EDS CoNext Announces eBreviate's eSourcing Solutions for Online B2B Procurement

eBreviate Delivers Web-Native Strategic Procurement Tools and Auction Services

CHICAGO, Illinois (April 19, 2000) EDS CoNext, an EDS company, today announced the introduction of its eBreviate business unit, a market leader in full-service, Internet-enabled, B2B eSourcing solutions. eBreviate combines deep procurement experience drawn from A.T. Kearney, EDS's
management consultancy, with the strength of global IT services leader EDS to provide leading Internet solutions such as online B2B downward auctions for corporate purchasers.

eBreviate's eSourcing solutions are designed to capitalize on the tremendous opportunities in the business-to-business (B2B) transactions market, estimated by Forrester Research to be $30 billion this year and top $1.3 trillion in 2002. As downward auctions become more prevalent within the
corporate procurement function, eBreviate's technology can enable a new model of comprehensive Internet-based eSourcing solutions, including electronic RFI and RFP functionality.

"eBreviate's growing portfolio of technology-based strategic sourcing solutions enables organizations to make tangible, measurable improvements in corporate purchases," said John
Egan, CEO of EDS CoNext.

eBreviate combines a strong sourcing heritage with Web-native strategic sourcing services for its corporate customers to take the time, cost, and inefficiencies out of buying. In less than a year, eBreviate has established itself as one of the leading B2B online auction providers, enabling over $1.6 billion in downward auctions. Large auction transactions have been handled ranging from $1 million to $200 million for customers such as Sprint, Visteon, and Bosch. The auctions are based on a highly competitive, per-auction pricing model that eliminates expensive commissions and transaction percentage fees.

In eBreviate's first ten months of operation, successful downward auctions were conducted for 22 global firms in North America and Europe. eBreviate's auction management teams worked with these buying companies to acquire direct and indirect goods and services as varied as personal computers, telecommunications products, electronics, temporary labor services, cell phones, factory floor furniture, and corrugated packaging.

eBreviate auctions provide purchasers with a patent-pending "total cost functionality," enabling them to make purchase decisions based not only on price, but also on multiple criteria such as incumbency, quality, delivery time, and customer service. For the first time, buyers are able to compare competing bids online in real time based on a mix of priorities that together determine their total cost.

"On a $75 million telecommunications procurement project, eBreviate enabled Sprint to save millions of dollars over traditional purchasing methods," said Brian Watson, Director of Strategic Sourcing for Sprint. "The eBreviate auction allowed Sprint to streamline the negotiation process by three weeks, and expand our supply base to receive 250 competitive bids within the first 50 minutes. Sprint improved average proposal prices by five percent through real-time, online bidding, and
gained substantial internal recognition for using cutting-edge technology to improve the purchasing process."

About EDS CoNext
EDS CoNextª, an EDS company, is a leader in full-service, Internet-enabled, B2B procurement solutions. The company delivers value to Global 1000 clients via its breakthrough service
offerings-including Leveraged Sourcing NetworksSM, a series of strategically managed netmarkets, and eBreviate with its eSourcing tools and technologies that provide web-enabled, total-cost downward auction solutions. Headquartered in Chicago, IL, CoNext is supported by the technology strength, electronic business capabilities and resources of EDS and the strategic sourcing expertise of A.T. Kearney, the EDS global management consultancy. To learn more about EDS CoNext visit its web site at www.edsconext.com and www.ebreviate.com.

About EDS
EDS is a recognized global leader in providing E-business and information technology services to 9,000 business and government clients in about 50 countries around the world. Having founded the IT services industry more than 35 years ago, EDS delivers high value management consulting, electronic business solutions, business process management, and systems and technology expertise to help clients simplify complexity and achieve superior value in the digital economy. The company brings deep industry practice knowledge to solve challenges in a wide variety of industries, including communications, energy and chemicals, financial services, government, healthcare, products and retailing, and travel and transportation. EDS reported revenues of $18.5 billion in 1999.
The company's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:EDS) and the London Stock Exchange. To find out more about the EDS vision, visit EDS via the Internet at www.eds.com.

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