By connecting manufacturers and B2B e-commerce companies with the financial supply chain online, CapitalStream solves the next big e-commerce challenge — the need to provide customers with integrated financing

- Capital Stream, Inc. (formerly System 1 Software), an e-commerce provider of services and tools for the business finance industry, today introduced a new approach to online business-to-business financing. The new service, called CapitalStream.com™, is a hosted e-commerce site combined with a web-based toolset that enables manufacturers and vendors, financial brokers, B2B e-commerce companies and financing firms to integrate financing at the point of sale, reach a wider range of financing partners, and automate risk management and workflow.

"We have leveraged our industry expertise in the commercial finance market, and our experience has helped 570 customers place more than $8.5 billion in commercial financings in 1999, creating a powerful industry network that meets the competitive needs of our global market," said CapitalStream CEO, Stephen Campbell.

Addressing the entire financial supply channel from the supply-side (funding sources) to the demand-side (brokers, manufacturers and B2B portals), CapitalStream offers end-to-end workflow of the financing process. CapitalStream.com's beta release in early November 1999 has already attracted interest and participation from more than 43 companies across a wide range of industries.

"Using CapitalStream.com to automate processes in the financial supply chain via the web, financial firms can reach new markets, cross-sell products, expand their credit window, and reduce risk and costs," said Campbell."In effect, we offer a two-way network between financing companies, manufacturers and vendors, and B2B e-commerce firms. This provides financing partners with a quick, cost effective way to transact business electronically and offer integrated financing at the point of sale."

CapitalStream.com is an integrated offering that enables funding sources to offer flexible, personalized financing programs to improve customer service and increase their competitiveness. Rates, terms and content can be dynamically managed by financing companies, allowing them to go online with personalized credit programs that respond to the wide range of relationships they have with customers. Using CapitalStream's "virtual private market" solution, financing companies can apply their branding to the credit origination process and embed it within their web sites. Throughout the transaction process, CapitalStream.com offers comprehensive reporting, including application status by program and approval ratio summary.

CapitalStream.com's new web-based risk management tools allow funding sources to automate credit decision making and risk management, through proprietary score cards, access to third party credit analytics and content, and comprehensive rules-based screening. Automated credit screening is based on user-defined rules regarding transaction size, risk characteristics and other lender-defined criteria.

CapitalStream makes it easy for financing companies to quickly and efficiently offer international service. CapitalStream.com offers multi-currency support, including book and functional currency tracking at the organization or point-of sale levels and cross-rate currency translations.

Larger financing companies with infrastructure already in place may administer customer and transaction information internally using one of CapitalStream's client-server offerings with leading databases, such as Oracle and SQL Server. Synchronization occurs automatically between CapitalStream.com and the company's desktop products including System 1 CenterPoint™ and System 1 Version 2.5 or third party software using the XML-based CapitalStream eXchange™.

The demand-side of the financial supply chain can easily get up-and-running by subscribing to CapitalStream.com. With a conventional browser and Internet connection, brokers and vendors can go through CapitalStream's hosted network and access their funding source partner's program information, prepare quotes, securely submit credit inquiries, check transaction status and receive contracts via the Internet. They in turn, can offer these same services to their customers.

"Until we were introduced to CapitalStream.com, we had been unable to identify an e-commerce solution that allowed us to facilitate a B2B strategy for our clients and financing partners in a virtual network," said Michael Austin, CEO of eCapitalus. "The ability to communicate with our own customers and partners in real-time creates a value added platform that leverages our specialized client network. We believe CapitalStream.com is a cost-effective solution that allows us to enrich our relationships without sacrificing any personal contact."

CapitalStream.com includes a powerful set of online marketing tools to make acquiring new customers easier while enhancing service to existing customers. For example, customers can obtain real-time quotes by using the quote calculator that compares suggested terms with their current program rates.

FinanceItNow™ extends the reach of CapitalStream.com to businesses and their downstream customers selling goods online. This is accomplished by integrating business credit applications at the point of sale on their web site, or on their customer's web site. The end customers can submit new applications, check on the status of their transactions, and communicate directly with the financial supply chain through CapitalStream.com's network.

Seattle-based CapitalStream offers end-to-end e-commerce marketplace solutions-including customer management tools, workflow automation and an online transaction network-for the global business finance market. The company's e-commerce network, CapitalStream.com, provides an infrastructure for financing companies, manufacturers and B2B e-commerce firms to capture, grow and service customers. CapitalStream has been an established industry leader for five years, and in 1999, its 570 customers used CapitalStream products to facilitate $8.5 billion in transaction volume.

Jennifer Fox
Capital Stream, Inc.
206-548-1651
jenniferf@capitalstream.com

Scott Battishill
DDB Seattle
206-464-0197
scott.battishill@sea.ddb.com