Avnet Web Site Included in Forbes Magazine's First "Best of the Web" List; Forbes Editors Pick avnet.com Among 25 "Best of the Best" in the Computer/Electronics Industry

Business Wire, July 17, 2000

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 17, 2000

Avnet Inc.'s Web site, www.avnet.com, has been listed among the most promising and competitive B2B Web sites from 25 industries by Forbes magazine.

According to Forbes, avnet.com is one of the 25 "Best of the Best" in the computer/electronics industry. Avnet was the only distributor recognized in the Computers & Electronics category. Two of Avnet's strategic Internet alliances, ChipCenter and QuestLink, also made the list. Each company was judged on its strategy, execution and financial staying power, as well as the quality of the Web site itself.

Editor James Michaels concluded that, "Not those little B2B startups, but established companies that learn how to play the game will be the big winners as the Internet makes business faster and more efficient."

"It is an honor to have been selected by Forbes Magazine to appear on this prestigious list," said Tony De Luca, senior vice president, Global Operations, Avnet Inc. "We have gotten such positive responses to our new Web site from our customers, suppliers, shareholders and prospective employees that we were pretty sure we were on the right track. But this just confirms our commitment to continuously improving the tools and services we offer online."

Avnet Inc.'s Web site has several key features that set it apart. For example, when customers reach the home page, they immediately encounter the products, services and solutions section, which clearly divides Avnet Inc. into its respective groups and divisions. This makes it easier for site users to drill down into a specific area of Avnet.

Avnet Computer Marketing, Hall-Mark Division employs a "SMART" (Sales and Marketing Assistance Resource Tool) tool in its area of the Avnet site which aids productivity for its customers, value-added resellers.

For its Web users, Avnet Applied Computing has developed Avnet FasTrac, a Web portal that allows the acquisition and dissemination of information, in a secure environment, so customers and suppliers can work in collaboration with Avnet to achieve "first to market" product introduction.

Customers may also search the site for information on a specific product by entering the part number or manufacturer. For example, www.ipe-tools.com, in the Avnet Electronics Marketing (electronic components) section of the Web site, provides design engineers with access to information on 75,000 components. If a part is not available, alternate possible selections are recommended.

Additionally, the Web site incorporates Avnet Inc.'s commitment to value, according to Al Maag, Avnet's chief communications officer. "Our Web site integrates moving news headlines as well as country home pages for international information.

"It also rotates photos and quotes from employees, each describing their own definitions of `value' and what it means to them as they work with customers and suppliers," Maag said.

"It's a digital world, but it's our employees who still make the difference at Avnet." He added, "Our Web site is a constant work in progress because we are committed to improving the site as new technologies and ideas become available. It's imperative that we make our site more informative and easy to navigate."

Avnet's comprehensive Web site also includes information and ordering capabilities, supplier home pages, gateway pages, technical solutions and Smartlinks, allowing engineers and other users access to a world of information. Links to industry publications and online magazines provide further information about using the products.

Avnet has also been recognized by InformationWeek, ComputerWorld, EDN and Electronic Buyers' News for its Web site and its innovative use of the Internet for e-commerce.

Phoenix-based Avnet Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 500 company with annual sales exceeding $8 billion, ($10 billion pro forma, including acquisitions) is one of the world's largest distributors of semiconductors, interconnect, passive and electromechanical components and computer products from the leading manufacturers.

Serving customers in 60 countries, Avnet markets, inventories and adds value to these products and provides world-class supply-chain management and engineering design services.