Lowe's Creating Global Supplier Network With Celarix Collaborative Technology

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 15, 2000--Celarix, Inc., dedicated to bringing real customers Web-centric collaborative technology to improve the global supply chain, today announced that Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW - news), the world's second largest home improvement retailer, will utilize Celarix' Web-based technology to connect its global trading partners, transportation providers and more than 375 Asian factory suppliers via the Internet. Celarix will begin implementation immediately.

``Lowe's is in the process of opening new stores at an escalated pace. As we continue to aggressively expand, we are seeking ways to improve and modernize Lowe's logistics and inventory ordering processes to meet the requirements of our new and existing retail stores,'' said Dean Tracy, director of import logistics for Lowe's. ``By implementing Celarix' real-time, Web-based solution, we will be able to improve communication with our trading partners, decrease inventory in the pipeline and increase efficiency with more accurate information on shipments.''

Lowe's is the 15th largest retailer in the United States, with more than 600 stores in 40 states and $15.9 billion in annual sales. Lowe's will use Celarix Connexion(TM) and Celarix Management(TM) to connect with its supply chain partners and give the company real-time visibility of all inbound shipments, at the sku-level, moving through its inventory pipeline. Celarix' solutions will enable Lowe's shippers and inventory managers to connect with the company's Asian factory suppliers, trading suppliers, and transportation partners - empowering them to communicate directly with one another throughout the entire process, from the time products leave the manufacturing facility to the time they arrive at each Lowe's distribution center.

``Retailers face tremendous logistics and supply-chain challenges with increasing pressures to get products to market faster and more efficiently than ever before,'' said Evan Schumacher, CEO of Celarix. ``As a world leader in the retail industry, Lowe's is focused on improving every part of its business to improve its bottom-line by decreasing inventory in its pipeline. Celarix will provide the real-time collaborative technology Lowe's will use to increase efficiency by connecting the company to all its supply chain partners to achieve the company's ultimate goal -- maximizing shareholder value.''

About Lowe's Companies, Inc. With 1999 sales of $15.9 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc., is the world's second largest home improvement retailer. Headquartered in Wilkesboro, N.C., Lowe's is the 15th largest retailer in the United States, as well as the 34th largest retailer worldwide. Lowe's and its 100,000 employees are Improving Home Improvement for nearly five million do-it-yourself retail and commercial business customers each week at more than 600 stores in 40 states. For more information, visit www.lowes.com.

About Celarix, Inc.

Based in Cambridge, Mass., Celarix, Inc. was founded in August 1998 by experts from the supply chain, logistics, technology and transportation industries. By leveraging decades of logistics experience, Celarix brings real customers Web-centric collaborative technology to improve the global supply chain, whether they're moving products across the street or around the globe. Celarix provides a single, centralized logistics solution, delivered over the Web. The company offers applications that enable customers to connect with their supply chain partners, manage their logistics activities, analyze their logistics network performance, and procure and sell transportation through the latest messaging technologies - ultimately providing retailers, manufacturers, distributors, carriers, freight forwarders and other trading partners with the information they need to improve customer service and profitability.