AmericasMart.com and UPS Capital Corp. Announce First Of Its Kind Financing

Business Wire, July 6, 2000

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 6, 2000

Leaders of wholesale and financing markets unveil plans for unique

credit line

AmericasMart.com, the business-to-business website for the exhibitors and buyers of AmericasMart Atlanta, has expanded the buying potential of AmericasMart exhibitors and buyers through an exclusive partnership with UPS Capital Corp., the financial services arm of UPS. Together, AmericasMart.com and UPS Capital are co-branding a hybrid private label credit line "The AmericasMart.com Account" that will offer buyers quick and easy purchasing options and provide exhibitors with financial savings.

AmericasMart.com and UPS Capital made the announcement at a media briefing today to coincide with the beginning of AmericasMart Atlanta July Market.

AmericasMart Atlanta is the nation's largest wholesale market offering specialty gift, home furnishings, area rug and apparel products. The wholesale market with more than forty years experience, AmericasMart Atlanta annually serves more than 5,000 exhibitors and 200,000 retail buyers from 72 countries. AmericasMart.com is an independent trading exchange created to enable transactions between buyers and vendors.

Helping to facilitate the actual transaction between buyer and exhibitor marks a first for AmericasMart Atlanta and UPS Capital, and adds extra value to AmericasMart.com's e-commerce solutions. This new financial option, which offers an unsecured, revolving line of credit and includes a credit card, enables exhibitors who honor this account to obtain immediate transaction authorizations based on the status of buyers' accounts.

"Manufacturers and buys worldwide recognize AmericasMart Atlanta as the global industry leader with four decades of experience. But, experience is at its best when it serves as the foundation for launching the future. Today, AmericasMart exhibitors and retailers are assured that they can conduct e-commerce facilitated through the financial options made possible by the partnership with UPS Capital," said John C. Portman, Jr., chairman of AMC, Inc., parent company of AmericasMart and AmericasMart.com

AmericasMart.com chief executive officer, Joe Farrugia added, "By offering The AmericasMart.com Account, AmericasMart.com and UPS Capital can establish the rates and fees exhibitors will pay to conduct transactions. We plan to offer a lower rate than exhibitors normally pay. This will help all of our customers, especially small businesses, who will appreciate the financial benefits the line of credit offers."

AmericasMart.com and UPS Capital further extend their credit capabilities to buyers and exhibitors alike by offering a MasterCard(TM) business credit card, which can be used at the more than 17 million locations worldwide where MasterCard(TM) is accepted. The credit card option provides AmericasMart.com customers with an economical way to add functionality to their purchasing processes. AmericasMart.com buyers and exhibitors will have the option of offering their employees separate credit cards with individual lines of credit. AmericasMart.com and UPS Capital will add functionality to the card by making a number of Internet tools available such as expense reports for employee cardholders, transaction tracking and management reporting. Additional features will be made available.

"The benefits of our program have universal application. We believe it adds value to any company seeking a more efficient and convenient way to run its business," said Bob Bernabucci, president, UPS Capital. "We are pleased to join with AmericasMart.com to offer a unique program that helps small businesses, many of whom have been UPS customers for decades."

AmericasMart.com (www.americasmart.com) is an independent online global marketplace providing e-commerce and informational services for exhibitors (wholesalers, manufacturers and sales representatives) and buyers (retailers) of AmericasMart, home of the nation's largest gift, home furnishings, area rug and apparel markets. In addition to the electronic showrooms that are segmented into nine product categories for user convenience, AmericasMart.com provides services such as online order placement, market research, industry news and market travel for buyers and exhibitors during and between markets and trade shows, adding e-commerce efficiency, convenience and reach.

UPS Capital Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of UPS (NYSE: UPS). Its mission is to provide a comprehensive menu of integrated financial products and services that enable companies to grow their business. UPS Capital's growing product portfolio is designed to deliver a one-stop solution to the capital needs of any enterprise. UPS Capital also offers the following products: Next Day Leasing, C.O.D. Enhanced Services, Distribution Finance, and Global Trade Finance. Founded in 1998, UPS Capital is based in Atlanta, Ga., and resides on the Web at www.upscapital.com.