Hudson’s Bay Company Builds B2B E-Commerce Capabilities Through GXS

Canada’s Oldest Corporation and Largest Department Store Chooses GXS to Streamline Global Trading Partner Network

GAITHERSBURG, Md. - Oct. 19, 2005 - GXS, a leading provider of business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce solutions, today announced that Hudson’s Bay Company (Hbc), Canada’s largest department store retailer and oldest corporation, has chosen GXS to manage and improve the company’s B2B supply chain processes. Hbc will leverage GXS electronic data interchange (EDI) solutions and other B2B Services to enhance supply chain data transactions between more than 3,500 trading partners in North America, and abroad, to maximize inventory accuracy and any-to-any data communication. Hbc selected GXS as a preferred B2B e-commerce partner because of the company’s reach and its unique end-to-end supply chain automation, visibility and collaborative solutions.

After a competitive market assessment, Hbc recognized GXS’ unique ability to meet Hbc’s current e-commerce demands while enabling it to maintain a well-managed, efficient supply chain. In addition, Hbc is planning to leverage GXS Trading GridSM in the future. GXS Trading Grid combines messaging, data synchronization and business process visibility to automate the flow of information to and from trading partners to help grow revenue, manage costs in the supply chain and ensure transparent B2B communications.

“In today’s retail world, technology increases operating efficiency and improves the shopping experience for consumers,” said Mark Warren, IS Director of Oracle ERP at Hbc. “That’s why we selected GXS to help us achieve leading business process management across our supply chain and enhance supplier relationships. GXS worked with us to help minimize overall data exchange costs which will help to ensure we continue to offer very competitive product assortments to our customers.”

GXS’ solutions will enable Hbc to accommodate any data protocol, and handle files of nearly any custom format, including AS2, XML and EDI/EDIFACT. GXS AS2 Outsourcing Service insulates Hbc from deploying additional hardware, software or in-house expertise investment that would otherwise be required to meet suppliers’ requests for AS2 communications. Outsourcing AS2 to GXS will allow Hbc to concentrate on core business issues and avoid the high costs and resource drain associated with an in-house AS2 implementation. “As a leader in the retail market, Hbc understands the important role technology plays in managing a successful and complex supply chain operation. Retailers with thousands of suppliers, like Hbc, are tasked to bring consistency to an inconsistent blend of supply chain transactions,” said Steve Keifer, vice president of industry marketing at GXS. “GXS solutions align perfectly with Hbc’s goal of making B2B e-commerce easier to manage with our trading partners. By deploying GXS’ solutions, Hbc not only is provided benefits from consistent trading activities and service, but also is creating a strong platform for growth and greater functionality in the future.”

GXS enables demand driven supply chains for retail and consumer products companies by integrating trading partners, synchronizing product information, monitoring supply chain events and facilitating collaborative planning. Retailers and suppliers in the grocery, do-it-yourself, department store, apparel and consumer electronics sectors rely on GXS’ solutions to help build customer loyalty, reduce supply chain errors, enhance supplier relationships and streamline operations. Through industry-leading technology, strategic partnerships and professional support on all major continents, GXS enables retailers, manufacturers and suppliers around the world to increase B2B e-commerce functionality and reach and to improve the efficiency of their supply chains. GXS’ customers in the retail sector include AAFES, Hudson’s Bay Company, Liz Claiborne, Circuit City, Walgreen’s and Metro.

About HBC
Hudson’s Bay Company, established in 1670, is Canada’s largest department store retailer and oldest corporation. The Company provides Canadians with the widest selection of goods and services available through retail channels that include 550 stores led by the Bay, Zellers and Home Outfitters chains. Hudson’s Bay Company is one of Canada’s largest employers with 70,000 associates and has operations in every province in Canada. For more information visit our Web site www.hbc.ca.

About GXS GXS is a leading global provider of B2B e-commerce solutions that simplify and enhance business process integration and collaboration. Organizations worldwide, including more than 75 percent of the Fortune 500, leverage the GXS Trading GridSM to achieve balance between supply and demand. Active in the global standards arena, GXS solutions enable customers both large and small, to connect with global partners, synchronize product information, optimize inventory levels and demand forecasts, and accelerate the execution of supply chains.

Headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., GXS provides sales and support to businesses and their partners worldwide. For more information visit our Web site at www.gxs.com.