Business Objects Recognized as a Leader in BI Reporting and Analysis by Independent Research Firm; Report Names BusinessObjects XI Number One in Current Product Offering

Business Wire, Feb 8, 2006

SAN JOSE, Calif. & PARIS -- Business Objects (Nasdaq:BOBJ) (Euronext Paris ISIN code: FR0004026250 - BOB), the world's leading provider of business intelligence (BI) solutions, today announced that it has been named a leader in the February 2006 Forrester Wave(TM) report, titled "BI Reporting and Analysis Platforms, Q1 2006." Business Objects was among a select group of companies invited to participate in this report, which rates vendors based on their current product offering, strategy, and overall market presence. Forrester evaluated 10 business intelligence vendors across 92 criteria. In this report, Business Objects was top ranked in current product offering.

Forrester employs a rigorous process to create a Forrester Wave. Highlights include gathering a detailed taxonomy of product attributes, gathering and validating data, and creating the Forrester Wave graphic. The Forrester Wave also includes a spreadsheet tool that is designed for end-users to create their own shortlist based on their own particular needs. Forrester sets default weightings to reflect analysis of the needs of large user companies -- and other scenarios outlined in the report -- and then scores the vendors based on a clearly defined scale. The final scores generate the graphical depiction of the market based on current offering, strategy, and market presence. For every vendor, Forrester also creates a Vendor Scorecard, which is the company's assessment of product or service for vendors named in the Forrester Wave.

The Forrester Wave Vendor Summary on Business Objects states: "Business Objects has built itself into the No. 1 business intelligence (BI) vendor by bringing together best-of-breed analytic reporting in its Web Intelligence and BusinessObjects(TM) 6.5 products and best-of-breed enterprise reporting via the acquisition of Crystal Decisions -- along with other meaningful acquisitions in data integration, and visualization." The report also states, "The release of BusinessObjects XI integrated these separate tools into a common platform that retains its core capabilities while enhancing scalability and administration."

"We deliver the most advanced and complete business intelligence platform on the market today, and our innovative strategy, vision, and strong market presence will help us extend our leadership," said Rene Bonvanie, chief marketing officer at Business Objects. "We are proud to be named a leader in the Forrester BI Wave. Business Objects provides customers with ground-breaking solutions that solves their unique business challenges. With our commitment to innovation, we continue to set the standard in BI reporting and analytics."

About Forrester Research

Forrester Research (Nasdaq:FORR) is an independent technology and market research company that provides pragmatic and forward-thinking advice about technology's impact on business and consumers. For 22 years, Forrester has been a thought leader and trusted advisor, helping global clients lead in their markets through its research, consulting, events, and peer-to-peer executive programs. For more information, visit www.forrester.com.

About Business Objects

Business Objects is the world's leading business intelligence (BI) software company. With more than 35,000 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 also built the industry's strongest and most diverse partner community, and the company 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.

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements

Certain sections of the press release contain forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions regarding the products' features and capabilities and the adoption of BusinessObjects XI by customers. Actual events or results may differ materially from those described in this press release due to a number of risks and uncertainties. These potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, customer acceptance of BI solutions, customer demand for BI solutions, the ability to satisfy changing customer needs, market demand in general for BI products and the introduction of new products by competitors or the entry of new competitors into the markets for Business Objects' products. Forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. More information about potential factors that could affect Business Objects' business is included in Business Objects' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and Business Objects' Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2005, each of which are on file with the SEC and available at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Business Objects is not obligated to undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release. Business Objects had no ability to influence Forrester' results and does not endorse or adopt projections made by Forrester.