VERT Verticalnet (MM)

Verticalnet, Inc. (Nasdaq:VERT), a leading provider of on demand supply management solutions, today announced that Bacou-Dalloz has signed a multi-year subscription agreement for Verticalnet� XE Performance Manager, a component of the Verticalnet XE Suite. Bacou-Dalloz, world leader in the design, manufacturing and sales of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), selected Verticalnet after a competitive evaluation designed to identify the provider best qualified to meet their diverse requirements for supplier performance management. Bacou-Dalloz has operating units world-wide, and will initially roll out supplier performance management in the Americas and Europe, with later phases focused on operations in Asia and South America. "Building strong supplier relationships with our strategic suppliers is critical to our long term growth strategy," said Steve Gardner, Bacou-Dalloz Vice President Purchasing, Americas. "Bacou-Dalloz selected the Verticalnet XE supplier performance solution as a key enabler to our goals of implementing a company-wide best-in-class process to establish expectations, measure the effectiveness of and drive improvements in our relationships with suppliers.� Verticalnet XE Performance Manager, delivered on-demand, enables companies to dramatically increase supply base performance and contract compliance management through the lifecycle of a supplier relationship. Leveraging customer investments in existing ERP, supply chain, and data warehouse systems, Verticalnet XE Performance Manager provides enterprise-wide visibility into supplier relationships and facilitates the rapid retention of negotiated savings as well as increased collaboration with strategic suppliers. Verticalnet�s innovative score-cards, actionable performance alerts, and collaborative supplier corrective action plans provide a complete framework for implementing and executing a supplier performance management program. Bacou-Dalloz�s selection of Verticalnet to support the automation of their supplier performance management program is another affirmation of an ongoing increase in adoption for on-demand supplier performance solutions. Verticalnet�s XE Performance Manager has been enabling programs such as these for over five years, with clients experiencing significant improvements in product quality, supplier responsiveness and sustainable cost management. According to the Aberdeen Group, �Enterprises applying consistent performance measurements and procedures were able to improve supplier performance by more than 26%, on average.� "We are excited that Verticalnet XE Performance Manager has been selected to be the supplier performance solution for Bacou-Dalloz," said Nathanael V. Lentz, Verticalnet president and CEO. "Bacou-Dalloz joins other best-in-class enterprises that are using Verticalnet XE Performance Manager to improve supplier relationships, drive tangible increases in product quality, and quantitatively assess supplier risks. We look forward to helping them continue to improve the cost and quality of their products through world-class supply management." About Verticalnet Verticalnet is a leading provider of supply management solutions that enable companies to identify and realize sustained value across the supply management lifecycle. Going beyond traditional spend management and sourcing approaches, Verticalnet�s solutions provide the visibility, insight and process control required to maximize the sustained value realization from supply management. Large enough to help customers attain supply management success worldwide, yet nimble enough to provide individual attention and remain focused on customer priorities, Verticalnet is helping leading Global 2000 companies and mid-market enterprises move their supply management efforts to the next level through an optimal blend of software, comprehensive services, and deep category knowledge and domain expertise. To learn more, please visit us at www.verticalnet.com.