Sap America Public Sector Opens Doors; Announces New Software Development Center To Enhance Public Sector Functionality

Business Wire, June 16, 1998

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS EDITORS)--June 16, 1998--

New Subsidiary of Leading Client/Server Solutions Company

Strengthens Commitment to Government, Higher Education and Non-Profit Markets

SAP America Public Sector, Inc. celebrated the opening of its headquarters in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. today by announcing the formation of a new software development center that will focus on public sector-specific functionality enhancements to SAP R/3 , the company s leading-edge software solution. Following the announcement, the company hosted a luncheon featuring keynote speaker Dr. Elaine Kamarck, former senior policy advisor to Vice President Al Gore. The day of events ended with an open house showcasing SAP software solutions for more than 1,000 invited guests from government, education and non-profit organizations.

As the world s leading provider of business application software, SAP provides the software infrastructure and functionality that supports the financial, human and other resource management needs for almost one third of the world s largest companies, and more than 430 public sector organizations worldwide. With the creation of SAP America Public Sector, Inc., a subsidiary formed in December 1997, SAP America strengthened and invigorated its commitment to the public sector market place. Now, with the official opening of its headquarters, which is home to 35 of SAP America Public Sector s 140 employees, and the formation of a public sector software development center focused specifically on public sector solutions, SAP America Public Sector, Inc. further demonstrates the strength of its commitment.

Washington-area business councils report that more than 2,500 high technology companies are located in the Washington metropolitan area. Most, however, are located in the suburbs of Northern -- more -- Virginia and Montgomery County, making SAP America Public Sector one of few high-tech companies to locate in the District of Columbia.

By locating here in the nation s capital, and by forming a public sector software development center in this building, we have achieved two very important goals, said Robert M. Salvucci, president of SAP America Public Sector, Inc. We are close to our customer base, and we have taken a major step toward ensuring that our software solution already a world leader will continually meet the unique requirements of government, higher education and non-profit organizations.

We are delighted to welcome a world class technology company to the D.C. business community, said Peter Nostrand, chairman of the Greater Washington Initiative. The high technology industry is driving tremendous economic growth in our region. The District provides a good home for companies and we look forward to working with SAP America Public Sector as it continues to grow and create new jobs in our neighborhood.

Announced today, the new software development center, which is part of SAP Labs, Inc., the SAP development organization, will enable SAP America Public Sector to be even more responsive to the burgeoning need for software that delivers solutions to organizations serving the public. The new center, which is expected to be fully staffed and operational by Jan. 1, 1999, will house a dedicated development staff focused on enhancing SAP R/3 functionality in the core applications of finance, logistics and human resources. The goal is to better meet the unique needs of government, higher education and non-profit organizations. As a result, the R/3 solution will continually help public sector customers streamline operations and improve service as they respond to new challenges and changing market demands.

Key issues like reinventing government and global electronic commerce have drawn new attention to the benefits information technology can deliver to government, education and non-profit organizations striving to operate better, faster and at less cost, said John K. Greaney, Jr., director of the SAP Public Sector Center of Expertise. Our unique, fully-integrated, scalable and platform-independent software simultaneously provides the flexibility and functionality public sector organizations need today. Our knowledge of the public sector and its unique requirements help ensure that our solutions are a cut above the rest. --more--

In her keynote luncheon address, Dr. Elaine Kamarck, former Gore advisor and now director of a new research program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University, spoke about the issues of government reinvention, the role of technology in the public sector, and the future of government in the next century. "Information technology is the great enabler of the revolution in government that we are currently experiencing. No other tool has had as significant an effect on the way we govern ourselves," said Kamarck.

About SAP America Public Sector, Inc. SAP America Public Sector, Inc. is a subsidiary of SAP America Inc., a market leader in client/server enterprise application software. SAP America Public Sector, Inc. provides leading-edge software solutions to public sector organizations from federal, state and local governments as well as higher education institutions and non-profit organizations. SAP America Public Sector has more than 140 employees and is headquartered in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C.