Ciba Specialty Chemicals Selects Vastera to Streamline North American Trade; Ciba to Use TradeSphere to Automate Import and Export Operations.

Business Editors

DULLES, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 2002

Vastera, Inc. (Nasdaq:VAST), the leading provider of solutions for Global Trade Management (GTM), announced today that Ciba Specialty Chemicals' North American Region has selected Vastera's TradeSphere solution to automate, centralize and streamline its import and export operations.

Under this agreement, Ciba North America will use TradeSphere for its trade operations in and out of the US, Canada, Mexico and the more than 120 other countries in which the region does business.

Ciba Specialty Chemicals (SWX:CIBN; NYSE:CSB) is a leading global producer of specialty chemicals which add performance, protection, color and strength to automobiles, clothing, textiles, paper, plastic, packaging, and home and personal care products.

"Ciba North America's goal is to simplify our global trade process by consolidating the disparate systems and processes that exist among our many locations and businesses into one central location," stated Ron Salotto, Director of International Trade for Ciba NAFTA. "Using Vastera, Ciba's North American operations of tomorrow will have a fully automated and integrated global trade operation running out of a single global trade center based in our North Carolina facility. We anticipate that the consolidation and automation of our trade processes will substantially reduce our operational costs and ensure our commitment to compliance."

Under the agreement, Vastera will provide Ciba with its TradeSphere modules for Export Management, Import Management and Trade Compliance. TradeSphere will enable Ciba to run export determination and produce all necessary shipping documentation for shipments departing from North America.

For those shipments arriving into North America, Ciba will use TradeSphere to run broker verifications and file with Customs via ABI (Automated Broker Interface), as well as run NAFTA determination for Ciba's shipments into Canada and Mexico.

TradeSphere will also enable Ciba North America to screen all international business transactions for (1) persons and entities designated as terrorists or other blacklisted parties, (2) controlled items and (3) embargoed countries.

"Despite the reduction of trade barriers within North America, the complexities of trade have increased," said Mark Ferrer, President and COO of Vastera. "TradeSphere will not only help streamline Ciba's trade between the US, Canada and Mexico, it will also create efficiencies in Ciba's global supply chain and trade operations with one implementation of one integrated solution in one location."

"Companies are starting to realize that in order to optimize a global supply chain, they must eliminate the bottlenecks that arise when moving goods across international borders," added Ferrer. "By automating and consolidating import and export processes, there are tremendous synergies that result in financial returns. We are pleased that Ciba has selected Vastera's TradeSphere and are excited to add another blue chip multinational company to our already impressive list of global 2000 clients."

About Ciba Specialty Chemicals

Ciba Specialty Chemicals is a leading company dedicated to producing high-value effects for its customers products. Their specialty chemicals, added in small quantities, enhance the performance, look and feel of the final product. Business success is driven by the company's long-term strategy of innovation and continuous operational improvements.

Ciba brings new and creative thought to the processes and products of its customers in more than 120 countries. For more information about Ciba Specialty Chemicals, visit its website at www.cibasc.com.

About Vastera

Vastera is the leading provider of solutions for Global Trade Management. Its solutions including software, trade management consulting and managed services, are designed to streamline global business. The foundation of these solutions is Global eContent, a comprehensive, rules-based application of country-specific trade and regulatory content, which is updated daily.

Vastera's solutions drive quick, tangible benefits for its clients by accelerating the flow of goods through the global supply chain, and reducing the associated operational costs. Vastera clients include: Ford, Visteon, Alcatel, Dell, Microsoft, New Zealand Dairy Board and Nortel Networks. For more information, please visit www.vastera.com.

This press release includes statements, which may constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical are "forward looking" statements which are subject to the many risks and uncertainties that exist in Vastera's operations and business environment.

These risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from the expected results and include, but are not limited to, Vastera's limited operating history, history of losses and anticipation of continued losses, potential volatility of quarterly operating results, the ability to successfully implement Vastera's expansion plans, risks related to the Internet, risks related to legal uncertainty and other risks which are set forth in more detail in Vastera's Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, as well as other reports and documents filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.