Lawson Announces Support for Series 8.1 Business Software on IBM eServer iSeries Platform

Business Wire, Jan 14, 2005

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Latest Lawson Applications to Offer iSeries Users Improved Application Performance At a Lower Total Cost While Maximizing Their Existing IT Investment

Lawson Software (Nasdaq:LWSN) strengthened its commitment to IBM technology today by announcing plans to release its Series 8.1 business applications on the IBM eServer iSeries platform later this year, including upgrade programs and services for existing Lawson customers. The announcement marks the latest in a line of 26 years of commitment to the platform favored by many mid-sized clients.

"Lawson's Manifesto for change in the business applications software industry says we will put our clients' interests first, protecting their investments in software and infrastructure," said Dean Hager, chief product officer, Lawson Software. "We have hundreds of clients running iSeries applications, based on a commitment to the platform that began with the 1978 introduction of System/38. Our newest 8.1 release will help enable existing and new clients to leverage their existing investment in RPG IV programming skill-sets and other iSeries software applications. The iSeries is a proven platform for putting time on the side of our mid-sized clients, delivering real business value and low total cost of ownership (TCO)."

"Relative TCO - or TCO divided by a company's annual revenue - is a useful measurement for cost relative to the size of the company. Efficient ERP projects tend to have relative TCOs in the .5 to 1 percent range. In our recent ERP study, Lawson was one of a few vendors with a relative TCO considerably less than 1 percent," says Barry Wilderman, senior vice president, META Group Inc.

"Lawson's continued support of the iSeries platform is outstanding news for our customers," said Peter Bingaman, vice president, IBM. "We work very closely with the Lawson team to make sure their applications run better on the iSeries than any other platform. That means the application works harder for our customers with a more reliable and cost effective platform that will deliver a faster return on their investments."

As a preferred provider of enterprise applications for IBM's iSeries servers, Lawson also offers a simple migration path for iSeries users and better application performance via software specifically optimized for this platform.

"Lawson and the IBM iSeries are a perfect complement, sharing the same approach to developing functional, high-impact, low TCO technologies that help clients solve their business problems," said Hager, who began his career in IBM's AS/400 business unit as an OS/400 programmer. "We accomplish this with simplicity through strong integration, separating technological concerns allowing for efficient insertion of new innovations, and investment protection through continued commitment to RPG IV and Java."

About Lawson Software

Lawson Software provides business application software and consulting services that put time on the side of services organizations in the healthcare, retail, government and education, banking and insurance and other markets. Lawson's software suites include enterprise performance management, distribution, financials, human resources, procurement, retail operations and service process optimization. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., Lawson has offices and affiliates serving North and South America, Europe, and Africa.

About IBM

IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. Drawing on resources from across IBM and key Business Partners, IBM offers a wide range of services, solutions and technologies that enable customers, large and small, to take full advantage of the new era of e-business. For more information about IBM, visit www.ibm.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that contain risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements contain statements of intent, belief or current expectations of Lawson Software, Inc., and its management. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the potential results discussed in the forward-looking statements. The company is not obligated to update forward-looking statements based on circumstances or events that occur in the future. Risks and uncertainties that may cause such differences include but are not limited to: uncertainties in the software industry; global military conflicts; terrorist attacks in the United States, and any future events in response to these developments; changes in conditions in the company's targeted service industries; increased competition and other risk factors listed in the company's most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and as included in other documents the company files from time to time with the Commission.