Ariba Teams with Staples to Enhance Supplier Network; World's Largest Office Products Company to Provide Best Practices That Help to Facilitate Quick, Seamless Integration of Ariba's Network among the Fortune 1000

Business Wire, Nov 2, 2005

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Ariba(R), Inc. (Nasdaq:ARBA), the leading spend management solutions provider, is teaming with Staples Contract division to help enhance the Ariba Supplier Network(TM). Staples Contract, which serves mid-sized and Fortune 1000 companies, has joined the Ariba Supplier Advantage(TM) program because it helps suppliers better share best practices and insights. In turn, this helps buying organizations make the Ariba Supplier Network a more valuable part of their spend management operations. Staples is a founding member of the network, which was introduced in 1999.

"The Ariba Supplier Network helps make the online procurement process easy for our customers," said Lisa Hamblet, vice president B2B e-commerce, Staples Contract division. "It also provides a seamless way for Staples to do business with Ariba. We are pleased to be expanding our relationship with Ariba and are looking forward to sharing insights we have learned over hundreds of implementations. Staples is confident that we can work with Ariba to provide an even better buying experience for our mutual customers."

Staples processed the largest amount of purchase order spend in its category with Ariba for its US-based business for the past three quarters. The company continues to be a leading supplier on the Ariba Supplier Network, an open trading network through which buyers and suppliers can do business electronically. This allows the buyers and suppliers to manage complete transactions from sourcing and ordering to invoicing and paying. More than 120,000 suppliers in 115 countries belong to the network, and more than $6 billion in transactions flows through it each month.

The Ariba Supplier Advantage program establishes strategic relationships with suppliers who are committed to offering best-in-class integration solutions, deployment programs, category expertise and total cost of ownership improvements to buyers who use the Ariba Supplier Network.

"Staples is an early integrator to the Ariba Supplier Network," said Bob Solomon, senior vice president, Growing Enterprises, Ariba. "So they have considerable experience implementing our platform and a set of best practices that can be leveraged to everyone's advantage. As a member of the Ariba Supplier Advantage program, Staples can work more closely with Ariba to build value for our mutual customers."

About Staples Contract

Staples Contract is Staples' fastest growing business with industry-leading double-digit growth for the past five years. The business serves mid-sized companies through Staples Business Advantage and Fortune 1000 companies through Staples National Advantage. Staples Contract works collaboratively with its customers enabling procurement professionals to efficiently manage office product procurement programs with lowest total delivered cost. Staples Contract has been certified by J.D. Power and Associates for delivering "An Outstanding Customer Service Experience" for the second consecutive year. More information is available at www.staplescontract.com.

Ariba, Inc.

Ariba, Inc. is the leading provider of Spend Management solutions to help companies realize rapid and sustainable bottom line results. Successful companies around the world in every industry use Ariba Spend Management software and services. Ariba can be contacted in the U.S. at 650-390-1000 or at www.ariba.com.

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Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act 1995: Information and announcements in this release involve Ariba's expectations, beliefs, hopes, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future and are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements included in this release are based upon information available to Ariba as of the date of the release, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results could differ materially from our current expectations. Factors that could cause or contribute to Ariba's operating and financial results to differ materially from its current expectations include, but are not limited to: delays in development or shipment of new versions of Ariba's products and services; lack of market acceptance of Ariba's existing or future products or services; inability to continue to develop competitive new products and services on a timely basis; introduction of new products or services by major competitors; the ability to attract and retain qualified employees; difficulties in assimilating acquired companies; long and unpredictable sales cycles and the deferrals of anticipated orders; declining economic conditions; inability to control costs; changes in the company's pricing or compensation policies; significant fluctuations in our stock price; the outcome of and costs associated with pending or potential future regulatory or legal proceedings; the impact of our acquisitions, including the disruption or loss of customer, business partner, supplier or employee relationships; and the level of costs and expenses incurred by Ariba as a result of such transactions. For example, Ariba recently settled patent infringement filed against it by ePlus, Inc. for $37.0 million and incurred significant related legal expenses. Factors and risks associated with its business, including a number of the factors and risks described above, are discussed in Ariba's Form 10-K filed December 14, 2004 and in its Form 10-Q filed August 9, 2005.