Mining and Metals Marketplace Launches Unique Technology Vendor Review.

Business Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 10

The global, online procurement marketplace for the mining, metals and minerals industry this week begins a comprehensive, competitive review of Ariba, CommerceOne and Oracle. The three technology providers are the final candidates in a request for proposal process, and will participate in a two-day capability review that will be conducted concurrently in seven countries. The three technology companies will demonstrate their technical and organizational capabilities to the marketplace's 14 founding shareholders in concurrent sessions in London, Melbourne, Johannesburg, Santiago, Rio de Janeiro, Toronto and Phoenix.

These presentations and the subsequent proposal review process ultimately will result in the awarding in early August of a contract to create the first global technology platform to facilitate the procurement of the full range of goods and services across the mining and metals industry. The procurement practices of the mining, metals and minerals industry extend to more than 100 countries. The capability sessions are being conducted with the assistance of the Andersen Consulting global mining practice, which is serving as the solution provider to the marketplace during the design, build and launch phase.

Tracy A. Stevenson, Interim CEO of the marketplace, said, "Our somewhat unusual approach to the request for proposal process is indicative of the comprehensive and unique business solution being planned for the mining, metals and minerals marketplace. We will be the first, truly global online procurement marketplace with the ability to unite a wide range of buyers and suppliers of all sizes and from every possible location, from Kalgoorlie, Australia and Calama, Chile to London, Canada and Arizona. Our request for proposal process will determine the vendor with the technical and organizational capability and ambition to be the first to create a comprehensive global technology platform for ecommerce."

It is anticipated that the independent, open and neutral marketplace will provide unrivaled access to procurement sources worldwide and will transform the procurement practices of the mining, metals and minerals industry. Buyers and suppliers will benefit from standardization, transparency, streamlined transaction processes and improved inventory management. The mining, metals and minerals marketplace is open to participation by all buyers and suppliers regardless of size, location or product line. For more information about the mining, metals and minerals marketplace, visit the website at www.mmprocurement.com.

The founding shareholders of the mining, metals and minerals procurement site include Alcan Aluminium Limited, Alcoa Inc., Anglo American plc, Barrick Gold Corp, The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited (BHP), Corporacion Nacional del Cobre de Chile (CODELCO), Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD), De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd., Inco Limited, Newmont Mining Corporation, Noranda Inc., Phelps Dodge Corporation, Rio Tinto and WMC Limited. In 1999, the estimated procurement spending of the industry was approximately US$200 billion.