Centex Homes, Lennar Corporation, The Fortress Group and David Weekley Homes To Use USBuild for Internet Supply Chain Solution

San Francisco, CA - February 8, 2001 - USBuild, a company leveraging the Internet to create a supply chain optimized for production homebuilding, today announced that four more of the nation's top homebuilders—Lennar Corporation (NYSE: LEN), Centex Homes (Centex, NYSE: CTX), The Fortress Group (Nasdaq: FRTG), and David Weekley Homes—will begin using the company's services in its initial market, Denver. These firms join Pulte Homes (NYSE: PHM) and Village Homes in deploying USBuild's e-chain solution for streamlining the supply chain for new home construction.

In making the announcement at the International Builders Show in Atlanta, USBuild CEO George Mac Connell said, "These builders are demonstrating true vision. They will be among the first to use a new kind of supply chain—an Internet-enabled pipeline of information, financial and product flows—engineered to meet the needs of both production homebuilders and manufacturers. Our e-chain delivers a long-overdue improvement in procurement, logistical and distribution processes, resulting in a real win for all participants."

Brian Hutt, Lennar Corporation's program coordinator for the USBuild initiative, said, "Partnering with USBuild, Lennar will be able to order materials directly through USBuild's Web-based procurement system and advanced fulfillment center—streamlining the homebuilding process and making it more efficient."

"Centex Homes is committed to lowering costs and working closely with trade contractors and manufacturers," according to CEO Timothy Eller. "We've been looking at ways to improve supply chain efficiencies that reduce homebuilding costs. By working with USBuild, we'll evaluate supply chain practices that we expect will reduce costs."

"USBuild has created a smart solution that's working to improve the homebuilding process—from procurement through delivery and installation," said Bob Riester of The Fortress Group. Added David Weekley Homes chairman and CEO David Weekley, "We're looking forward to working with USBuild because they're focused on operational benefits."

Pulte Homes was a development partner in USBuild's pilot operations in Denver during the Fall of last year and will expand the use of USBuild to additional communities in 2001. "Their solution is very efficient and very effective; the e-chain model is working very well," noted Alan Laing, Pulte's Vice President for e-Business Strategies and Supply Chain Management.