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CarParts Technologies Closes
$5 Million Funding Round
Funding to Enable Continued Growth and Development of Integrated
eCommerce Platform for the Automotive Aftermarket
FREMONT, Calif.,
Sept. 17, 2002
CarParts Technologies Inc., the leading provider of open, eCommerce
software solutions for the automotive aftermarket, today announced
it has closed its fourth round of funding from CMGI@Ventures, Rho
Ventures, BEV Capital, Investor AB and St. Paul Venture Capital. The
capital will be used for driving further sales growth, increased professional
service resources and acquisitions.
"CarParts Technologies has now developed a set of application
solutions and assembled a staff that brings together a unique suite
of eCommerce enabled capabilities to help distributors, service chains
and manufacturers improve revenues and profits in the automotive aftermarket,"
said David McCann, President & CEO of CarParts Technologies. "Even
in the soft economy of 2002, we've captured new customers in more
than 500 locations in the first half of the year and continue to increase
our market share. We have delivered new application versions into
the Michelin channel, into the Parts Plus Distribution Group and to
major auto service chains across the USA - we're also providing new
services to three of the largest manufacturers in the industry."
The investment comes on the heels of the company's recent March 2002
acquisition of the assets and staff of OpenWebs Corp., a leading provider
of tire distributor and service chain eCommerce management application
software for the tire distribution industry.
This marks the fourth acquisition for CarParts Technologies in less
than two years including Anderson BDG Corporation, a leading auto
service application provider, CR Computing Solutions, Inc., a developer
and marketer of business applications for warehouse distributors and
jobbers, and AutoNet, Inc., a provider of extranet and web development
services to groups of parts distributors.
"This company has shown a sustained ability to innovate application
capabilities sought by manufacturers, distributors and service chains
in the automotive aftermarket. As this market is changed by the enabling
technologies of the Internet, we believe CarParts Technologies can
become the dominant provider of new applications that add new levels
of efficiency, and so profits, to the extended supply chain of this
market," said Peter Mills, managing partner at @Ventures. "We've
been with CarParts Technologies from the earliest funding rounds and
strongly support its vision for the future," said Mills.
"This additional round of funding signifies the investment community's
confidence in CarParts Technologies' value proposition to provide
the automotive aftermarket eCommerce solutions that increase companies'
overall operations and performance," said McCann.
CarParts Technologies develops extended supply chain solutions as
well as private eCommerce technologies that allow manufacturers, buyers
and sellers of automotive parts, accessories and performance products
to run their businesses more efficiently and conduct business with
each other seamlessly. The company's core products include OpenWebs
Intelligent Trading Server, OpenWebs Distributor Edition, Direct Step
Warehouse Distribution Management System and VAST Auto Service Management
System.
About CarParts.com
CarParts Technologies, Inc. is the leading provider of extended supply
chain software solutions for the automotive aftermarket. The CarParts
Technologies eCommerce platform enables efficient online trade, integration
and collaboration between B2B marketplaces, buyers, suppliers and
commerce service providers.
The solutions are used in more than 3,000 leading aftermarket outlets
including tier 1 manufacturers, program groups, tire and service chains,
warehouse distributors, jobbers and independent installers. CarParts
Technologies' open, end-to-end solutions allow companies to generate
new sales, operate more cost efficiently, accelerate inventory turns
and maintain stronger relationships with suppliers and trading partners.
Established in 1997, CarParts Technologies' complete suite of business
solutions has delivered compelling returns on investment to customers
across the entire aftermarket supply chain. Headquartered in San Juan
Capistrano, California, CarParts Technologies has received venture
capital funding from @Ventures, the affiliated venture capital arm
of CMGI, Rho Ventures, BEV Capital, Investor AB and St. Paul Venture
Capital.
About @Ventures
CMGI, Inc. is comprised of CMGI operating businesses and investments
made through its venture capital affiliate, @Ventures. @Ventures has
made more than 65 venture capital investments. CMGI companies span
a range of vertical market segments including e-business and fulfillment;
enterprise software and services; and managed application services.
Rho Ventures
Rho Ventures is a New York-based venture capital firm with extensive
investments in information technology, health care and telecom sectors.
Since it was founded in 1981, the firm has invested in numerous companies
including Active Power, Capstone Turbine, Ciena, Commerce One, Compaq
Computer, Copper Mountain, Diversa, Human Genome Sciences, MedImmune,
and Versicor. Aggregate venture capital under management exceeds $1
billion. Additional information can be found at www.rho.com.
BEV Capital
Founded in 1997, BEV Capital is a unique venture capital firm that
builds successful companies by integrating marketing and technology.
BEV invests in all types of businesses, with particular emphasis
on information technology and the consumer sector. The firm has
over $200 million in capital under management and has invested in
over 30 companies. BEV is based in Stamford, CT.
Investor AB
Investor AB, Sweden's largest listed industrial holding company,
is a long-term, active shareholder in a number of public global
companies. Investor AB has a growing portfolio of private equity
investments in companies operating primarily in the information
technology and healthcare sectors. Investor's net asset value amounted
to approximately 87 billion SEK on June 30, 2002.
St. Paul Venture Capital
St. Paul Venture Capital is one of the largest early-stage venture
capital firms in the United States with $3 billion in committed
capital and offices in Boston, Minneapolis and Silicon Valley. The
firm, founded in 1988, invests primarily in the areas of Communications
Technology; Software and Services; and Health Care. Additional information
can be found at the firm's website at www.spvc.com.
For more information, press and analysts only:
Shari Gold, Gold PR, (949) 764-9488
or (714) 290-3322 - mobile
sgold@goldpr.com
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional
information on CarParts Technologies, please visit the website at
www.carpartstechnologies.com.
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