Media - Press Release

For Immediate Release
August 6, 2008

Ferguson forms Alliance with Virginia Electronic Commerce Technology Center to Support Supplier Diversity Initiatives

NEWPORT NEWS, VA —The Virginia Electronic Commerce Technology Center (VECTEC) at Christopher Newport University is pleased to announce a strategic alliance with Ferguson to support the company’s Distributor Alliance Program (DAP) and supplier diversity initiatives.

DAP allows Ferguson to team with businesses (minority, women, service disable and veteran owned businesses) and provide those businesses with access to Ferguson’s product offering to pursue the small business market. The alliance with VECTEC allows DAP participants access to VECTEC’s various e-commerce solutions that provides a small and diverse company an opportunity to have a competitive business advantage to grow their business in the e-commerce marketplace.

"I was impressed with VECTEC capabilities and how they could assist our DAP businesses with e-commerce solutions which will enhance their business opportunities and profitability,” said Cathy Williams, Business Diversity and Government Sales Manager for Ferguson. “Technology drives business today. A company website and the ability to offer online e-commerce services is their calling card. It is the first impression that a potential customer will see and learn about your company.”

Ferguson's supplier diversity development goal is to make it easier for your company to do business with Ferguson. Fostering an inclusive and diverse business environment allows for both Ferguson and diverse companies to grow strategically together in the competitive marketplace. Supplier Diversity is not only good business; it is smart business. For information regarding Ferguson’s supplier diversity and DAP please contact Cathy Williams, Business Diversity and Government Sales Manager at (757) 223-6052. For additional information regarding this alliance please contact William Muir, Director of VECTEC at (757) 594-7092.

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For further information, contact: communications@ferguson.com

Ferguson
Headquartered in Newport News, Va., Ferguson is a leading wholesale distributor of plumbing supplies; pipes, valves and fittings; heating and cooling equipment; waterworks; and appliances; tools and safety equipment; and fire protection products. Ferguson has sales of $9.1 billion and approximately 17,000 associates in approximately 1,350 service centers located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the Caribbean. For more information, visit www.ferguson.com.

Ferguson is part of Wolseley plc, the world's largest specialist trade distributor of plumbing and heating products to professional contractors and a leading supplier of building materials to the professional markets. Group revenue for the year ended July 31, 2009 was approximately $22.6 billion and trading profit, before exceptional items and amortization and impairment of acquired intangibles was $702 million. At July 31, 2009, Wolseley had around 51,000 employees operating in 27 countries namely: U.K., U.S., France, Canada, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Slovak Republic, Poland, Romania, San Marino, Panama, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, Mexico, Barbados and Greenland. Wolseley plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: WOS) and is in the FTSE 100 index of listed companies.

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