Tradeplace Welcomes Philips Consumer Electronics as Equity Partner

Business Wire, Sept 17, 2002

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 17, 2002

Philips Consumer Electronics has taken a 20% stake in Tradeplace -- Europe's first independent business-to-business e-marketplace for home appliances and consumer electronics products.

The participation in Tradeplace fits in with Philips' strategy to apply the newest technologies available on the market and to invest in e-business capabilities to further enhance the efficiency of services towards its business partners.

"In many respects, we are the preferred partner of the trade in Europe," says Rudy Provoost, Executive Vice President Philips Consumer Electronics Europe, who joined Tradeplace's Board of Directors. "However, in order to meet the needs of our trade partners even more effectively, Tradeplace provides a powerful platform encompassing a spectrum of services and tools from different suppliers, whenever they want and wherever they are. These services and tools range from online product information to business transactions and real-time communication."

The member companies of Tradeplace are BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH, Electrolux Home Products, Whirlpool Europe and Merloni Elettrodomestici. "The addition of Philips Consumer Electronics to the Tradeplace roster of companies takes the joint service venture to a new level," comments Wolfgang Konig, CEO, Electrolux Home Products and Tradeplace representative for Electrolux Home Products. "With Philips on board, Tradeplace opens up to a much wider range of products - and trading partners. We are expanding the range of product categories and manufacturers on the portal, in keeping up with our customers' needs," said Konig.

Launched in December 2001, Tradeplace has proved a success for manufacturers and retailers alike. To date, the initiative has more than 6,000 registered users in 12 European countries - and with the addition of Philips Consumer Electronics, the member companies expect even further growth.

TRADEPLACE

Founded by BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH, Electrolux Home Products Europe, Whirlpool Europe and Merloni Elettrodomestici, Tradeplace is an independent business-to-business (B2B) electronic marketplace in Europe for household appliance manufacturers and retailers. Tradeplace incorporates the combined effort of Europe's four leading household appliance manufacturers, and Philips Consumer Electronics to introduce a common platform, for a comprehensive, pan-European customer service to retailers and e-enabled communications between manufacturers and distributors.

www.tradeplace.com

E-mail: info@tradeplace.com

Royal Philips Electronics

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is one of the world's biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with sales of EUR 32.3 billion in 2001. It is a global leader in color television sets, lighting, electric shavers, medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring, and one-chip TV products. Its 184,000 employees in more than 60 countries are active in the areas of lighting, consumer electronics, domestic appliances, components, semiconductors, and medical systems. Philips is quoted on the NYSE (symbol:PHG), London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and other stock exchanges. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.> BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH

BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household appliances, and posts group sales of more than 6 billion euros. The company is headquartered in Munich, and manufactures at 39 production facilities in Europe, the USA, China and Latin America. Its products are marketed worldwide under the main brand names of Bosch and Siemens, plus five special brands and seven regional brands. More information about the company can be found on the Internet at www.bsh-group.com

ELECTROLUX

Electrolux is the world's largest producer of powered appliances for kitchen, cleaning and outdoor use, such as refrigerators, washing machines, cookers, vacuum cleaners, chain saws, lawn mowers, and garden tractors. In 2000, Group sales were SEK 124.5 billion and the Group had 87,000 employees. Every year, customers in more than 150 countries buy more than 55 million Electrolux Group products for both consumer and professional use. The Electrolux Group includes famous appliance brands such as AEG, Electrolux, Zanussi, Frigidaire, Eureka, and Husqvarna.

WHIRLPOOL EUROPE

Whirlpool Europe is a wholly owned subsidiary of Whirlpool Corporation. Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances. Headquartered in Benton Harbor, the company manufactures in 13 countries and markets products under 11 major brand names in more than 170 countries. Additional information about the company can be found on the Internet at www.WhirlpoolCorp.com.

MERLONI ELETTRODOMESTICI

Merloni Elettrodomestici, born in 1975 is the third European company in the large domestic appliances segment and the youngest company among leaders at a world-wide level. Thanks to the image of the two European Ariston and Indesit brands, to the dual strength of service-innovation, the Company has always been highly regarded by the market, growing by twenty times over the last twenty years. The Company's industrial policy has always been based on a sustainable development idea, appropriately summarized by the founder's father, Aristide Merloni: "There is no value in economic success in each industrial initiative unless there is also a commitment to social progress".