The Founding Investors on Exostar

In March of 2000, the Founding Investors of Exostar came together with a vision of an “industry solution” that could solve collaborative and logistical supply problems, expedite and simplify the buy/sell process, and at the same time, save money. In an industry unrivalled for its ability to effectively compete through collaborative solutions, many inter-company processes were in place but were expensive and inefficient. Facing the growing pressures of market globalization and cost reductions, it became clear that the industry needed a mechanism to share costs and facilitate higher levels of collaboration in order to boost efficiency and sustain the ability to effectively compete.

So, the big question on the minds of each of the Founding Investors was: “Why not collectively harness the power of the Internet -- low cost, ubiquitous and readily available to the business world -- to share the costs, risks and enormous opportunity in creating a universal infrastructure that could support the needs of the industry at large?” And that’s what the Founding Investors of Exostar set out to do.

The Solution: A Secure External Supply Network

Combining the expertise of BAE SYSTEMS, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon, Exostar was formed to create a single comprehensive solution designed specifically for the aerospace and defense industry. The four industry leaders announced their plans in early 2000 and by June 2001, Rolls-Royce had joined as an additional Founding Investor.

As early as September of 2000, the first successful transactions flowed through the industry specific exchange representing an entirely new way for companies to share information and conduct business. Since then, Exostar has continued to grow in terms of registered users and the breadth of solutions it offers. Currently, there are approximately 16,000 customers registered and using Exostar’s solutions in the areas of sourcing, procurement and collaboration. As more companies participate and are added to the database, Exostar becomes an even more effective way for buyers and suppliers to interact.

The company uses the readily available World Wide Web to improve existing business processes and allow buyers and suppliers to more effectively communicate. Utilizing a comprehensive, proven, and highly secure system, Exostar streamlines transactions, from the traditional Request for Quote to the specialized buyer initiated reverse auction. It also offers an extremely secure and flexible on-line collaboration solution for design or extended team management.

BAE Systems, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Rolls Royce are extremely effective business partners in the Exostar venture, in part because they are often fierce competitors of each other. These companies have plenty of experience in security, and in their best interest, they’ve implemented the best practices and strictest security measures to ensure that proprietary information is protected to the fullest and the supply-base remains competitive.

Click the following logos to visit our investors' websites

	"Our industry has always been identified with innovation and the exploitation of innovative ideas. I believe this exchange to be a good example of that foresight. It embraces established concepts, but develops them, capturing the essence of future global trading by bringing together the principals of our industry to serve the market in a truly integrated, global context." Sir Richard Evans, Chairman
	"We've been involved with Exostar since its inception. Exostar's services and tools deliver something that's vital to any business if it's to be successful: reduced variability and reduced transaction costs. Because Exostar offers common systems and industry standards, it's easier for suppliers and partners to do business with us--and with each other. That's been good for Boeing and good for the aerospace industry as a whole." James McNerney, President and CEO
	"This global trading exchange will transform commerce for the aerospace and defense industry on a worldwide basis. It’s a catalyst that will set the industry standard for business-to-business e-commerce." Vance Coffman, Chairman and CEO
	"We are excited about the potential of this innovative, e-commerce trading exchange. By bringing the supply-chain management expertise of the industry’s leaders to a single, online marketplace, we will put customers, suppliers and employees a mouse click away from achieving greater productivity, efficiency and cost savings." Dan Burnham, former Chairman and CEO
	"Exostar will allow us to reduce material and procurement costs, shorten lead times and reduce our inventory. It will also enable us to collaborate more effectively with partners on designs for future projects. Exostar will allow design teams to hold shared, secure information, which can receive input from around the world. This will allow us to bring ideas to life in the marketplace more quickly, enabling a rapid response to customer requirements." Sir John Rose, Chief Executive