Business Objects Announces Partnership with IBM for Information Warehouse Solution; BusinessObjects Industry-Leading Query and Reporting Tool Integrated with DataGuide, IBM's Information Catalogue for End Users

Business Wire, Oct 18, 1995

CUPERTINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 18, 1995--Business Objects, a leading provider of client/server decision support systems (DSS), today announced a partnership with IBM to integrate BusinessObjects with products in IBM's Information Warehouse Solution, the company's data warehousing initiative.

BusinessObjects provides an industry-leading query and reporting solution that gives end users an intuitive, business representation of information stored in corporate databases and data warehouses.

This effort between Business Objects and IBM is aimed at solving the problem of metadata integration in a data warehouse. Users will benefit from the integration of BusinessObjects with four IBM software packages:

-- BusinessObjects users can access data stored in the DATABASE 2 (DB2)(a) family of products available from small workstations to large mainframes.

-- BusinessObjects objects can be catalogued in DataGuide(a), IBM's Information Catalog for end users. Objects such as queries and reports can then be launched from DataGuide.

-- BusinessObjects supports DataJoiner(a), IBM's middleware product that seamlessly accesses and joins data distributed across multivendor data sources.

-- BusinessObjects works with Visual Warehouse(a), IBM's datamart that can access and transform data from a variety of sources to relational tables.

In addition, through the Mercury project (see news release dated September 25, 1995), Business Objects will enable online analytical processing functions such as "slice and dice" and "drill down" on relational databases, including DB2. Mercury is scheduled for availability in 1Q96.

Tim Negris, vice president of marketing, IBM Software Solutions Division, said, "Business Objects is a leading provider of client/server decision support tools, and IBM's data warehousing initiative is the most comprehensive in the market today. The combination should provide real customer value."

"Business Objects is pleased to be a part of IBM's Information Warehouse. This cooperative effort gives our mutual customers instant access to their data stored in DB2 databases and data warehouses," said David Kellogg, vice president of worldwide product marketing at Business Objects. "We look forward to our continued relationship with IBM as we further integrate our tools to provide customers with the best possible solution to their business problems."

About IBM

IBM Software Solutions provides data management, application development, and workgroup solutions for mission-critical applications on PCs, workstations, LANs, and host systems. For Internet users, IBM offers complete information about the company, its products, services, and technology on the World Wide Web. The IBM home page is at http://www.ibm.com. The fastest, easiest way to get information about IBM software is to go to the IBM Software home page at http://www.software.ibm.com.

About Business Objects

Business Objects (NASDAQ: BOBJY) is a leading provider of client/server decision support systems (DSS) to customers with data warehouse and other strategic business applications. The company pioneered the market for business-intelligent DSS tools in 1990 with the introduction of its flagship product, BusinessObjects. In 1994, company revenues were over $30 million, representing over 100% growth rate from 1993. BusinessObjects has been licensed in more than 20 countries to over 2,000 customer sites and 65,000 end users worldwide.

Business Objects partners with leading third-party vendors including Hewlett-Packard, Informix, Oracle, Prism Solutions, RedBrick Systems, Sun Microsystems, and Sybase. Strategic resellers include AT&T Global Information Solutions, Bull Information Systems, Fujitsu, Price Waterhouse, Ross Systems, Sequent, SHL Systemhouse, and Unisys. -0-

NOTE TO EDITORS: BusinessObjects is a trademark of Business Objects, Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. (a)Indicates trademark or registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.

CONTACT: Business Objects

Tracy Eiler, 408/864-2085

or

Blanc & Otus

Rebecca Hurst, 415/512-0500