Business Objects and MySQL Expand Partnership with New Integrated Business Intelligence Solutions

Business Wire, Dec 12, 2005

SAN JOSE, Calif. & PARIS & CUPERTINO, Calif. -- Business Objects (NASDAQ:BOBJ)(Euronext Paris ISIN code: FR0004026250 - BOB) and MySQL AB today announced the signing of a new OEM referral agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will jointly sell integrated solutions that combine the MySQL Network database subscription service with business intelligence software from Business Objects. The new solutions offer customers a cost-effective way to deploy an integrated business intelligence and database solution, at a fraction of the cost associated with traditional, proprietary databases.

In April 2005, Business Objects and MySQL announced a partnership to embed MySQL database technology into BusinessObjects(TM) XI for use on Linux and UNIX operating systems. With the addition of this new OEM referral agreement, the two companies have created several bundled offerings for reporting and data integration for the MySQL database through MySQL Network. These solutions are tested, certified, and supported jointly by Business Objects and MySQL.

"The modern enterprise requires fully-featured and seamlessly integrated solutions that deliver better value and service to end users," said Mark Burton, executive vice president of worldwide sales for MySQL AB. "Employing MySQL Network, these new BI solutions deliver superior speed, reliability, and ease of use when compared with traditional database technology. The combination of Business Objects and MySQL technology can help organizations meet a broad spectrum of reporting and BI needs -- including data access, information presentation, and information delivery."

Business Objects and MySQL are committed to delivering integrated solutions that enable customers to access MySQL databases and achieve unmatched visibility into their key business information. The new bundles include Crystal Reports(R), for presentation-quality reporting, and BusinessObjects Data Integrator, for enterprise-class data integration.

"This partnership is all about helping organizations meet the challenge of improving their return on corporate information," said Steve Lucas, vice president of field sales, global alliances, and data integration at Business Objects. "There is tremendous momentum in open source software right now, and open source databases and operating systems will play an expanded role in business intelligence deployments going forward. Business Objects is working closely with open source leaders like MySQL, to ensure that our software works together seamlessly and that customers can take advantage of the lower total cost of ownership associated with these solutions."

For more information or to purchase these new joint solutions, please visit http://www.businessobjects.com/mysql/.> About MySQL AB

MySQL AB develops and supports a family of high performance, affordable database products -- including MySQL Network, a comprehensive set of certified software and premium support services. The company's flagship product is MySQL, the world's most popular open source database, with more than 6 million active installations. Many of the world's largest organizations, including Yahoo!, Sabre Holdings, The Associated Press, Suzuki and NASA are realizing significant cost savings by using MySQL to power high-volume Web sites, business-critical enterprise applications and packaged software.

With headquarters in Sweden and the United States -- and operations around the world -- MySQL AB supports both open source values and corporate customers' needs in a profitable, sustainable business. For more information about MySQL, please visit www.mysql.com.

About Business Objects

Business Objects is the world's leading business intelligence (BI) software company. With more than 30,000 customers worldwide, including over 80 percent of the Fortune 500, Business Objects helps organizations gain better insight into their business, improve decision making, and optimize enterprise performance. The company's business intelligence platform, BusinessObjects(TM) XI, offers the BI industry's most advanced and complete platform for performance management, planning, reporting, query and analysis, and data integration. BusinessObjects XI includes Crystal Reports(R), the industry standard for enterprise reporting. Business Objects has built the industry's strongest and most diverse partner community, and also offers consulting and education services to help customers effectively deploy their business intelligence projects.

Business Objects has dual headquarters in San Jose, Calif., and Paris, France. The company's stock is traded on both the Nasdaq (BOBJ) and Euronext Paris (ISIN: FR0004026250 - BOB) stock exchanges. More information about Business Objects can be found at www.businessobjects.com.

Business Objects and the Business Objects logo, BusinessObjects, WebIntelligence, Crystal Reports, Intelligent Question, and Desktop Intelligence are trademarks or registered trademarks of Business Objects S.A. or its affiliated companies in the United States and/or other countries. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.