Gateway 2000 Recognized as Level II Supplier to MasterCard Corporate Purchasing Card Program; New feature will help streamline customer operations

Business Wire, August 2, 1996

NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 2, 1996--Gateway 2000 today announced that it is the only leading national computer marketer to be recognized as a Level II Supplier by MasterCard's Corporate Purchasing Card programs. An already significant and growing number of corporations are utilizing purchasing cards such as the MasterCard Purchasing Card to replace labor and paper intensive purchasing procedures.

Gateway 2000 can process corporate orders for computers and peripherals on purchasing cards at "Level II" which transmits additional data elements that help to streamline customer accounting procedures. "We have always provided our customers with the flexibility of credit card payments, but now we have enhanced our systems to transmit critical information to customers such as sales tax amount, accounting codes and purchase descriptors with card transactions," said Bill Shea, Vice President of major account sales at Gateway 2000. "This enables our corporate customers to reduce the time and cost of traditional purchase and payment procedures."

"By providing Level II data capture, Gateway 2000 enables their customers to appropriately account for capital expenditures in a highly automated manner. This clearly reduces costs for their customers." said Joan Hennessey, Vice President, Purchasing Card Acceptance at MasterCard International. "And, since these purchases no longer generate invoices, suppliers benefit from improved cash flow and reduced costs."

Gateway 2000 enhanced their credit card processing in response to requests from major companies and government agencies. "American businesses are committed to reengineering their Accounts Payable and purchasing procedures. Gateway 2000 was eager to support the efforts of our customers by reengineering the way we process their payments," stated Shea.

About Gateway 2000

Gateway 2000 (NASDAQ: GATE), a Fortune 500 company founded in 1985, currently sells more PC-compatible systems through the direct market channel in the United States than any other PC manufacturer. The company, headquartered in North Sioux City, South Dakota, has manufacturing facilities in the United States, Ireland and Malaysia and employs over 9,000 people world-wide. Gateway 2000 products and services consistently win top awards from leading industry publications, and independent surveys show that Gateway customers are among the most satisfied and brand-loyal PC buyers.

Gateway 2000 is a registered trademark of Gateway 2000. Other names may be trademarks of their respective companies.

CONTACT: Gateway 2000: Ann Appleseth, 605/232-1208

MasterCard: Sean Healy, 914/249-4606