change Multi-billion dollar B-2-B alliance links retailers, suppliers, distributors electronically; 'A revolution in retail,' says Sears chairman/CEO Martinez

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL., PARIS, FRANCE and REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., Feb. 28, 2000 Sears, Roebuck and Co., (NYSE: S) and Carrefour (CAC: CA), two of the world's largest retailers, and Oracle Corporation (NASDAQ: ORCL), the largest provider of software for e-business, announced today they will launch the first global business-to-business online exchange serving the retail industry.

The open, international GlobalNetXchange, based on Oracle's e-business marketplace platform, initially will focus on Sears and Carrefour's combined $80 billion supply chain purchases from 50,000 suppliers, partners and distributors. Sears and Carrefour expect GlobalNetXchange will significantly reduce their purchasing expenses and greatly enhance supply chain efficiencies with their trading partners.

Other retailers will be invited to join the founding partners in GlobalNetXchange, which at inception would be the world's largest web-based business-to-business marketplace for the retail industry. This new model is expected to radically alter the way business is conducted in retailing.

GlobalNetXchange will allow network members to buy, sell, trade or auction goods and services over the Internet using standard web browsers. Members and their suppliers will be able to capture savings through more strategic sourcing of "for resale" and "not for resale" goods and services. The parties expect to enhance the exchange to provide a variety of supply-chain management capabilities, including collaborative demand and capacity planning, order-promising, transportation scheduling and global inventory visibility, and eventually enable full automation of the purchase process.

Taking advantage of inherent cost savings associated with Internet-based transactions, the new model will free purchasing professionals to focus on product quality, supplier competitiveness and performance, and time to market. GlobalNetXchange will support all types of retail merchandise, including apparel/softgoods, hardgoods, food and other consumer products.

Sears and Carrefour initially will share the majority interest in the GlobalNetXchange joint venture. Oracle will hold a minority interest and will provide software, implementation and support. Powered by Oracleâ Exchange, Oracle's online e-business marketplace, the new company is expected to become operational within 30 days with its own management, employees and capitalization. Both Sears and Carrefour's global trading operations intend to begin using the exchange auction capabilities within weeks.

"This is a revolution in retail," Sears chairman and CEO, Arthur C. Martinez, said. "It will forever redefine supply-chain processes, increase collaboration with suppliers and reduce supply-chain costs. We are delighted to be partners with Carrefour, one of the world's premier retailers, and Oracle, a leader in e-commerce technology."
"The venture we are announcing today is a huge win for our respective companies and for our consumers," said Daniel Bernard,

Carrefour CEO. "Looking forward, the potential impact of this venture on the global retail marketplace is staggering. Realization of this potential will be limited only by our ability to include additional retailers in our vision of a global, web-enabled retail marketplace."
"It is very exciting to be involved in the foundation of a new business-to-business e-commerce company, that while already at world-scale, enjoys such outstanding growth prospects," said Julian Day, Sears executive vice president and COO. "Because the founding members are international, we have already defined the global standard for the retail industry."
"Sears and Carrefour are the ideal partners for this joint venture," said Lawrence J. Ellison, Oracle CEO. "Both companies already enjoy sophisticated purchasing environments, so they are best positioned to leverage the e-business benefits that an online exchange provides. This is the new world of e-business. We are pleased to work with these retail powerhouses to revolutionize the retail supply chain."

This press release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including risks associated with the completion of a definitive agreement for the venture and related approvals, acceptance of the exchange model within the industry, competition from other providers, technological challenges and other factors.

About Oracle
Oracle Corporation provides the software that powers the Internet. For more information about Oracle, please call Oracle

Public Relations at (650) 506-4176 or visit us at http://www.oracle.com/

About Carrefour
Carrefour is the largest retailer in Europe and Latin America and the first international retailer in Asia. With 680 hypermarkets, 2 260 supermarkets and 5 400 deep discount and convenience stores, the group achieves sales of more than 80bn euros under its banners in nine European countries as well as in the Americas and Asia. After the success of its friendly bid for Promodes in 1999, the group should achieve consolidated sales above 55 billion Euros in 2000. The stores sell food, clothing, electronics, appliances and automobile supplies. Through other subsidiaries, Carrefour operates wholesale cash-and-carry warehouses and offers insurance, automobile loans and credit cards. Carrefour has also recently announced a major e-commerce initiative to be launched in 2000. More information about the company is available on the Carrefour Web site, http://www.carrefour.com/

About Sears
Sears, Roebuck and Co. is a leading U.S. retailer of apparel, home and automotive products and services through traditional and e-commerce channels, with annual revenue of more than $41 billion. Through its network of more than 850 full-line stores and 2,100 specialty stores, Sears provides apparel, home and automotive products and related services for nearly 60 million American households. Sears Online, focusing on providing solutions for the home, introduced in 1999 top appliance and tool sites for consumers. Sears.com site expansions planned for 2000 include lawn and garden equipment and home electronics. Sears in January announced it is in discussions with Sun Microsystems to develop the "connected home" of the future. More information about the company is available on Sears Web site, http://www.sears.com/

A media and analyst conference call is being held at 11 a.m. EST, 8 a.m. PST, 5 p.m. French time. The dial-in numbers are 1-800-314-7867 (U.S.) and 1-719-457-2650 (international). The replay numbers are 1-888-203-1112 (U.S.) and 1-719-457-0820 (international), confirmation code 36-84-39. Webcast: http://www.oracle.com/ebusinessnetwork/. For more information, call 1-650-506-4176.

CONTACTS MEDIA
SEARS ROEBUCK AND CO Ann Woolman (847) 286-7079
CARREFOUR Christian D'Oléon (33) 1-40-70-11-89
ORACLE CORPORATION Carol Sato (650) 633-5551