DSM Chooses ChemConnect as its Preferred Exchange for Trading on the Internet

Dutch Chemicals and Plastics Producer, Further Developing its Comprehensive E-Business Strategy, to Use ChemConnect for Third-Party, Internet-Based Global Trading

ChemConnect Inc., the largest global Internet exchange for chemicals and plastics, announced that the Dutch chemicals group, DSM N.V. has selected ChemConnect as its preferred third party exchange for its Internet-based global purchases and sales of chemicals and plastics. In addition, DSM has made an equity investment in ChemConnect, becoming a Charter Member and taking a seat at the ChemConnect e-Commerce Roundtable. DSM becomes the latest in a growing list of industry leaders endorsing ChemConnect's World Chemical Exchange as the third-party platform of choice for business-to-business e-commerce transactions for the $1.7 trillion world chemicals and plastics industry.

DSM is one of the world's leading chemicals companies, holding leadership positions in a.o. caprolactam, melamine, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, EPDM-rubber, powder coating resins, fine chemicals, and food ingredients. The participation in ChemConnect means a further step for DSM in the development of a comprehensive e-Business strategy and helps the company to maximize its production efficiency and find new markets.

"DSM is convinced that developments in ICT offer tremendous opportunities to provide added value in the products and service we supply to our customers," said Peter Elverding, Chairman of the DSM Managing Board. "The Internet will become a dominant means of communication and interaction between DSM and its stakeholders. We will quickly enhance our capabilities in this field. ChemConnect is a third-party e-commerce portal with a demonstrable history of success, which offers DSM a platform for online trading."

"DSM's solid reputation for adapting to new global economic realities, and adopting the most advanced technologies, makes its investment in ChemConnect all the more meaningful to us," said John Beasley, ChemConnect CEO. "European petrochemical companies are trading online at an accelerated clip. In choosing the World Chemical Exchange as their preferred portal, they are spurring our growth while we are providing them with instant access to the worldwide chemicals and plastics marketplace."

DSM joins other leading manufacturers, industry analysts, consultants and information providers -- including BP Amoco, The Dow Chemical Company, Eastman Chemical Company, Rohm and Haas, BASF, Andersen Consulting, CMAI and ChemicalWeek Ventures -- in making an equity investment in ChemConnect. As a Charter Member of ChemConnect, DSM takes a seat at the ChemConnect e-Commerce Roundtable and receives full company trading privileges.