DHL and First Ecom Sign Agreement to Jointly Develop Automated E-commerce Payment Solution for Asia.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 1, 2000

Independent Verification of Delivery Triggers Payment to Merchant

Bringing Security Benefits to Banks, Merchants and Customers

First Ecom.com (NASDAQ: FECC, BSX: FECC, FECC BH), a global provider of electronic payment processing solutions, and DHL Worldwide Express, the world's leading air express service, today announced they have signed an agreement to jointly develop integrated services for electronic commerce applications in Asia.

Through this agreement, DHL and First Ecom will enable automatic settlement, or payment, of e-commerce transactions upon shipment of goods by online merchants that are using First Ecom Enabled banks. An interface will be created between First Ecom's online Merchant Accounting and Reporting System (MARS) and DHL's tracking system so that the shipment of authorized merchandise will automatically generate the request for settlement.

All First Ecom Enabled banks will have immediate access to this solution, saving them time and money since only one integration is needed. In addition, banks and customers benefit from the independent third party verification that the goods have been shipped, providing increased security and reducing the costs associated with fraud and chargebacks.

The system is designed to be convenient, secure, reliable, and require limited human intervention, making it efficient for banks, merchants, and customers.

"Our agreement with DHL further illustrates First Ecom's dedication to provide the most secure and reliable e-payment solutions available," said Harold Hutton, president and CEO of First Ecom. "This new solution expands the number of services offered to First Ecom Enabled banks and demonstrates our ability to integrate our payment gateway with leading companies in all areas of the e-commerce arena. We are excited to be partnering with DHL to provide a more complete e-commerce solution in Asia."

"This payment settlement solution enhances our commitment to facilitate the growth of e-commerce in Asia by offering the most advanced services possible to our customers," said Barry Lai, Director of Sales and Marketing of DHL International (Hong Kong) Limited. "We are continually looking for world-class technologies and are pleased to be working with First Ecom to provide this settlement solution."

About DHL

DHL Worldwide Express is the world's leading air express service, linking more than 85,000 destinations in 228 countries and territories. DHL has a fleet of over 260 aircraft. In Asia-Pacific / Middle East, DHL serves 51 countries and territories, operates about 1,300 stations, employs more than 18,000 personnel and owns about 3,900 transport vehicles. DHL Worldwide Express has a 40% market share of international express traffic as reported by the Air Cargo Management Group, Washington, USA.

In 1998, DHL Worldwide Express was named the "World's Most Global Company" by Global Finance magazine for its excellence in global reach, vision and management strategies. DHL has been named "Best Express Service" for the past fourteen consecutive years at the Asian Freight Industry Awards and for the past six years has been voted as one of Asia's Leading Companies in Far Eastern Economic Review's Review 200 survey.

The DHL Worldwide Express network is composed of DHL International Limited, its subsidiaries and affiliates, which serve all locations outside the US and its territories; and DHL Airways, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates which serve all locations in the US and its territories.

Visit DHL on-line at http://www.dhl.com/ .

About First Ecom.com

As a global provider of electronic payment processing, First Ecom.com provides secure, easy-to-implement and low-cost online payment processing services to banks and their merchants worldwide. Through strategic partnerships with banks, ISPs, e-commerce product suppliers, system integrators and storefront solution providers, First Ecom.com will process credit card transactions made over the Internet in multiple currencies, either domestically or offshore in a tax-neutral jurisdiction.

For more information, visit http://www.firstecom.com or contact First Ecom.com at +(852) 2801-5181 or by e-mail at [e-mail].

Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking" statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995). Because such statements include risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.