SAPMarkets and Commerce One win first joint customer and deliver joint e-marketplace solution for the utilities industry

SAPMarkets Inc., the SAP AG subsidiary dedicated to creating and powering globally interconnected business-to-business marketplaces, and Commerce One, Inc, the leader in global e-commerce solutions for business, today announced that they have entered into a preliminary memorandum of understanding to deliver their joint marketplace solution to Enporion, a global e-marketplace for the energy and utility industry.

The initial five founders of the global utility exchange are Allegheny Energy Inc., New Century Energies, Minnesota Power, Northern States Power, and PPL Corporation. Enporion plans to be open for commercial operation by the end of the year 2000. Cap Gemini Ernst & Young LLC is the business advisor for the marketplace.

The Enporion marketplace is the SAPMarkets and Commerce One alliance`s first joint North American customer and represents a significant point of success in the partnership. Definitive agreements between the alliance members and Enporion are expected in the third quarter of 2000.

"The SAPMarkets and Commerce One solution offers Enporion unprecedented collaborative supply-chain capabilities that allow buyers and sellers to control inventories and business transactions across company boundaries in a single solution," said Mayur Shah, president, SAPMarkets Inc. "We are proud to be part of the alliance that delivers these groundbreaking functionalities to Enporion."

"With the current deregulation mode of the utility industry, it is especially important for energy companies to have the tools to reduce costs and better serve our customers," said Claudia Scott Welty, vice president of information technology, Minnesota Power, Inc., and a board member of Enporion. "Enporion, powered by SAPMarkets and Commerce One, provides us with the technology and relationship building power to stay competitive."

The marketplace will seamlessly link Enporion buyers and suppliers to enhance business relationships and profitability. It is anticipated that each Enporion participant will benefit from reduced cycle times, lower inventories and reduced transaction costs. Suppliers will enjoy seamless interfaces with buyers, exposure to new markets and more standardized processes. Buyers will gain access to new suppliers and enjoy a streamlined supply chain process and lower operating costs. "We believe that Enporion exemplifies the power of the SAPMarkets and Commerce One alliance and our joint efforts to move the world`s business onto the Internet," said Chuck Donchess, executive vice president and chief strategy officer for Commerce One.

In June at SAPPHIRE(R) 2000 in Las Vegas, SAP, Commerce One and SAPMarkets announced they will combine leading Commerce One marketplace infrastructure with top-rated mySAP.com e-business applications. The resulting joint business-to-business solution will offer e-marketplace functionality in the areas of supply chain management, product life cycle management, and business intelligence from SAP and SAPMarkets. This unrivaled offering is being co-developed, marketed and supported by the SAPMarkets and Commerce One alliance.