METRO Group Distributes Electronic Invoices Using the AuthentiDate eBilling Signature Solution

Business Wire, Nov 3, 2004

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. & DUSSELDORF, Germany & BAAR, Switzerland -- Electronic Invoice Implementation is Part of a World-Wide Master Agreement for Signature Solutions

AuthentiDate International, AG, a subsidiary of AuthentiDate Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: ADAT), announced today that it has signed an agreement with MIAG C.V., the central payment-processing subsidiary of the METRO Group. Under this agreement, MIAG is using the AuthentiDate eBilling signature solution in an initial project under a world-wide master agreement for digital signature solutions, such as electronic distribution of digital invoices for collection.

The METRO Group is planning to optimize other business processes and reduce costs in the future with digital signatures. All of the worldwide companies of the METRO Group can use the various AuthentiDate signature solutions under uniform terms through this master agreement.

AuthentiDate will generate revenue through upfront licensing and transaction fees.

In the current project, the AuthentiDate eBilling signature solution enables MIAG C.V. to send digitally signed invoices for the METRO Group in accordance with the requirements of the (German/EU) VAT law and the EU Invoice Directive, which protect electronic invoices against undetected manipulation.

The AuthentiDate signature solution is used by MIAG C.V. in Switzerland. MIAG C.V. acts as the central handling company of the international payment transactions of the METRO Group and issues about 34 million invoices annually to the international business partners of the METRO Group.

Up to now, paper invoices had to be sent through postal organizations to allow input-tax deduction by their recipients. Electronic invoices can now be signed in compliance with existing laws using the AuthentiDate signature solution, and satisfy the requirements of the VAT law. Accordingly, additional paper invoices are no longer necessary. The implemented solution provides high potential savings for the METRO Group, as well as simplifies and saves resources for the invoice recipients.

To improve and drive customer acceptance on the invoice recipient's side, a very convenient and easy to use way to check digital signatures is part of the integrated AuthentiDate eBilling signature solution. Invoice recipients can use a web based service to verify the digitally signed invoices. An internet browser is sufficient to make use of this service, which is also provided by AuthentiDate.

"The AuthentiDate eBilling signature solution was able to be set into production in a very short period of time at our company and fit seamlessly with our existing IT infrastructure with absolutely no problems," stated Silvio Hasler, CIO of MIAG C.V "Furthermore, the high level of expertise and comprehensive practical experience of AuthentiDate in the overall signature environment provided great benefit to us."

"We are very proud that we have been successful to win the METRO Group, the world's fourth-largest retailer, as another international company as one of our customers," said John Botti, Chairman and CEO of AuthentiDate Holding Corp. "The quick, professional way of implementation and the world-wide master agreement will allow further substantial optimization and cost savings in the future, even above and beyond the electronic invoice."

The AuthentiDate eBilling signature solution is already being used at other international and global companies, i.e., by National Car Rental, John Deere and Dow Chemical and other well known companies.

AuthentiDate also announced that it has been nominated for the 2004 German Internet Award for the eBilling solution by the German Federal Ministry of Commerce and Labor.

Illustrations available upon request

About AuthentiDate International AG

AuthentiDate International AG (www.authentidate.de), Dusseldorf, Germany is the first accredited certification provider, certified by the German Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Posts (RegTP), specializing in qualified timestamps compliant with the strict regulations of the new German signature law and the European signature guidelines.

AuthentiDate specializes in business process solutions based on electronic signatures and timestamps. These solutions feature easy integration, high economic efficiency, platform independence and protection of investment.

Nationally and internationally well-known companies in various industries utilize AuthentiDate signature solutions to achieve legal security in the areas of eBilling, archiving, scanning and workflow. In addition, AuthentiDate's signature technology is already integrated in products of other manufacturers; therefore legal security for business processes is automatically available for many companies.

AuthentiDate is present in Europe, the USA and also through partners in Asia. AuthentiDate Holding Corp, Inc. has its headquarters in the USA (New York) and is listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange (ADAT) and in Germany (WKN 893715).

About Metro International AG