ForestExpress Partners with webMethods for B2B Integration Solutions

Business Wire, Nov 29, 2000

Business Editors

ATLANTA & FAIRFAX, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 29, 2000

Partnership Enhances Forest Products Exchange with

Seamless Connections Between Buyers and Suppliers

ForestExpress, a global e-commerce marketplace dedicated to the forest products industry, and webMethods, Inc. (Nasdaq: WEBM), the leading provider of business-to-business integration (B2Bi) solutions, today announced a strategic partnership.

Recently named by The Industry Standard as one of the most influential companies driving today's Internet economy, webMethods lends complete, end-to-end solutions for integrating ForestExpress' customers, suppliers and partners into real-time B2B trading networks, directly connecting the inventories and back-end systems to improve the efficiency of the purchasing process.

"Combining our current applications capabilities with webMethods' B2B integration expertise will provide a complete solution for our customers with the ability to conduct online transactions with ease and efficiency," said Bob Renner, ForestExpress CTO. "We believe effective use of integration technology will result in a significant bottom line reduction of administrative costs."

To enable user adoption among the forest products industry, ForestExpress will be using webMethods to develop a strategic integration platform to facilitate business transactions via common industry standards in the timber, recycling, paper, and building materials market segments. With webMethods' B2Bi solutions, the ForestExpress marketplace will link the procurement and sales functions for thousands of buyers and sellers. Companies utilizing the ForestExpress marketplace will benefit from streamlined purchasing operations, reduced inventories, lower internal costs and increased capital efficiency through online, fully-automated transactions.

"We are extremely pleased to be partnering with ForestExpress as they work to enable greater collaboration and productivity within the forest products industry," said Phillip Merrick, president and CEO of webMethods, Inc. "webMethods' B2Bi solutions provide ForestExpress with the seamless integration capabilities to link participants' business processes with this major industry exchange."

As companies in the B2B market move toward more direct online communication, ForestExpress will lead the initiative to facilitate Internet technology user adoption among the many communication networks in the timber, recycling, paper, and building materials market segments. ForestExpress plans to build the technology capability for a neutral platform, providing an automated Internet transaction based model equipped for the made-to-order product that constitutes the bulk of what the industry sells.

About ForestExpress

ForestExpress (www.forestexpress.com), a global e-commerce marketplace dedicated to the forest products industry, fundamentally improves the way people buy and sell forest products. ForestExpress will enable buyers and sellers the ability to simplify transaction processes, improving information flow and increasing speed of delivery, thereby reducing costs. Launching 1st Quarter 2001, ForestExpress will provide numerous services to the timber, recycling, paper, and building materials market segments. Equity partners include Boise Cascade Corporation, Georgia-Pacific Corp. (NYSE: GP), International Paper (NYSE: IP), The Mead Corporation (NYSE: MEA), Weyerhaeuser Co. and Willamette Industries, Inc. (NYSE: WLL). ForestExpress is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

About webMethods, Inc.

webMethods, Inc. (Nasdaq: WEBM) is the leading provider of software solutions for business-to-business integration (B2Bi). As the only company providing seamless B2Bi across the Internet and throughout the extended enterprise, webMethods provides Global 2000 companies and B2B marketplaces with a complete, end-to-end solution for integrating customers, suppliers and partners into real-time B2B trading networks, while also increasing internal operational efficiencies. The webMethods product family allows companies to create new revenue opportunities, strengthen relationships with customers, substantially reduce supply chain inefficiencies and streamline internal business processes.

Founded in 1996, webMethods is based in Fairfax, Va., with offices across the U.S., Europe and Asia. With an emphasis on key vertical markets such as chemicals, financial services, high-tech manufacturing and telecommunications, webMethods has more than 500 customers worldwide--from Global 2000 leaders such as Citibank, Dell, Eastman Chemical Company, Fidelity Investments, Grainger, Motorola and Starbucks to major B2B marketplaces like ChemConnect, e-STEEL and Ventro. webMethods' strategic partners include Ariba, Commerce One, Deloitte Consulting, EDS, i2 Technologies, J.D. Edwards, KPMG, Microsoft, Oracle Corp., SAP AG and Siebel. More information about the company can be found at www.webMethods.com.

webMethods and webMethods B2B are trademarks of webMethods, Inc. All other company and product names are property of their respective owners.