Nextance Works with IBM on DB2 Viper Database; IBM DB2 Viper Set to Extend Reach of Contract Management across Enterprise

Business Wire, Nov 16, 2005

ATLANTA -- Nextance Inc., the solutions provider setting the standard for contract performance management (CPM), today announced that it is working with IBM (NYSE:IBM) on the next version of DB2, code-named "Viper", which will support both traditional relational as well as native XML data. IBM has also invited Nextance to demonstrate its XML-based technology at IBM's exhibit at XML 2005 Conference & Expo this week, the largest independent XML conference of the year.

Given Nextance's leadership in XML as well as its own industry, the company has been a prominent member in the Viper alpha program and is now participating in the Viper beta-testing phase. Supporting native XML data, Viper is a new multi-structured database that will help drive a new technology standard capable of managing the intrinsically complex mix of both relational and XML data within contractual agreements -- the cornerstone of all business relationships.

Approximately 90% of the valuable data in contractual agreements are unstructured, such as service level agreements, revenue sharing models, intellectual property ownership, fees and penalties. Therefore, the ability of XML technology to work with unstructured data is essential in tapping into this hidden reservoir of information, enabling companies to actively manage and maximize customer, supplier and partner relationships.

Donald Feinberg, vice president and distinguished analyst of Gartner's data management and integration group, explained, "Some of XML's greatest value today lies in enabling enterprises to finally look at their business from beyond the limited view provided by transaction systems, which deal only with structured data. With XML databases, they can now directly work with contract language as well, which is largely unstructured data and contains information not found anywhere else. Because managing contracts is such a foundational area of business, XML databases therefore will be critical in driving such things as financial performance, corporate reporting, risk management and other enterprise initiatives."

"Nextance gives us a perfect example of why XML is increasingly essential now," said Bernard Spang, director of IBM database marketing. "The Internet has made business data in all forms incredibly dynamic, immediate and ever-changing. Having access to all this business data to power essential applications, such as contract performance management, is made possible by Viper, the latest version of DB2. Nextance demonstrates the market need for a new generation of XML management services and IBM is there to fill that need."

"It is exciting to see IBM evolve to embrace XML," said Tiffany Riley, vice president of marketing for Nextance. "We've been working with IBM early on in the development and testing phases of their much-anticipated DB2 Viper technology. It is gratifying to have IBM acknowledge our technology leadership and invite us as part of their conference exhibit. Nextance has been well ahead of the curve as one of the first software providers -- and still the only one in our industry -- to offer fully-XML based enterprise applications."

IBM's new version of its trusted DB2 database takes a unique and holistic approach in combining XML and relational systems. Data storage can now be centralized for applications requiring simultaneous support for both relational and XML data, removing the requirement to develop middleware between distinct data sources. As it applies to contract performance management, multi-structured databases are uniquely designed to handle the unpredictable and continually evolving nature of contracts, enabling users to work with a mix of structured and unstructured information, unique contract types across the enterprise, dynamic format and content, as well as improving searchability and visibility.

Andy Kyte, vice president and fellow at Gartner Research, added, "Businesses are starting to understand that contract management is fundamental to their performance. Contracts and relationships define and enable businesses in the first place, therefore, managing them are critical in driving such things as financial performance, corporate reporting, risk management and other enterprise initiatives."

About Nextance Inc.

Nextance is setting the standard for enterprise contract management (ECM) solutions with our Nextance Intelligent Enterprise(TM) software and best-practices professional services. Nextance is helping Global 2000 companies to better run their business by effectively controlling and actively managing their contractual relationships. Countrywide, Covenant Health, Eastman Chemical Company, Fireman's Fund, Genzyme Corporation, Sasol, Sun Microsystems, and others are using Nextance software every day to tap into the value that is written into each of their thousands of revenue, procurement, Intellectual Property licensing, and partners agreements. Nextance is based in Redwood City, CA, and is privately held. For more information, please visit our website at www.nextance.com.