BEAUNE, NOVEMBER 2^nd, 1999

THE WINE AUCTION OF THE HOSPICES DE BEAUNE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME ON THE INTERNET!

The Wine Auction of the Hospices de Beaune is a symbol in the tradition of charity auction. This year, Internet will join in this event.

The 1999 Wine Auction of the Hospices de Beaune - the 139^th of its kind - is at a turning point of its history: for the second time, it will coincide with the coming of a new century. But more than that, this 139th auction will be the first one in which the "exceptional cask" is sold through Internet support, so that Internet users the world over will be able to take part in this auction of prestigious wines. Moreover, to enable all net surfers - individuals and companies alike - to purchase wine, 150 lots consisting of one, two or three limited series, numbered bottles of wine will be offered for sale in the virtual auction room.These wines have been bought and bottled by Burgundies wine merchants before 1999 (oldest vintage).

The campaign, led by AUSTRALIS Web Marketing Agency, with the agreement of the Burgundy Wine Merchant syndicate, is supported by a pool of partners who have agreed to put their complimentary experience at the service of this major charity sale. Operations will be based on an Internet auction sale system set up by:

- AUCLAND, one of France's leaders in the field of Internet-based auction sales. The young start-up from Nice, which has just raised FF 115 million to develop its European activities, will provide the virtual sales room where net surfers can log in their buying orders.

- IBM will equip the Beaune sales room with terminals for Internet access, thus linking the actual and virtual sales rooms together.

- CREDIT MUTUEL will supply bank services for exceptional cask payment on the Internet.

- AXA GLOBAL RISKS, an AXA Group subsidiary, will insure risks related to Internet bottle sales.

- LA POSTE (French Post Office), through its COLIPOSTE operator for delivery of parcels to private customers, will be in charge of logistics: packaging and transport of bottles sold on the operation site.



PARTNERS IN BRIEF


AUCLAND (http://www.aucland.fr) was launched in April 1999. Within a few months this Company has become France's major online auction sales site, interfacing sellers and buyers all over France in a true real time sales room.

AUCLAND aims at becoming the online auction reference site in Europe: it is now operating in Great Britain, Germany, Spain and Italy, and intends to open sites shortly in Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands and Scandinavian countries.

With ample starting capital of FF 5 million, the company's target was to quickly secure a strong position on a fast growing market. And AUCLAND's creators pulled the job off: to date, nearly 30,000 objects have been offered on the site and about 1,5 million pages are seen every month. The AUCLAND people figure that they will have 300,000 items for sale on the site at the end of the first year, and their wish is to achieve a turnover of FF 30 million within the next 3 years.


AXA GLOBAL RISKS (http://www.axa-globalrisks.com) is the AXA Group company dedicated to large corporate risks, international risks and Marine Aviation & Transport risks. It is one of the major companies in international insurance in this market. Over the world, more than 1,500 employees assist AXA Global Risks' clients in their development by offering them all the advantages of a transnational organization.


IBM (http://www.ibm.com) - The e-business is a major means of development for all kinds of enterprises ranging from small and medium businesses to large enterprises. Beyond what has become a buzzword, e-business is a reality which more than 240 000 IBMers throughout the world work on and make happen for their customers. These professionals propose global open solutions, integrating software, hardware and services. Through the e-business technologies IBM enables its customers to implement a more effective relationship with their own customers The auction sale for "Hospices de Beaune" is an outstanding example of this new approach.


COLIPOSTE (http://www.laposte.fr) is the operator of the Group LA POSTE for the delivery of parcels of 0 to 30 kg to private customers. With a large range of products and services and a capillary delivery network COLIPOSTE is the unavoidable partner of private customers, professional customers and companies of mail order services.

COLIPOSTE offers especially a range of "ready to send" parcels in 8 models, among which 4 boxes available in dimensions S, M, L and XL, a special CD/video-packing and packings which can contain 1 to 3 bottles.
For expeditions within France the delivery times are 24 hours in the same region and 48 hours towards the rest of France.

The range COLIPOSTE makes it possible to send parcels in full security towards France and foreign countries. As a matter of fact LA POSTE involves its responsibility, for the parcels of private customers, by the means of a tracking system that includes a posting proof and the signature of the addressee at the moment of delivery. In addition a contract insurance is included in the price in case of lost, despoiling or damage.

On payment of a complementary franking the COLIPOSTE range can be sent to France's overseas departments and overseas territories, and also to the other countries of the world.

This packing range is available in all post offices.


CREDIT MUTUEL(http://www.creditmutuel.fr ) are the 3rd biggest French bank for client and branch number. They are leaders in technological expertise, which allows them to offer their clients the best value available in the market.

Card and remote banking services have been operational in Euro as well as in ten other currencies since January 1999.

As regards plastic money, CREDIT MUTUEL are the largest acquirer with 30 percent market share, having processed 733 million payments in 1998 (190 billion Francs). This was achieved with usual payments in brick and mortar stores as well as e-commerce (secured payments over the Internet, TV, classic and mobile phones). Abroad, CREDIT MUTUEL are active on the card market in Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia, Georgia, Russia, Iran, Cuba…

Always innovative, CREDIT MUTUEL are offering their clients the most comprehensive range of remote financial services either by telephone or over the Internet.


AUSTRALIS (http://www.australis.fr) - This consulting agency was founded in 1996 by Pierre RAVOT (Ecole Centrale de Paris), with the aim of helping companies and organisms wishing to increase their productivity and to innovate through new IT's especially the Internet.

AUSTRALIS practises a new job as a

MediArchitecte™.

AUSTRALIS operates above projects and provides companies with strategic analysis along three lines:

- Marketing,
- Communication,
- Technique.