AmericasMart.com and UPS Capital Launch Co-branded Credit Card Services; Provides Buyers and Exhibitors with Convenient and Precise Financial Control

Business Wire, Jan 11, 2001

Business Editors, High-Tech Writers

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 11, 2001

AmericasMart.com, the business-to-business eCommerce venture of the nation's largest gift, home furnishings, area rug and apparel marketplace, now provides corporate purchasing options for AmericasMart/Atlanta Buyers and Exhibitors available through an alliance with UPS Capital Corp., the financial services arm of UPS.

Buyers and Exhibitors can now apply online at www.americasmart.com, as well as in-person at AmericasMart/Atlanta, for the co-branded "AmericasMart.com and UPS Capital MasterCard(R)" credit card, offering convenient purchasing options for corporate accounts with a low interest rate and flexible payment schedules.

Designed for maximum cash-flow management, the AmericasMart.com and UPS Capital MasterCard account offers rapid time online tracking of corporate purchases, the ability to set pre-determined limits on individual spending accounts and access to data for online financial control. Flexible and convenient options include download and integration capabilities for use with financial tracking software, electronic statement and payment capabilities on individually paid accounts, and encrypted data for secure, password-protected transactions. Online account maintenance provides for new card requests or cancellations at any time and cardholders can view their account online with protected access to current and past billing statements.

The AmericasMart.com and UPS Capital MasterCard can be used for online purchases at www.americasmart.com, in AmericasMart/Atlanta showrooms and at 19 million MasterCard-accepted locations worldwide. In addition, AmericasMart/Atlanta and AmericasMart.com Buyers and Exhibitors have the option of offering their employees separate credit cards with individual lines of credit.

"When we unveiled the AmericasMart.com's new eShowroom two months ago, we strengthened our commitment to enable smarter, faster and easier business transactions for our Buyers and Exhibitors," said Joe Farrugia, AmericasMart.com chief executive officer. "Our alliance with UPS Capital to provide world-class transaction-financing services demonstrates the delivery of a major component of AmericasMart.com's corporate strategy to provide end-to-end transaction services. In this competitive business, we are moving forward to deliver highly integrated services including order management, supply chain management, front and back-office integration, customer relation management and Web site hosting to surpass market expectations as the eCommerce venture of the world's No. 1 wholesale market."

"Through this alliance, UPS Capital is fulfilling its mission of enabling businesses to accelerate the velocity of funds through their supply chain, thus improving profitability," said Bob Bernabucci, chief executive officer, UPS Capital. "AmericasMart.com and AmericasMart/Atlanta Buyers and Exhibitors will be able to use this type of financing to facilitate transactions."

AmericasMart.com, with currently more than 290 online Exhibitors, 10,000 registered Buyers and offering more than 38,000 products, recently streamlined its eShowroom, providing the definitive virtual buying experience for wholesale buyers and sellers worldwide enabling smarter, faster and easier business transactions. In addition, AmericasMart/Atlanta annually serves more than 6,000 Exhibitors and 200,000 registered Buyers from every U.S. state and from 72 countries and offers more than 40 years experience. Currently AmericasMart/Atlanta is hosting two of its largest annual markets including the Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market and the Atlanta International Area Rug Market through January 21, 2001.

About AmericasMart.com

AmericasMart.com is an independent digital trading exchange providing eCommerce and informational services for sellers (wholesalers, manufacturers and sales representatives) and buyers (retailers) of AmericasMart/Atlanta. AmericasMart.com is designed as a location for business-to-business, online exchange of goods and services. It allows all parties to conduct eCommerce in an efficient, convenient, cost-effective manner, offering manufacturers, sales representatives and buyers access to 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week, 365 days-a-year business transactions. In addition to the electronic showrooms that are divided into nine product categories for user convenience, AmericasMart.com offers services such as market news, market research and market travel for buyers and sellers during and between markets and trade shows, adding eCommerce efficiency, convenience and reach.

About UPS Capital

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. In addition to Card Transaction Solutions, UPS Capital also has the following business groups: Equipment Leasing, Distribution Finance, Payment Solutions, Global Trade Finance, and Glenlake Insurance Agency. Founded in 1998, UPS Capital is based in Atlanta, Ga., and resides on the Web at www.upscapital.com.