Mercury2 Launches Into International E-Commerce Market With Leadership From Global Trade and Policy Veterans.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 21, 2000

Experts Gather to Pioneer New Software and Service Offering to

Automate International Operations and Order Handling

Mercury2 today announced its launch into the emerging global e-commerce market with leadership from a top caliber advisory team focused on creating an automated software and service offering that will enable businesses to compete and sell worldwide. In addition to the company's strong advisory board, Mercury2 enters this market with major competitive advantages: a clear focus on the barriers to filling online international orders, a unique product designed specifically for automating and streamlining export processes, a strong management team of Internet, trade, legal and financial experts, and Series A funding.

"Bridging the gap to market and sell internationally is an enormous initiative that most businesses do not have the knowledge, resources, or time to undertake," stated Christine Herron, founder and CEO of Mercury2. "Our top-level advisory board and management team set out to build the missing link to enable companies to successfully compete and sell internationally, as well as manage the many details of the sale without any hidden costs or delays."

Mercury2 aims to simplify traditional import and export processes, which have undergone little change in the last century. Today, these slow, manual processes -- in which almost every step must be performed manually -- dramatically raises costs of goods shipped internationally. The high costs and slow cycle times force importing companies to purchase and warehouse more goods than they need, lengthening supply chains and driving costs up. Further, antiquated export services are ill suited for online businesses and, according to Forrester Research, 85% of Web sellers refuse to accept any international orders.

To address these issues, Mercury2's team of experts have developed a solution that seamlessly determines complex classification codes, screens shipments for regulatory compliance, calculates duties, taxes and fees, and produces the proper shipping, export and import documentation. At every stage, Mercury2 technology replaces the slow, expensive, manual processes with fast, reliable and easy-to-use services that help companies reduce costs, speed delivery, and serve international customers.

Mercury2's Advisory Board

Mercury2's Advisory Board is comprised of experts in the areas of global public policy and trade, European sales, Internet sales, e-commerce, transaction services, and information security.

Kathleen Paisley is a partner in the Brussels office of Morrison & Foerster, LLP. Having practiced in Europe since 1987, Paisley specializes in the wide range of issues facing non-European companies operating in Europe and manages all of their European legal needs; including the structuring of European operations, distribution, licensing, etc. She regularly advises clients on subjects such as European employment, patent, licensing, intellectual property, privacy laws; as well as other issues related to the daily operations of running a European company. Paisley has previously served as legal advisor to the Iran-United States Tribunal in the Netherlands, where she assisted the American arbitrators with a wide range of international arbitration cases. She is a member of the bars of the State of New York and the District of Columbia.

Peter Harter is an expert in global Internet policy. He is the current vice president of Internet Protection & Policy at Securify. Prior to Securify, Harter was the vice president of Global Public Policy & Standards for Emusic where he was responsible for supervising and representing Emusic's international public affairs activities with government institutions, industry associations, and standards-setting organizations. He co-founded the Internet Law and Policy Forum (ILPF) and, prior to his work with the ILPF, served as the executive director and general counsel to the National Public Telecomputing Network (NPTN) in Cleveland, Ohio. Harter has previously served as global public policy counsel for Netscape Communications Corp. and was responsible for their government affairs. In its July 1998 issue, Business 2.0 called Harter one of "The 25 Most Intriguing Minds of the New Economy."

Tom Leuchtner has accumulated more than fifteen years' experience in the computer industry, including his current position as director of Strategic e-commerce Sales for Sun-Netscape Europe. His areas of expertise include Internet electronic commerce, intranet and extranet infrastructure, electronic commerce security, electronic mail, and groupware. He drives electronic commerce sales for Netscape in Southern and Central Europe, the Middle East, and Northern Africa. Leuchtner has also held the position of director of Solutions Marketing Europe for Netscape and formerly led product strategy at both NetManage and Lotus Development Corp. He is a frequent speaker at industry trade shows, conferences, exhibitions and seminars.

Ed Hearst is responsible for driving strategic and policy initiatives as vice president of the Global Trading Web Division of CommerceOne. Hearst has been a staff member of the House of Representatives and drafted the recent major e-commerce legislation before the House Commerce Committee. He is responsible for many national e-commerce initiatives and is an expert driver of policy and strategy.

Carol Coye Benson is an expert in Internet financial and transaction services strategies and currently is the acting chief marketing officer of EarthBank Corp. Benson is the former managing director of the Global Institutional Services division of Deutsche Bank (formerly Bankers Trust) where she oversaw marketing, client online services, and Internet development. Prior to Deutsche Bank, Benson was a senior vice president at Visa International where she was responsible for e-commerce product and market development and opened the Paris office in order to bring European banks online. She also spent 12 years at Citibank, holding management positions in corporate lending, wholesale cash management, and global strategy. Benson has previously served as director of Identrus, LLC.

Dan Jones has an impressive wealth of database and e-commerce expertise. At Modem Media, Jones drives knowledge systems initiatives for the company and its clients. Jones has previous experience as the senior vice president of Engineering and Information Systems for Novo, a digital commerce builder for the Fortune 500. Jones also served as vice president of Information Systems at Vivid Studios, a San Francisco Web services firm. Before joining Vivid, he was vice president and partner at CONOTABS, a company specializing in compiling and enhancing public information databases. CONOTABS compiled sophisticated data aggregation, harmonization, and application solutions, such as the United States' national voter registration database and associated application services.

Alex Edelstein is a recognized operating executive with a track record of business success in top organizations. Edelstein is the founder and CEO of Viralon Corp., an Internet Services company in San Francisco. Prior to Viralon, he was the general manager responsible for building Inktomi's Search Engine business unit from a small group to a rapidly growing business with 70 employees. Earlier, Edelstein was director and assistant to the CEO at Netscape Communications, working with Jim Barksdale on technical analysis and advice, sales account management, internal operations, and strategic development. Edelstein is also the managing member of Gemstone-Edelstein Capital I, an early-stage technology investment fund with investments in companies such as TellMe Networks, Gilian Technologies, Guardian Angel Holdings, and Securant Technologies, as well the managing director for Max Victor Fund. Edelstein serves on the boards of Kestrel Technology Corp. and Digital Jones.

Taher Elgamal is the founder and president of Securify, a Kroll-O'Gara company and a leader in the information security industry. Prior to founding Securify, Elgamal was the chief scientist of Netscape Communications Corp. where he pioneered and patented Internet security technologies such as SSL, the standard for Web security. He has also served as director of Engineering at RSA Data Security, Inc. from where he produced the RSA cryptographic toolkits, the industry standard for developers and security-enabled applications and systems.

About Mercury2, Inc.

Based in San Francisco, Mercury2's solution seamlessly automates all the details of international trade including product classification, shipping, and complex customs and regulatory issues. The company's offering yields significant economic benefits, allowing buyers to reduce costs and time while sellers increase revenue. By using Mercury2's software and service offering, companies can capture greater international market share, extend a competitive advantage and increase overall sales without additional marketing expense. The company boasts a top caliber management and advisory team. Mercury2, incorporated in October 1999, is a privately funded company that received first-round financing from prominent Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and executives. For more information, please call 415/431-3015, or visit the company's Web site at www.mercury2.com.