eScout and Com2B Announce International Partnership; Enables Seamless Trade Between U.S. and Taiwanese Companies.

Business Editors & Technology Writers

LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2001

eScout(SM), a leading, web-based e-commerce and e-business network for mainstream companies, and Com2B, the leading e-marketplace service provider in the greater China region, announced a partnership that will allow U.S. and Taiwanese companies to conduct international trade electronically through their respective marketplaces.

Backed by worldwide leading technologies and world-class partnerships, Com2B operates a regional e-marketplace and promotes the growth of industry-specific e-marketplaces in Taiwan and the surrounding regions. The robust platform and proven, comprehensive solutions and services from Com2B allow all trading partners to rapidly conduct business without the barriers of time, space and technology.

eScout currently serves more than 11,000 U.S. businesses, with more than 200 members joining weekly. "As we grow, so do the requests for enabling international trade," said Jude Dieterman, president of eScout. "Many of the 100 marketplaces we power include businesses that trade overseas. By leveraging the Global Trading Web(TM), the world's largest business-to-business trading community, founded by Commerce One(R), Inc. (Nasdaq:CMRC), eScout and Com2B can rapidly connect marketplaces, giving U.S.-based members seamless access to global suppliers and buyers while creating additional trading and procurement efficiencies," added Dieterman.

Dr. Mike Lee, president and COO of Com2B, said: "Com2B is Commerce One's leading MSP (marketplace service provider) in Taiwan, capable of establishing a large-scale B2B marketplace and utilizing related technology for direct and indirect material procurement. Com2B's partnership with eScout will bridge the two geographies to offer a complete end-to-end solution for procurement."

Jupiter Media Metrix Research indicates B2B e-commerce will experience astounding growth, rising to $6.3 trillion in 2005, from $336 billion in 2000. The e-commerce partnership between eScout and Com2B connects similar platform technologies and provides regional expertise of the marketplaces themselves, allowing buying and selling processes to remain much the same on an international basis. Therefore, businesses can transact internationally without learning new systems, or installing new software.

By utilizing xCBL (XML Common Business Library), an open XML standard for electronic business-to-business trading and the Commerce One MarketSite(TM) Operating Environment, eScout's U.S. marketplaces were connected with Com2B's Taiwan marketplaces in less than one week. "With this integration, we overcame processes that normally take three to six months and are rarely done because of the high level of difficulty and lack of standards. This efficient integration process sets an industry-leading precedent that will substantially vault international e-commerce forward," said Kelly Babbit, senior vice president, advanced development. "This partnership also allows us to connect buyers and sellers through a marketplace, as opposed to making one-to-one connections that are highly expensive and time-consuming, especially in the international arena."

This alliance comes after a year in which eScout raised $57.5 million in funding, aligned with 11 major U.S. regional banks, and grew to a banking network of nearly 1,300 community banks. eScout's bank network represents more than $360 billion in assets and serves in excess of 1.7 million commercial customers. eScout MarketPlace(SM) suppliers offer more than 4 million products and services in virtual inventory.

For more information or to become an eScout member, contact Shannon Guder, 816/448-4759 or visit http://www.escout.com.

About eScout(SM)

eScout(SM) is a leading e-business solutions provider for mainstream companies, utilizing the Internet to provide broader business opportunities, increased operational efficiencies, reduced costs and managed business processes. eScout's national network of nearly 1,300 community and regional banks represents 13 percent of the nation's banks and more than $360 billion in assets. More than 11,000 bank-sponsored businesses form eScout's online network where companies transact business through more than 100 eScout-powered private exchanges, including eScout MarketPlace(SM) -- one of the most liquid marketplaces on The Global Trading Web(TM). The eScout ACH system and payment gateway allow transactions to be cleared electronically. Additionally, eScout provides business applications and a rich collection of tailored information sources. eScout raised $57.5 million in capital from several venture capital firms including: Mayfield Fund; Oak Hill Venture Partners, L.P.; Citizens Financial Group, Inc.; Harris Bank (NYSE:BMO); Golden State Bancorp Inc. (NYSE:GSB); and Commerce One (Nasdaq:CMRC). eScout is headquartered at 850 NW Chipman Road, Lee's Summit, MO 64063. Visit www.escout.com or call 1-888-SCOUT4U for more information.

About Com2B.com

Com2B Corp., which launched services in July, 2000, is the leading Marketplace Service Provider in Asia. The Com2B Portal covers nine vertical industries: Telecommunications, Automobiles, Computer Parts, Semiconductors, Retail, Cable, Machinery, Securities and Chemicals. The fully mature, open e-marketplace of Com2B offers e-procurement of MRO goods, Direct Material Solutions and value-added Business Services, including information, payment and logistics management. The Mission of Com2B is to bring Taiwan enterprises to link with global markets through the Commerce One Global Trading Web of Commerce One, the world's largest business-to-business trading community. The shareholders of Com2B Corp. include Compaq Computer Corp., Commerce One Inc. and major industrial leaders, including Far Eastern Group, Lite-On Group, NetPacific, SeSoda, Shin-Kong Securities, Systex Group, Wal-Sin Lih-Hwa Group and Yulon Group. For more information, please visit www.com2b.com.

Editors and Reporters: For more information, visit the eScout media room at http://www.escout.com/media_room/.