Launch of E-business Joint Venture

Computacenter PLC 3 November 1999 COMPUTACENTER PLC Launch of e-business joint venture Computacenter plc, the UK's largest provider of IT systems and services, announced today, in conjunction with Computasoft e-Commerce, the launch of Biomni - a business-to-business e-commerce solution. It will be a major UK player in a market that, until now, has been dominated by US companies, and will certainly change the dynamics of this sector in Europe. Biomni will harness the e-commerce expertise developed by both companies during their nine-year partnership in On-Trac. Biomni will offer this tried and tested e-commerce solution to new customers, independent of vendor. It will also be available to over 500 existing customers already using the current On-Trac e-commerce solution. Biomni, a 50/50 joint venture between Computasoft e-Commerce Ltd and Computacenter plc, will focus solely on the rapidly growing e-commerce business in the UK and mainland Europe. As this is deemed to be a related party transaction, the matter requires shareholder approval. Angus Gregory, Managing Director of Biomni said today: 'We are very proud of this development. Biomni's launch comes at a time when there is increasing awareness of the benefits of e-commerce. The government has set aggressive targets aiming for the UK to be the leader in e-commerce by 2002.' Speaking at the launch, Computacenter's chief executive, Mike Norris, said: 'Our decision to invest in this new company reflects our belief in the e- commerce opportunity. Biomni will enable us to extend the commercial reach of our joint developments over the last nine years and is our response to growing customer demand for a system that offers extended e-commerce capability.' For further information, please contact: Computacenter plc Phil Williams 01707 631519 Brunswick Group Ltd Rob Pinker Sara Musgrave 0171 404 5959 Notes to Editors Computacenter plc Computacenter plc is the largest UK-owned, distributed IT systems and service company, providing a full range of value added services at each stage of the technology lifecycle; from the planning and requisition of appropriate technology, through its implementation within a company's existing infrastructure to its subsequent support and management. The company's corporate and government clients are served by a network of 30 branch offices across the UK, France, Germany and Belgium and, through the international joint venture ICG, at locations throughout Europe, Asia Pacific and North America. Computasoft e-Commerce Ltd Computasoft e-Commerce has been delivering electronic trading solutions since 1990, helping to streamline the procurement process in over 500 public and private sector organisations throughout Europe. In 1998, over 150,000 purchase orders were electronically raised and delivered using Computasoft e-Commerce systems. Computasoft e-Commerce was also pivotal in delivering the GCAT purchasing system, allowing numerous national and local government bodies to procure all of their IT requirements within a single Internet shop. The GCAT catalogue encompasses some 20,000 items from over 300 manufacturers. Computasoft e-Commerce is part of the Computasoft Group, which has offices in London, Walldorf, New York and Hong Kong. The group has grown steadily since it was established in 1984 and now enjoys a turnover in excess of over £21 million per annum. Today it has more than 500 customers around the globe and a reputation for delivering measurable business improvement through quality software. Biomni Ltd Biomni will be based in the UK, with five regional support areas and resources in France and Germany. Biomni's management team will be: Angus Gregory, Managing Director, previously Electronic Business Manager at Computacenter Robert Farmer, Finance Director, previously Finance Director at Computasoft For further information contact: Beverley Burgess Marketing Director, Biomni Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7440 6393 Email: beverley.burgess@biomni.com
UK 100

Latest directors dealings