Transforming Supply Chain Managemen To Build Tomorrow's Electronics Industry Today

LOS ANGELES, (July 13, 2000) - eConnections, Inc., the leading provider of comprehensive, Internet-based supply chain management solutions for the electronics industry, today announced a $60 million investment from Silver Lake Partners (SLP), the leading technology-focused private equity investment partnership.

"This partnership with SLP provides an invaluable competitive edge for eConnections and our business partners," said Rob Rodin, eConnections chairman and chief executive officer. Accepting two seats on the eConnections board, SLP will contribute its high tech leadership, capital-market savvy, industry contacts and supply chain management expertise to eConnections.

"We believe eConnections is well positioned to provide total supply chain solutions for the entire electronics industry," said Jim Davidson, co-founder of Silver Lake Partners. "Rob Rodin earned his reputation as an Internet pioneer by demonstrating both the vision and ability to execute. Combining state-of-the-art technology, proven process design, and a team with unparalleled domain expertise, eConnections is defining the business model of the future for the electronics industry."

eConnections Transforms Electronics Industry Supply Chains.
Created from the technology infrastructure developed at Marshall Industries, the $1.7 billion electronics distributor that was first-on-the-Internet in its industry, eConnections combines its industry knowledge with the best elements of fourth-party logistics providers and third-party organizations to deliver an independent supply-chain platform. eConnections, built by the same team that won top honors two years in a row for Marshall Industries' B2B Web site, is linked to the two largest distributors in the world, enabling customers to tap more than 1,000 suppliers, one million SKUs and $3 billion in available inventory.

"The supply chain revolution in any industry comes through inter-enterprise collaboration to build networked ecommunities," said Chuck Phillips, Managing Director at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. "The complexity of that challenge in the electronics industry creates a significant opportunity for eConnections, which brings unique domain expertise, an independent fourth-party logistics model, and robust technology capability."

Faced with no access or visibility into customers' supply chains, poor access and collaboration with design engineers, and poor communication among supply chain partners, the electronics industry is a ready market for eConnections' solution. eConnections simplifies the complex task of getting electronic products to market. It gives supply chain partners an integrated, independent, intelligent system of centralized command and control, custom-tailored to each of them, speeding communication, cutting costs and improving profit margins.

About eConnections
Launched in April 2000, eConnections represents a breakthrough for business-to-business e-commerce: comprehensive supply chain management for the electronics industry. Built by a team with deep domain expertise, it streamlines the complex process of bringing electronic products to market, giving supply chain partners an integrated, independent and custom-tailored system. Additional information about eConnections is available at www.econnections.com

About Silver Lake Partners
Silver Lake Partners (SLP) is the leading investment firm focused on private equity investments in the most dynamic sector of the global economy – the technology industries and related growth companies. With $2.3 billion in committed capital, SLP seeks to achieve superior financial returns by investing with the strategic insights of an experienced industry participant, the operating advantages of a world-class manager, and the return objectives of a disciplined financial investor. The principals of SLP, which include Jim Davidson, Glenn Hutchins, David Roux, and the partners of Integral Capital partners (Integral) and of Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield, and Byers (KPCB), have extensive experience investing in, managing, and financing technology and other growth companies. SLP also works closely with a network of technology industry executives, who bring valuable insight and assistance in sourcing transactions, analyzing industry trends, building management teams, and adding value to SLP's portfolio companies. Silver Lake has offices in Menlo Park, Calif. and New York City. Additional information about SLP is available at www.slpartners.com