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                               [ CERTICOM LOGO ]


             Attention Business/Financial Editors:
             Certicom Corp. Announces US Initial Public Offering

             - Stock to be Listed on Nasdaq National Market-

         HAYWARD, CA, May 1 /CNW/ - Certicom Corp. (Nasdaq/NM: CERT and TSE:
CIC) today announced a public offering of 1,250,000 common shares in the United
States and Canada priced at US$ 46.30 per share. It is expected the offering
will be completed on May 3, 2000. The company will begin trading on the Nasdaq
National Market on Tuesday, May 2, 2000 under the symbol CERT. The company is
currently traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol CIC.

         The proceeds of the offering will be US $57,875,000 and will be used
for the expansion of Certicom's sales and marketing activities, the development
and enhancement of the company's products and services, working capital and
general corporate purposes.

         FleetBoston Robertson Stephens Inc. acted as placement agent in
connection with Certicom's public offering with additional assistance provided
by Dain Rauscher Wessels, Wit SoundView, TD Securities and Yorkton Securities.

         "This offering and our listing on Nasdaq represent the attainment of
key objectives for Certicom," stated Rick Dalmazzi, President and CEO of
Certicom. "We are now in a strengthened financial condition from which we can
pursue our growth strategy. We believe Certicom is well-positioned to pursue the
developing opportunity that exists today in wireless security technology
worldwide."

         Certicom is an encryption technology company specializing in security
solutions for mobile computing and wireless data markets, including m-commerce.
Certicom's OEM customers incorporate its patented technology into their
applications for handheld computers, mobile phones, two-way pagers and other
Internet information appliances.

         Except for historical information contained herein, this press release
contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual
results may differ materially. Factors that might cause a difference include,
but are not limited to, those relating to the acceptance of mobile and wireless
devices and the continued growth of e-commerce and m-commerce (mobile
e-commerce), the increase of the demand for mutual authentication in m-commerce
transactions, the acceptance of Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) technology as
an industry standard, the market acceptance of our principle products and sales
of our customer's products, the impact of competitive products and technologies,
the possibility of our products infringing patents and other intellectual
property of third parties, and costs of product development. Certicom will not
update these forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after
the date hereof. More detailed information about potential factors that could
affect Certicom's financial results is included in the documents Certicom files
from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian
securities regulatory authorities including Certicom's Registration Statement on
Form F-10.

     /For further information: Company Contact: Rich Brounstein, Chief Financial
Officer, Certicom Corp. (510) 780-5325; Agency Contacts: Lillian Armstrong/Kris
Otridge, Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, (415) 433-3777; or Lorraine Kauffman,
Public Relations, Certicom Corp., (510) 780-5417, lkauffman(at)certicom.com/