CertCo, Inc. Aligns With Coface Group to Alleviate Concerns Associated With B2B e-Commerce.

Business & High Tech Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 31, 2000

CertCo to Integrate Coface Group's Credit Information and

Transaction Insurance into CertCo RMX(TM)

Offering for Online Exchanges

CertCo, Inc, the leading provider of risk management and security solutions for B2B e-commerce, today announced a partnership agreement with Coface Group, the world's leading provider of international credit insurance, to offer CertCo RMX(TM) users access to Coface's worldwide database of @rated businesses and company credit reports. Users also will have a direct link to Coface's rating site, www.cofacerating.com, which allows buyers and sellers to instantly check the credit rating of potential customers, and purchase trade credit insurance against in-debt and non-payment compensation.

CertCo RMX, which is delivered to online exchanges via an application service provider (ASP) model, provides the first risk management infrastructure that enables businesses to authenticate buyers' and sellers' identities and credit worthiness, verify purchasing authority and insure transactions, all within an online exchange. By providing these capabilities in a single solution, CertCo RMX allows online exchanges to give their users the ability to seamlessly conduct online transactions in real-time.

The addition of services from Coface will allow buyers and sellers using CertCo RMX to access credit reports on their trading partners via Coface's worldwide database of 35 million @rated companies. These reports are designed to equip both buyers and sellers on online exchanges with the information needed to better evaluate a potential trading partner's credit worthiness, stability and profitability. If a trading partner wants to engage in trade with a company that has not been rated, Coface can provide a rating through its proprietary @rating Solution.

"Combining the capabilities of our @rating services with CertCo RMX provides a compelling solution that we believe will encourage more businesses to conduct online transactions," said Daniel Bocarra, president of Cofacerating North America. "For the first time, Coface and CertCo are delivering a simple and straightforward credit assessment for trading partners worldwide in a more timely, cost-efficient and secure manner, enabling companies to conduct business safely on the Internet."

Based on a standard rating system, Coface's @rating Solution is the first credit rating service with the ability to immediately assess risks and provide ratings for companies of all sizes and in all industries worldwide by evaluating each company's capacity to meet its commercial commitments as both a buyer and supplier. Coface also provides trading partners with the ability to purchase trade credit insurance, and thus minimize the risk of failed export sales and non-payment of goods.

"The ability to know if a trading partner is legitimate is a significant concern for companies conducting high-value transactions through online exchanges," said June Felix, chairman, president, and CEO of CertCo, Inc. "CertCo RMX alleviates this concern, and through our agreement with Coface, provides necessary answers for buyers and suppliers who want to manage the risks associated with B2B e-commerce and increase the level of trust between their online trading partners domestically and internationally."

About the Coface Group

The Coface Group is the world leader in international credit insurance and ranks third in the world in commercial information. It is also the creator of @rating, the first Web-based global B2B rating system, and the manager of the French government's export guarantees. The Group is listed on the Paris stock exchange, and its shares are included in the SBF 120 and SBF 250 indices.

The Coface Group supplies more than 70,000 corporate clients in 75 countries with flexible solutions to better manage their relations with B2B partners, suppliers and customers, based on its expertise in credit insurance, solvency and commercial information and receivables management. It also offers access to the CreditAlliance and InfoAlliance global networks, which are structured around shared quality standards, as well as @rating, the Internet-based global credit rating system that was launched this year.

About CertCo(R), Inc.

Founded in 1996, CertCo, Inc. is a leading provider of risk management and security infrastructure solutions for B2B e-commerce. CertCo provides corporations, financial institutions, online exchanges and governments with business solutions that enable them to safely conduct global, high-value transactions over open networks - effectively removing the "last hurdle" in end-to-end B2B e-commerce. The company offers a full suite of risk management and security services that leverages its thorough understanding and experience with business process, legal, technology and cryptography issues, as well as its deep and long-standing relationships with insurance and financial services providers. Based in New York and privately held, CertCo also operates a research and development office in Cambridge, Mass. More information is available at www.certco.com.

Copyright (c) 2000 CertCo, Inc., 55 Broad Street New York, NY 10004 U.S.A. All rights reserved. CertCo, its logo, CertCo RMX, CertAuthority, CertValidator, Multi-Step Signing and/or other CertCo products referenced herein are either trademarks or registered trademarks of CertCo Inc. All other company and/or product names are the property of their respective owners.