ZoneTrader and Surplex Form Global Strategic Partnership; Joint Venture will Strengthen Capabilities Across Continents

    MINNEAPOLIS--April 2, 2001--ZoneTrader, a U.S. leader in surplus asset management, is pleased to announce a strategic joint venture with Surplex, one of Europe's foremost providers of asset management solutions. The agreement will allow both companies to bring their geographic strengths together to better serve their respective automotive customers on a global basis.
    Both companies, each bringing its own set of technologies and expertise, are in the business of helping large corporations generate significant return on investment by identifying, reallocating and if needed, disposing of idle assets such as forklifts, drill presses and gear equipment.
    Under the agreement, Surplex will administer surplus asset management and disposition services at the European operations of key ZoneTrader U.S.-based clients. As partners, Surplex and ZoneTrader will utilize their internal asset redeployment tools, SAM and Selector, to efficiently service the surplus asset management needs of existing clients in multinational locations. Systematically managing these assets can dramatically impact capital expenditures, ROA and ROI. Surplex will also handle any disposition needs that arise.
    ZoneTrader, in turn, will be Surplex's U.S. partner for servicing the surplus asset management and disposition needs of Surplex's European-based automotive clients operating in the United States.
    Combined, ZoneTrader and Surplex will provide fully-integrated global capabilities to their large automotive clients. The partnership will also benefit clients by broadening the pool of surplus asset buyers for both companies.

    About Surplex

    Surplex operates Europe's leading marketplace for surplus assets and inventory and has a worldwide presence with highly qualified personnel and offices in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Vienna, London, Paris, Stockholm, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Madrid, Warsaw and Bahrain, as well as partners in Asia and Latin America.
    The Surplex solution includes tailored private networks which can be integrated into the Surplex open marketplace. The Company is focusing on becoming the preferred provider for complete asset management solutions to major corporations and traders worldwide.

    About ZoneTrader

    ZoneTrader is a leading full-service surplus asset management and disposition provider. The company partners with Global 1000 companies to develop and maintain strategic and systematic asset recovery processes, meeting tight timelines for disposition and optimizing asset utilization. ZoneTrader specializes in working with companies in the automotive, food processing and petrochemical industries. Customers include Ford Motor Company, The Dow Chemical Company, Sprint, BP Amoco and others. For more information, visit ZoneTrader's Web site at www.zonetrader.com, call 763-543-5288 or send your request by e-mail to info@zonetrader.com.