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CINCINNATI----Sept. 26, 2000--Cadence recently completed multiple online exchange transactions for energy procurement, which streamline the request for proposal (RFP) process and help Cadence get complete and comparable information for their customers when making purchasing decisions.

This capability, which is just one component of a larger value proposition offered by Cadence, is changing the landscape of facility expense management. Cincinnati-based Cadence is a leading e-commerce firm that helps multi-location companies find solutions to their business challenges.

By linking their systems to the Enermetrix.com Exchange, Cadence can now pool the energy requirements of its customers (even across several companies) in sizes that draw far better prices from suppliers than individual stores could ever get on their own. The process is streamlined, reduces the risks and transaction costs, and can now be completed in record time.

``The new process helps us gather the energy purchasing information faster than ever before,'' said Sheila Noonan, vice president of operations for Cadence. ``In the past, suppliers in our customers' markets had to be identified, RFPs had to be faxed out to suppliers and back, and we had to plow through pages of data and contract language to get to the bottom line. This took days to accomplish. Now, through the power and speed of the Internet, we are able to accomplish the bidding process in minutes and hours instead of days.''

Another bottleneck traditionally was the complexity and sheer length of suppliers' contracts. By utilizing a standard contract, which both Cadence customers and suppliers can review and approve in advance, Cadence compares bids quickly.

``Using the Internet in the energy purchase decision cycle is revolutionary,'' said Mark Shunk, President and CEO of Cadence. ``It's an e-commerce solution for a cumbersome, but necessary process that took time and resources. For suppliers, it's now a matter of clicking and bidding. For our customers, it means that we can help them start saving money even faster.''

Another time-saving step is awarding the bid. In the past, after wading through pages and pages of proposals, the winning supplier would need to be notified in writing. Now, the award, contract and confirmation can be made online.

``Every step has improved,'' said Noonan. ``Our customers are the winners because the quicker the contract is secured, the faster they can start saving money.''

The Cadence Network(TM) provides an enterprise-wide view of fragmented costs enabling better business decisions. It unites that data so facility managers, CFOs and other national chain executives can better understand how those expenses relate to enterprise-wide costs. By combining the reporting and expense management aspects of the Cadence Network with the capabilities that the Cadence partners bring, the result is the industry's most powerful online expense management and procurement combination.

About Cadence

Cadence Network, Inc. is a B2B e-commerce firm that helps multi-site enterprises make better business decisions. Customers include Blockbuster, Winn Dixie, GNC, Papa John's, Motel 6, Service Merchandise and Burger King, among others. Cadence currently impacts the purchases of more than 70,000 individual locations in North America in a variety of industries including retail, grocery, hospitality, financial services and restaurants. Cadence investors include Insight Capital Partners, MSD Capital (the private investment firm for Michael Dell), Cinergy Corp. (NYSE:CIN), Florida Progress (NYSE:FPC) and New Century Energies (NYSE:NCE - ). For more information, call 513.763.3112 or visit Cadence online at www.cadencenetwork.com.

     Cadence
     Jennifer Brinkman, 513/763-3112
     jbrinkman@cadencenet.com
          or
     HSR B2B
     Patty Sorrell, 513/346-5552
     cadence@hsrb2b.com