Alexandria, Va. – December 19, 2001 – The WorldWide Retail Exchange (WWRE), the premier exchange for retailers and suppliers, announced today that it has selected IBM WebSphere and webMethods to provide integration solutions to the Exchange. Through the partnerships, IBM and webMethods will support application-to-application integration of the WWRE core product and services platform, as well as business-to-business integration between the WWRE and its members.

Two solutions were selected in order to provide members with flexibility and a choice between compatible technologies. webMethods will provide the WWRE with a combination of enterprise application integration and business process management capabilities that supports both rich human interaction and deep application connectivity based on the webMethods integration backbone. IBM will work with the WWRE and its members to offer WebSphere software, which enables users to create, execute and manage business processes that span diverse applications, enterprises and people.

"Staying true to our commitment to using the best and most advanced technology available, we selected both the webMethods’ integration platform and IBM’s WebSphere as solutions for the Exchange and our membership. Both will be critical to increasing operational efficiencies within the Exchange and between the Exchange and our membership," said Don Norman, chief information officer for the WWRE.

By implementing these integration solutions, the WWRE and its members will achieve the following benefits:

• Lowered integration and implementation costs
• Improved collaboration among trading partners
• Simplification of the integration of WWRE solutions to member legacy systems
• Accommodation of disparate applications and technologies across the global membership base
  

"The WebSphere platform offers a comprehensive integration solution that includes industry leading messaging and application server technologies, combined with best of breed process integration and full support for open standards to enable Web services,” said Jan Jackman, vice president, strategic business development, IBM Software Group. “IBM is pleased to work with WWRE to offer a comprehensive solution to the exchange and its customers to improve operational efficiency.”

“The retail industry is positioned to gain tremendous benefits by collaborating with other leaders in the industry through the WWRE, which provides an important forum for these companies to streamline supply chain logistics and procurement processes,” said David Mitchell, president and chief operating officer of webMethods, Inc. “With the webMethods integration platform, the WWRE and its members will gain a secure and reliable platform for the real-time exchange of complex transactions and interaction through end-to-end integration of the WWRE’s enterprise.”

About IBM
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. IBM software offers the widest range of applications, middleware and operating systems for all types of computing platforms, allowing customers to take full advantage of the new era of e-business. The fastest way to get more information about IBM software is through the IBM home page at www.ibm.com/software.

About webMethods, Inc.
webMethods, Inc. (Nasdaq: WEBM - news) is a leading provider of integration software. The webMethods integration platform allows customers to achieve quantifiable R.O.I. by linking business processes, enterprise and legacy applications, databases and workflows both within and across enterprises. By deploying the webMethods integration platform, customers reduce costs, create new revenue opportunities, strengthen relationships with customers, substantially increase supply chain efficiencies and streamline internal business processes.

Founded in 1996, webMethods is headquartered in Fairfax, Va., with offices throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia Pacific. webMethods has more than 750 customers worldwide including Global 2000 leaders such as Citibank, Dell, Eastman Chemical, The Ford Motor Company, Grainger, and Motorola. webMethods’ strategic partners include Accenture, AMS, BMC, BroadVision, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, Deloitte Consulting, EDS, Hewlett-Packard, i2 Technologies, J.D. Edwards, KPMG Consulting, Microsoft, Oracle Corp., SAP AG and Siebel Systems. More information about the company can be found at www.webMethods.com.

About the WWRE
The WWRE is the premier Internet-based business-to-business exchange in the retail e-marketplace. The Exchange was created with the fundamental purpose of reducing costs and improving efficiencies throughout the supply chain, employing product and service solutions typical of a global procurement and supply operation. Designed to facilitate and simplify trading between retailers, suppliers, partners and distributors, the WWRE currently consists of 59 retail industry leaders from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and Latin America with combined sales of over U.S. $845 billion. To date, the WWRE has saved its members over $180 million through the use of online negotiations, its first product offering. For more information, visit the website at www.wwre.org or www.worldwideretailexchange.org.

For more information:

Laura Battle
Edelman Public Relations Worldwide
312/233-1374
laura.battle@edelman.com