Rockwell Selects American Identity as Logoed Corporate Merchandise Supplier; Multi-Year Deal Supports Rockwell's Strategic Sourcing Initiative

Business Wire, June 16, 2000

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 16, 2000

American Identity, a division of IdentityNow, today announced that Rockwell, a world leader in electronic controls and communications, has chosen to consolidate its company brand logoed promotional merchandise procurement by choosing American Identity as its primary supplier.

Promotional items bearing the Rockwell logo will be offered throughout Rockwell's worldwide business operation via a company catalog and an online e-Store (a fully tailored company e-catalog and customized online corporate store) designed, produced and hosted by American Identity.

The move to standardize and centralizing the purchasing of its logoed promotional merchandise is part of Rockwell's recently deployed Strategic Sourcing Initiative (SSI), a program focused on centralizing its supply base and leveraging total purchasing volumes on a global scale with selected world class suppliers. Sourcing of logoed merchandise from American Identity will enable Rockwell to drive down its total costs for the purchases while ensuring streamlined ordering for quicker turn-around.

"American Identity's proven track record as the industry leader in managed programs for branded corporate merchandise and its extensive experience in creating and hosting corporate e-Stores offers the best solution for Rockwell's promotional merchandise purchasing," said Jim Hart, vice president, strategic sourcing and chief procurement officer. "They will be working with us to lower costs while providing the superior quality, service and comprehensive product range that have made them a leader in their industry.

"Consolidating Rockwell's promotional merchandise purchasing through American Identity also ensures high product quality and preservation of brand integrity and consistency," Hart said.

Through Rockwell's promotional product e-Store, its employees worldwide will have instant online access to Rockwell's range of product offerings, right from their desktop.

"We strongly support Rockwell's sourcing initiative and its understanding of the cost- and time-savings that supplier consolidations provide," said Nelson Nast, vice president of sales, American Identity division of IdentityNow. "We also appreciate that Rockwell has selected American Identity to help preserve the integrity of its company brand through this initiative."

About Rockwell

Rockwell is a $7 billion electronic controls and communications company with global leadership market positions in industrial automation, avionics and communications, and electronic commerce. The company employs about 40,000 people at more than 450 locations serving customers in more than 80 countries.

About American Identity

Headquartered in Kansas City, MO, American Identity is the largest division of IdentityNow, the largest privately owned promotional logoed merchandise distributor in the United States, employing more than 600 people nationwide. IdentityNow is the leading outsourcer of managed programs for corporate branded merchandise, promotional products and for related items for Fortune 1000 companies. Its client roster includes catalogs and e-Stores for such blue chip companies as AT&T, Delta Airlines, EDS, IBM, General Motors, Georgia-Pacific, Goodyear, Maytag, Shell, Sprint, Texaco, United Technologies and Xerox. The firm works with customers across almost every industry sector, including automotive, biotechnology, construction, financial services, healthcare, hospitality, media, pharmaceutical, technology and telecommunications. For more information, visit www.AmericanIdentity.com.

IdentityNow is majority owned by Jupiter Partners, LP, New York based private equity fund. Jupiter Partners LP is a New York based private equity firm specializing in management buyouts and growth equity investments. Jupiter has several portfolio companies engaged in information technology and services. Currently, Jupiter Partners has over $600 million of capital under management.