for PC, notebook, printer and communications parts from hardware manufacturers such as Dell, Compaq, Toshiba, Canon and Hewlett Packard. With an available inventory valued at more than $3 billion and containing more than 100,000 part numbers and 16.8 million parts and supplies, the PartSmart Network is a business to business Internet-based information exchange that provides cost-effective on-line procurement of new and refurbished parts from over 75 parts suppliers. Cerplex also maintains relationships with a network of over 500 additional parts suppliers for specialty or hard-to-find items.

Currently, PSN has an available inventory that includes desktop and laptop memory, modems, keyboards, network interface cards, motherboards, storage devices, power supplies, LCD panels, CD-ROMs and more. Whole units such as refurbished monitors, printers and desktops are also available on the PartSmart Network. PSN is designed to make parts procurement more efficient for both buyers and sellers. Since PSN is web-based, it is universally accessible by any platform through a web browser and available for order processing or tracking 24 hours a day. Buyers now have immediate access to this extensive inventory and sellers have access to an unlimited number of potential customers.

"The old days of processing and waiting for competitive bid responses are over," said Cris Crosswy, president, Parts Division, Cerplex. "Before using the PartSmart Network, parts buyers placed multiple calls or sent faxes to several different parts suppliers to find parts at competitive prices. This time-consuming process required multiple follow-up calls for billing, reporting and shipping information from all the vendors on the customer's bid list. Using PSN, the customer can specify the manufacturer, part number, or part description in their search criteria and instantly determine quantity and pricing, availability, warranty information, part condition and shipping deadlines for new, hard-to-find and refurbished service parts -- all from a single source."

The PartSmart Network also provides an online request for quote (RFQ) form for customers requesting a special part, a substantial quantity of a particular part number, or a part that did not appear after their initial part search. Highly experienced Cerplex specialists constantly monitor incoming RFQs and respond promptly to customer requests. The PartSmart Network also enables Cerplex to create a secure user environment to design custom views and detailed reports by user group or department. The system accepts payment by purchase order and major credit cards for maximum flexibility.

The PartSmart Network features comprehensive order tracking capabilities which enable the customer to create a detailed customized view of their orders by order date, shipping date, waybill numbers (with a link to the freight carrier's tracking page), open orders, RFQs, by product and by user. The PSN web-based front-end interface is tied into Cerplex's internal system for more efficient and accurate order processing. Cerplex can fulfill most orders, including emergency shipping options, as late as 9 p.m. EST  for next-day delivery. PartSmart also provides a waybill number, enabling purchasers to go online to check the status of their order, anytime.

As an additional service, the Cerplex Advance Exchange program provides buyers with the option of swapping a damaged part for a new one or one that has been refurbished by Cerplex.

All PSN suppliers are certified through strict quality standards. Suppliers only list inventory that is currently in stock and ready to be shipped. The parts database is updated several times a day to reflect the most current inventory levels.

For more information on PSN, visit www.cerplex.com. To receive further information or schedule a PartSmart demonstration, call Toll Free: 877/CERPLEX or contact [e-mail].

About Cerplex

The Cerplex Group is a leading provider of parts, repair and logistics services to the high-technology industry. Cerplex offers a complete portfolio of asset utilization and service management solutions primarily to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), third-party maintainers (TPMs), multi-vendor service organizations, self-maintainers, contract manufacturers, leasing companies, retailers, and extended warranty providers in the information technology, office automation and telecommunications industries.

With headquarters in Irvine, the company operates U.S. facilities in Livermore, Calif.; Louisville, Ky.; and Tewksbury, Mass. Internationally, the company operates in Enfield, United Kingdom.

The Cerplex Group Inc. is located at 111 Pacifica Ave., Suite 300, Irvine, Calif. 92618. Call Toll Free: 877/CERPLEX, Fax: [phone], www.cerplex.com.