ALEXANDRIA, Va. (April 15, 2002) - The WorldWide Retail Exchange (WWRE®), the premier business-to-business exchange for retailers and suppliers, today announced that Schering-Plough HealthCare Products, Inc (SPHCP), the consumer products arm of Schering-Plough Corporation, has joined as the Exchange's 61st member. SPHCP manufactures products under well-known brand names including Coppertone®, Dr. Scholl's®, Afrin® and Bain de Soleil®.

"Joining the WWRE was a smart choice for us - the Exchange provides us with a neutral platform through which we can interact, transact and share best practices with many of our largest customers and industry peers," said Jim Pleiman, Vice President of Logistics for SPHCP. "We anticipate that WWRE membership will help us lower costs and provide improved service to our customers."

Through the WWRE® Collaborative Planner, which enables VICS-CPFR®*, SPHCP will have the opportunity to engage in activities with several of its largest trading partners. Using this solution, the organization can participate in activities that can significantly reduce excess inventory and improve forecasting. SPHCP will look to adopt WWRE's Worldwide Item Management solution to improve data quality across its customer base.

"The addition of SPHCP as a member is a significant step forward in our continued efforts to build a neutral and fully collaborative marketplace for the entire retail industry," said Colin Dyer, chief executive officer of the WWRE®. "We look forward to their full participation in activities with other WWRE® members and are pleased to welcome them to a community of organizations that are achieving real savings through use of the Exchange's solutions."

*A registered trademark of the Volunteer Interindustry Commerce Standards Association.

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 61 members from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America with combined sales of approximately U.S. $855 billion. To date, the WWRE® has saved its members over $400 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 Worldwide
312/233-1374
laura.battle@edelman.com

Cynthia Rogers
Edelman Worldwide
312-233-1390
cynthia.rogers@edelman.com