Verticalnet Announces that Akzo Nobel to Leverage Advanced Sourcing for Transportation Categories for the U.S. and Europe

New Verticalnet Customer uses a Combination of Advanced SourcingTools and Critical Support Services to Achieve a Win-Win, Lowest Costof Ownership Approach with Suppliers

Verticalnet, Inc. (Nasdaq:VERT), a leading provider of on-demand,supply management solutions, today announced that Akzo Nobel, aFortune 300 manufacturer that serves customers throughout the worldwith healthcare products, coatings and chemicals, has selectedVerticalnet for advanced sourcing of road transportation eventsspanning North America and Europe. The advanced sourcing events in theU.S. are designed to optimize its shipping for a number of modes thatinclude Less-Than-Truckload (LTL), Full Truckload (FTL), bulk, andRail. In Europe, advanced sourcing events will include bulktransportation and palletized shipments.

Recognizing the inherent complexities and the data intensivenature of transportation sourcing, Akzo Nobel will use will use acombination of Verticalnet's Advanced Sourcing tools and criticalsupport services to source select transportation subcategories.

According to Ronald Baars, Director Corporate Purchasing at AkzoNobel, "Our suppliers are critical to our business success so we wantto achieve a balanced approach to our optimization process. Byengaging suppliers in a bidding process that allows them to expresstheir unique capabilities and strengths, Akzo Nobel seeks to identifywin-win opportunities for both buyer and supplier."

Verticalnet's Advanced Sourcing Category Solutions offer acombination of strategic sourcing services and technology tailored tothe challenges faced when sourcing complex, strategically importantcategories. As a specialized strategic sourcing firm with extensiveexperience leading sourcing initiatives, Verticalnet understands thechallenges in successfully sourcing complex categories liketransportation - the need to lay a foundation of solid baseline data,obtain insight into complex supplier economics, meet sourcingobjectives and manage costs in the face of unpredictable categorydynamics. Examples of how Verticalnet meets advanced sourcing needs oflarge enterprises and mid market companies include:

-- eRFX solutions with expressive bidding technology that allows suppliers to pass on savings from their unique economics--e.g. through bundling, tiered-pricing, and alternate bids

-- Optimization software that accelerates bid analysis and guarantees maximum savings in light of real-world sourcing objectives

-- An extensive set of ongoing category management modules--e.g. cost models / formula pricing, contract management, ongoing bidding, compliance monitoring--ensures that companies translate potential sourcing savings into sustainable, transactional savings

"We are pleased that industry-leading Akzo Nobel has placed itsconfidence in Verticalnet and our Advanced Sourcing Category Solutionsto optimize their ground transportation in the U.S. and Europe," saysNathanael V. Lentz, President and CEO of Verticalnet. "Companiesworldwide are faced with rising fuel and transportation costs thatcontribute to the complexity of sourcing in the transportationcategory. Verticalnet has demonstrated that its deep categoryexpertise, technology leadership and on-demand delivery drives downglobal transportation costs and help customers to see real bottom linebenefits."

About Verticalnet

Verticalnet is a leading provider of on-demand supply managementsolutions that enable companies to identify and realize sustainedvalue across the supply management lifecycle. Going beyond traditionalspend management and sourcing approaches, Verticalnet's solutionsprovide the visibility, insight and process control required tomaximize the sustained value realization from supply management. Largeenough to help customers attain supply management success worldwide,yet nimble enough to provide individual attention and remain focusedon customer priorities, Verticalnet is helping leading Global 2000companies and mid-market enterprises move their supply managementefforts to the next level through an optimal blend of software,comprehensive services, and deep category knowledge and domainexpertise. To learn more, please visit us at www.verticalnet.com.

Verticalnet is a registered trademark or a trademark in the UnitedStates and other countries of Vert Tech LLC