LAWSON ENHANCES ITS HUMAN RESOURCES/PAYROLL APPLICATION SOFTWARE; New Version Provides Easier Access to Information for Line Managers and Employees

Business Wire, June 27, 1995

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 27, 1995--Lawson Software, a leading provider of enterprise-wide, client/server business applications, today announced it has begun shipping an upgraded version of its Lawson Human Resources System. Version 2 of its Open Enterprise Solution includes enhancements to the payroll, personnel and benefits applications as well as seamless integration with a kiosk system that Lawson will introduce shortly. The new version is available with no additional licensing fee to customers on Lawson's maintenance plan.

The kiosk will allow instant access by employees to company policy and benefits information and to personal payroll and benefits data. It will be available this summer as an optional accessory that facilitates employee empowerment.

Major enhancements to the payroll system include improved overtime and retroactive pay calculation features plus the ability to process payroll for employees who are taxed by multiple states or counties, or whose pay is generated from multiple bank accounts. The personnel application now includes a comprehensive job requisitions system for internal and external applicants. Version 2 of the Open Enterprise Solution benefits application includes additional functionality and flexibility, providing flexible benefit plan set-up and maintenance, as well as enhancements to processing of spending accounts and employee benefits statements.

"Sophisticated information systems allow human resources departments to play an increasingly strategic role in the organization," said Debra Edlund, human resources brand manager at Lawson. "Lawson's Human Resources System helps human resources personnel and line managers focus on their strategic roles by providing crucial planning and recruiting tools and by empowering employees to handle routine queries and updates."

In 1994 Lawson commissioned a study with Deloitte & Touche to survey best practices for the use of human resources software in nearly 300 Fortune 1000 companies. Results of the survey are helping Lawson incorporate into its human resources applications many tools to help companies reduce costs, increase productivity, improve employee relationships, make recruiting and employee retention more efficient while staying competitive in a changing business environment.

The new version is built on Lawson Software's object- oriented, open-systems architecture that easily integrates with the leading databases, system platforms and third-party applications. Lawson's unique Drill Around(tm) feature offers flexible, ad hoc access to detailed records, no matter which database they reside in, through a series of pop-up windows and by simply pointing and clicking on displayed fields.

Like all other Lawson Open Enterprise Solutions applications, the human resources package uses a consistent graphical user interface and is compatible with Windows and Windows NT, which allows easy integration with existing PC-based spreadsheet and word-processing applications. It supports the leading databases: Sybase, Oracle, Informix, DB2/6000 and DB2/400.

The application runs on a range of popular hardware platforms, including HP 9000, IBM AS/400, IBM RS/6000, Sun SPARC/Sun Server, DEC Alpha AXP, among others. The UNIX version is available immediately. A version for the AS/400 will ship in August.

Prices for a 10-user system begin at $25,000 for each payroll, personnel and benefits application. Due to the company's Open Licensing policy, customers with active maintenance agreements can receive the upgrade with no licensing fee.

Lawson Software is a $70 million, full-service provider of enterprise-wide, client/server business application solutions, specializing in accounting, human resources, healthcare, and distribution and materials management. Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Minneapolis, the organization employs 600 professionals around the world. Offices are located in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, London, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Toronto, and Washington, D.C. with affiliates in France, The Netherlands, Spain and Sweden.

Lawson was recently ranked among the leading client/server business application vendors by International Data Corporation and was listed among the top five vendors of client/server financial applications by Price Waterhouse LLP and InformationWeek. -0-

Lawson is a registered trademark and Drill Around is a trademark of Lawson Software. Other company and product names are the trademarks of their respective companies.

CONTACT: Jan Cusumano, Lawson Software (612) 362-4748

or

Jessica Solodar or Richard Smith,

Rogers Communications (617) 224-1100