Quadrem Goes Live! Mining, Minerals and Metals eMarketplace Completes First Global Pilot.

Business/Technology Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 1, 2000

Today, Quadrem - the Mining, Minerals and Metals eMarketplace, completed its first commercial transactions as part of a global pilot program. Over 20 suppliers and 12 buyers participated in the two-day launch event on October 30 - 31. A range of procurement transactions were completed around the globe, in four languages, using the Quadrem marketplace.

"This successful launch of marketplace operations marks another major milestone in Quadrem's development of a global e-business platform," explained Quadrem interim CEO Tracy Stevenson. "We are pleased with the number of buyers and suppliers who participated in the launch and expect many more buyers and suppliers will get involved as we continue pilot operations during the fourth quarter."

The launch involved an array of procurement transactions, auctions, and product sourcing using the new Quadrem marketplace platform that is powered by Commerce One (NASDAQ: CMRC) and SAPMarkets. Over the course of two days, buyers browsed catalogs and researched product information, pricing and specific attributes of items from an existing supplier; created customized requisitions and purchase orders that were sent via the Internet to the Quadrem eMarketplace, where suppliers collected them. Buyers also created online auctions where they specified the items, suppliers, and bidding procedures.

"The pilot operations give customers the chance to learn that using the Internet is simple, secure and reliable," said Stevenson. "We invested the right amount of time and effort up front to get customers comfortable. We included a survey and are most pleased by the feedback. The actual transactions and auctions conducted today were completed quickly and with ease."

The pilot involved founding shareholder companies and more than 20 suppliers with transactions taking place around the world, demonstrating that Quadrem is truly a global exchange: North America, South America East and West, Europe, Southern Africa, and Australia.

Participating suppliers included: Alpha Trading & Supply, Amsted Maxion, Atkins Carlyle, Blackwoods, Canadian Bearings, Corporate Express, Crescent Electric, Fastenal, Ferreteria Prat, Finning, Glenvalve, Hyster, Marmon/Keystone, Motion Industries, Inc., National Bearing, and Tredcor.

About Quadrem

Quadrem, an open, independent, Internet-based global procurement and services eMarketplace, serves as an online global "buy side" procurement site for the mining, minerals and metals industry. After an extensive RFP process, SAPMarkets and Commerce One were selected as Quadrem technology vendor in August.

The 17 founding shareholders of Quadrem, who represent the leading mining, minerals and metals companies from around the world, are: 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., Imerys, Inco Limited, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Newmont Mining Corporation, Noranda Inc., Pechiney, Phelps Dodge Corporation, Rio Tinto, and WMC Limited.

For more information about Quadrem or to enroll, visit www.quadrem.com.

About SAPMarkets and Commerce One

In June 2000, SAPMarkets and Commerce One (Nasdaq: CMRC) announced the teaming of Commerce One's leading e-marketplace infrastructure and B2B solutions with top-rated mySAP.com e-business applications from SAP (NYSE ADR: SAP) and SAPMarkets. The joint offering combines e-procurement with collaborative services for trading communities, dramatically reducing cycle times, improving customer relationships and increasing productivity for businesses worldwide. The Commerce One and SAPMarkets team strategy is unique in the industry, including product strategy, co-engineering, joint marketing, sales and support, and thus offers enterprises and trading communities a single source for the entire range of open business-to-business solutions and e-marketplaces. Commerce One is located in Pleasanton, Calif., and can be reached at http://www.commerceone.com. SAPMarkets, based in Palo Alto, Calif., can be found at http://www.sapmarkets.com. More information on SAP can be found at http://www.sap.com.

BACKGROUNDER

QUADREM

SUPPLIER QUOTABLE QUOTES

Australia

"As a major supplier of industrial, electrical and automotive consumables to the Australian and Indonesian market places, Atkins Carlyle places great importance on its ability to participate in the emerging eCommerce marketplace. We look forward to a close and mutually beneficial relationship with all of the members of the Quadrem group and to moving ahead together with the implementation of this new and exciting technology."

Chris Jones

CEO, Atkins Carlyle Industrial

"Corporate Express is pleased to be involved in the launch of Quadrem as a supplier of indirect goods and services for the office. The mining industry has typically been a difficult industry to target due to the remoteness of most sites and diversity of needs. Quadrem provides an excellent environment for Corporate Express to present its catalogue of products and services to an aggregated buying community within this vertical market. The additional benefits of providing on-line procurement within the eMarketplace further assist in reducing supply chain costs thereby enhancing the overall savings possible for both buyers and sellers."

Grant Harrod

General Manager, Sales & Marketing, Corporate Express Australia Limited

Canada

"At National Bearing Inc., the largest Canadian MRO Distributor, we are convinced that this e-commerce experience with Quadrem will help us maximize the use of our country-wide distribution network and help us to better serve our customers, as well as increasing our world-wide market opportunities."

Richard Bernier

Information & Technology Manager, National Bearing Inc.

Chile

"Finning Chile is very proud to have been chosen as the first eCommerce partner by Escondida, and has also found that working through electronic interfaces allows us to provide a better service, minimizing mistakes and waste of time on both ends. Finning is looking forward to working in the Quadrem initiative, which will allow us to project our company as an international e-business partner."

Oscar Constanzo

Office Manager, Finning - Escondida

"This new way of doing business is our main challenge particularly since if the largest mining companies in the world are present in this eMarketplace. We hope and trust that Quadrem will allow us to foster a closer and improved commercial relationship with other companies as this process becomes a practical, efficient and global solution for all the participating companies."

Rodrigo Oyarzun,

Owner and Manager, Ferreteria Prat

South Africa

"As a major supplier to the mining industry, Glenvalve is proud to be associated with Quadrem, and for being chosen as one of the first eCommerce partners by Anglo American plc. We trust that this would not only improve efficiency to our existing customers, but also give us greater global exposure."

Brian Holford

Sales & Marketing Manager, Glenvalve.

"As a leading player within the Southern African tyre industry, Tredcor welcomes this opportunity to participate in Quadrem's eCommerce initiative, allowing us to forge even closer, more mutually beneficial relationships with major customers."

JD A Stones, Group IS Manager, Tredcor

United States

"Quadrem's technology platform provides an opportunity for suppliers and buyers to create efficiencies and reduce costs. Fastenal is pleased to be a participating supplier in this new global online exchange."

Brian Fihn

E-Business Development Manager, Fastenal Company

"Marmon/Keystone enjoyed participating in the Quadrem program and is pleased to be one of the initial participants."

Bill Worwood, Product Manager, Marmon/Keystone