Eutilia announces new Sourcing Optimisation Services for global utilities

Eutilia announces new Sourcing Optimisation Services for global utilities Initial operational phase delivers Euro 0.5 billion of transactions and up to 30% savings for participating businesses Eutilia, the leading independent global marketplace for the utility sector - backed by 11 of Europe's largest utility companies including Vattenfall - today announces the official launch of its integrated full-service tools for effectively optimising utility sourcing projects - Sourcing Optimisation Services (SOS). During its first six Montis of controlled expansion - working with both buyers and suppliers - Eutilia has successfully managed tenders with a net worth of well over half a billion Euros. So far, Eutilia has run well over 100 auctions with an average of seven bidding suppliers per auction. Eutilia is now offering a full range of services for buying, selling and supply chain management. With a proven track record of helping businesses achieve savings of up to 30%, these new Sourcing Optimisation Services will enable Eutilia to be the supply hub for the utilities industry. Consisting of four components - Supplier Scan, Pre-Qualification, e-Tendering and e-Auctions, - the SOS process will save utilities and their suppliers both time and money. These services support and reinforce the EU's tender fundamentals of market transparency and equality. With Eutilia, both buyers and suppliers benefit. Buyers get access to a global market - both in terms of volume and geography. Potential sources of supply are found in one place reducing costs. Procurement spending is reduced via a tender process that is fast, effective and integrated into the supply chain. Suppliers gain access to a large community of buyers in the utility sector with minimal marketing and administrative costs, providing a greater number of new business opportunities. Wim Rietveld, Chief Executive Officer, said, "I am delighted that Eutilia, after proving itself over the last year, is now ready for a full commercial launch of this valuable range of Sourcing Optimisation Services. Our innovative use of technology combined with our in-depth experience of the utility sector and its procurement systems has enabled us to help buyers and suppliers reduce their costs whilst, at the same time, allowing access to larger markets. This has been underpinned by our total commitment to neutrality and security. Eutilia clearly demonstrates the combined power of technology and knowledge in the utility marketplace". In December 2001 the European Commission cleared the creation of Eutilia. The Competition Directorate-General considers Eutilia to be supporting fair business practices and to be encouraging competition. Further information: Ewald Jozefzoon or Sylvia Macdonald on 00 31 (0) 71 535 3100/3159. Interviews: Wim Rietveld, Chief Executive Officer, and Andre Lanning, Chief Commercial Officer, will be available for interview on Tuesday 26th February between 12.00 and 17.00 (11.00 - 16.00 GMT). Eutilia (www.eutilia.com) Eutilia is based in Leiden, The Netherlands and is backed by 11 of Europe's largest utility providers: Electrabel (Belgium), Electricite de France (France), Endesa (Spain), ENEL (Italy), Iberdrola (Spain), National Grid (UK), Nuon (The Netherlands), RWE (Germany), Scottish Power (Scotland), United Utilities (UK) and Vattenfall (Sweden). ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/02/26/20040817BIT21340/wkr0001.pdf