IDG’s InfoWorld 100 Recognizes Avnet Rebate Management System as One of the Most Innovative Corporate IT Solutions

Company Leverages Enterprise-wide Service-Oriented Architecture Initiative to Help Its Customers Grow Their Businesses

November 16, 2006 - PHOENIX -- Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a leading global technology distributor, today announced it has been named to IDG’s InfoWorld 100, honoring the year’s most innovative corporate IT solutions. The annual awards recognize IT projects that demonstrate the most creative use of cutting-edge technologies to further their business goals. To be considered, projects must stretch beyond the typical, off-the-shelf solution, and use multiple technologies in innovative ways to serve well-defined business goals. This is the third time in the past five years that InfoWorld has recognized Avnet for this honor.

’Avnet strives to create innovative tools that not only enhance the productivity and accelerate the success of our customers, but also optimize our collaborative business-to-business processes,’ said Steve Phillips, chief information officer at Avnet. ’Our IT and business teams developed a system that uses Avnet’s service-oriented architecture to simplify one of the most difficult sales areas for customers to manage - rebates. The Avnet Rebate Management System provides our customers with a significant competitive advantage, and we’re honored this solution has been selected by InfoWorld for this prestigious award.’

The company was recognized for the development of its Avnet Rebate Management System, an online tool that leverages Avnet’s service-oriented architecture. The Avnet Rebate Management System provides value-added resellers (VARs) partners with information on manufacturers’ rebate and incentive programs, and insight into how the partners are tracking against targets. Avnet’s VARs can access the Avnet Rebate Management System to learn their progress toward meeting sales targets, bonus opportunities and rebates they will receive. In less than a year since its implementation, the system helped partners earn exponentially more in rebates than in previous years.

’InfoWorld’s recognition of the Avnet Rebate Management System highlights our success in providing IT-based tools that help our partners profitably grow their businesses,’ said Fred Cuen, president of Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas. ’Avnet is committed to developing technology solutions that simplify business processes and help our business partners save time and money. The rebate management system embodies these characteristics, and our partners have used this tool to increase their rebate revenues, improve productivity and gain a competitive advantage.’

’It’s been said that fortune favors the bold. The inspiration for this year’s finalists to tackle such sweeping changes varies widely -- from reducing delivery time of products and services to replacing cumbersome legacy systems,’ said Richard Gincel, InfoWorld Senior Editor. ’But regardless of the motivation, high ambition unites them all.’

Additional details on the InfoWorld 100 are available online at: http://www.infoworld.com/reports/46SR06iw100.html.

About Avnet Inc.
With more than 250 locations serving customers in 70 countries, Avnet markets, distributes and adds value to the products of the world’s leading electronic component suppliers, enterprise computer manufacturers and embedded subsystem providers. Additionally, Avnet brings a breadth and depth of service capabilities, such as supply-chain optimization, logistics solutions, product assembly, device programming, computer system integration and engineering design assistance. For the fiscal year ended July 1, 2006, Avnet generated revenue of $14.25 billion. Visit www.avnet.com/.

About InfoWorld Media Group
InfoWorld Media Group helps IT solutions management choose the right technology, within the context of a cohesive strategy, for business impact at their organizations. Rather than merely covering the enterprise technology market, InfoWorld identifies and promotes emerging technology segments that add unique value for the organizations that implement them, as well as the vendors that provide those solutions. Using an integrated communications approach including online, events, a weekly print publication, research, and a continued investment in an independent Test Center, InfoWorld analysts and editors provide both hands-on analysis and evaluation, as well as expert commentary on issues surrounding emerging technologies and products. Visit InfoWorld at http://www.infoworld.com.

About IDG
International Data Group (IDG) is the world’s leading technology media, events, and research company. IDG publishes more than 300 magazines and newspapers in 85 countries including CIO, CSO, Computerworld, GamePro, InfoWorld, Macworld, Network World, and PC World. IDG’s online network includes more than 400 Web sites spanning business technology, consumer technology, digital entertainment, and gaming worldwide. IDG is a leading producer of more than 170 technology-related events including LinuxWorld Conference & Expo, Macworld Conference & Expo, DEMO, and IDC Directions. IDC, a subsidiary of IDG, is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events. Over 850 IDC analysts in 50 countries provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends. Additional information about IDG, a privately company, is available at www.idg.com.

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Contact Information

Marcia Chapman

Brodeur, for Avnet

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