For further information, please contact:

Brian Beattie
SVP-Marketing
CHEP International
407.563.2060

Ronald Margulis
Managing Director
RAM Communications
908.232.3230

CHEP Launches Suite of ePooling Solutions
To Boost Customer Service

1.5 Million Global Web Based Customer Transactions Processed

ORLANDO -- July 30, 2001: CHEP, the world leader in Equipment Pooling Solutions, today announced the delivery of Portfolio Personal Edition, the third and latest eBusiness product within the CHEP ePooling Solutions suite. The CHEP ePooling Solutions eBusiness toolset, enables true business-to-business connectivity between the company and its customers and provides customers with the ability to manage the pallets and containers they are renting as well as order additional equipment. Portfolio Personal Edition, joins Portfolio, and EDI (electronic data interchange) to complete the CHEP suite of eBusiness customer account management solutions.

Portfolio Personal Edition enables CHEP customers to manage their CHEP related business transactions without having to maintain a continuous Internet connection. This Windows-based application is installed on a PC and only connects to the public network when the user needs to communicate with CHEP. Like its web-based companion, Portfolio, Portfolio Personal Edition allows customers to place order requests for CHEP equipment, report equipment movement activity and manage Portfolio account profiles.

Portfolio and Portfolio Personal Edition applications have been implemented at more than 6,500 users from approximately 3,500 customer firms across the Americas and Europe, and are now processing in excess of 11,000 transactions each day. Since the system was launched in July 2000, Portfolio has processed more than 1,500,000 customer transactions. CHEP also processes 7,000,000 EDI customer transactions on a monthly basis.

"Our ePooling suite of solutions are currently helping companies in the supply chains we service to enhance productivity by allowing system to system communication without human intervention; improve data accuracy; significantly increase the speed of entering supply chain transactions with CHEP, boost efficiency by eliminating multiple handling of paperwork; streamline standard business procedures and eliminate repeated data entry. And, the system accomplishes all of this in a real-time, high availability, secure environment," explained Jack Sparn, CIO, CHEP International.

"This is an impressive set of benefits, and we intend to add to this list frequently by introducing new and updated solutions to the challenges facing our customers."

"The CHEP ePooling Solutions provide CHEP the opportunity to take customer care to the next level by providing customers real time connectivity, account management and support opportunities 24 hours a day from anywhere in the world. We will continue to create eBusiness solutions that minimize supply chain costs, improve communication channels, and demonstrate CHEP as a business partner focused on simplifying business relationships," said Joan Lee, Senior Director, Global eBusiness.

"The ePooling Solutions suite of eBusiness tools demonstrates the CHEP commitment to develop eBusiness solutions that meet the varying needs of CHEP customers globally in an overall effort to simplify the business communication process."

CHEP is an international pallet and container pooling company servicing manufacturers and distributors in the consumer goods industries; grower/shippers and receivers in the produce industry; packers, processors and distributors in the meat industry; home improvement, hardware & housewares manufacturers and distributors and suppliers, assembly plants and aftermarket retailers in the automotive industry. CHEP supplies its customers with high quality pallets and reusable containers from a comprehensive depot and premium service center network. The company is part of the worldwide CHEP organization, which operates in more than in 38 countries on six continents and controls more than 147 million pallets and 29 million containers. CHEP operating principles, service organization and computer tracking systems give participants a simple solution and improved efficiency in product delivery. Additional information on CHEP is available at www.chep.com.