OMNEXUS TO MARK GROWTH AND PROGRESS AT FAKUMA

ZURICH, Switzerland —Global plastics eMarketplace Omnexus will mark three years since the launch of its e-commerce platform at this year’s Fakuma trade fair, to be held October 14-18 in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Originally founded by Bayer, BASF, Dow, DuPont and Ticona to build a standardized system for electronic procurement in the plastics industry, Omnexus has grown to represent products and services from more than 20 plastics companies worldwide through an increasing range of innovative online services benefiting both buyers and sellers.

Omnexus selected Fakuma as its key 2003 event in Europe, and will exhibit at stand number 604 in Pavilion B4. First held in 1981, the international trade fair provides an ideal stage for Omnexus to reach the increasingly broad group of plastics professionals it serves with expanded informational resources, technology solutions and marketing services.

“Omnexus has greatly expanded its products and services over the past three years as it continues to grow as the plastics industry’s most comprehensive e-commerce resource,” said Rene Mueller, Omnexus general manager, Europe. “Fakuma provides an excellent platform for us to reach a broad audience of plastics professionals who can benefit from Omnexus.”

In the three years since Omnexus was launched, the company has grown from its founding five members to more than 20 global companies participating in Omnexus at varying levels of membership. In July 2001, the company changed its revenue model from a transaction-based service to an annual subscription model. The founders recently extended their supplier membership for the next two years.

Omnexus now operates three core business streams, having expanded beyond the original online transaction platform to include technology and marketing services. The three business offerings include: