FOR RELEASE: September 14, 2006

Supply management professionals in the pharmaceutical, chemical and related industries will learn about latest trends from senior executives and topic experts.

(TEMPE, Ariz.) September 14, 2006 — Supply management professionals in the pharmaceutical, chemical and related industries will gather Nov. 1-2, 2006 for the Strategic Sourcing Summit & Showcase '06. The event will be at the Hilton Hotel, East Brunswick, New Jersey.

Strategic Sourcing Summit & Showcase '06 offers opportunities to experience the latest trends and analysis from senior executives, economists and analysts. Program highlights include a senior sourcing executive roundtable featuring five senior-level executives representing research-based, generic, biotech and supply chain companies. Additional program topics include:

• The U.S. Economy: Risks for 2007
• The Outlook for Crude Oil & Petrochemical Feedstocks Prices, Ethylene Production Costs and Olefins Prices
• Business Process Outsourcing
• Achieving High Performance through Outsourcing
• Supplier Relationship Management
• Globalization in the Fine Chemicals Industry — Challenges & Opportunities

In addition to a networking dinner, attendees will not want to miss displays from key suppliers to the industry. Strategic Sourcing Summit & Showcase '06 is ideal for technical and scientific professionals as well as sales and marketing professionals who interact regularly with purchasing departments.

The majority of proceeds from the event fund endowments and scholarships for students majoring in supply chain-related studies. Cost for the entire two-day summit program is $299 for ISM or DCAT members and $369 for nonmembers. A one-day summit option is available.

ISM's Pharmaceutical Forum and ISM Chemical Group are teaming with the Supply Management Committee of the Drug, Chemical & Associated Technologies Association (DCAT) in conjunction with ICIS Chemical Business (Americas) to present Showcase '06. Register online through the DCAT Web site at  www.dcat.org/strategic_sourcing_summit_2006.php  or call 800/640-DCAT.

ISM's Chemical Group includes supply management professionals of chemical, drugs, pharmaceuticals and allied products companies. ISM's Pharmaceutical Forum is composed of members having supply management responsibility within the research-based pharmaceutical and biotech industry. For more information on ISM's Special Groups and Forums, visit ISM at www.ism.ws, select Membership, then Groups and Forums.

As the oldest and largest supply management institute in the world, the mission of Institute for Supply Management™ (ISM) is to lead supply management. By executing and extending its mission through education, research, standards of excellence, influence building and information dissemination — including the renowned monthly ISM Report On Business® — ISM continues to extend the global impact of supply management. ISM's membership base includes more than 40,000 supply management professionals in 75 countries. Supply management professionals are responsible for trillions of dollars in the purchases of products and services annually. ISM is a member of the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM).