Ernst & Young Selects Business Engine For Client Engagement Management

Business Engine, the leading provider of enterprise service automation software applications, today announced that Ernst & Young has licensed The Business Engine Network(TM) [The BEN(TM)] to manage its Post-Deal Solution client engagements. Ernst & Young has implemented The Business Engine Network in its U.S.-based Transaction Support practice to enhance client satisfaction by creating immediate operational visibility to all project-related activities associated with integrating two companies following a merger or acquisition.

This business-to-business application of The Business Engine Network will provide the visibility and control Ernst & Young's managers need to help clients realize the transaction objectives faster, including cost savings and other potential deal synergies.

The merger and acquisition (M&A) process can be complex and multi-faceted, involving multiple parties and advisors from different organizations. Ernst & Young will initially emphasize their use of The Business Engine Network on Post-Deal Solution engagements where the firm is involved in streamlining the integration of a variety of business functions - from HR, IT and Payroll to Manufacturing, R&D and Marketing. In these engagements, Ernst & Young will leverage The Business Engine Network as a secure, private portal that is configurable by client and accessible via browser.

"Consolidating operations into an effective global enterprise requires a tight handle on projects, deliverables and risks - across acquirer, target and advisors," said John Auldridge II at Ernst & Young's Post-Deal Solutions practice. "The Business Engine Network is a powerful collaborative workspace that enhances information sharing to dramatically reduce status-meeting time, and speed decision-making. Using The Business Engine Network, the virtual team communicates issue identification and resolution to realize the transaction objectives faster."

"Ernst & Young's Post-Deal Solutions practice is growing dramatically and we are excited to be a part of that growth," said Mark Strauch, vice president and general manager, Business Engine. "Using The Business Engine Network, Ernst & Young, its clients, and third-party advisors share a single workspace for managing every aspect of the deal. The bottom line for Ernst & Young is superior client satisfaction based on delivering consistent, high quality results and The Business Engine Network helps make that a reality."

Using The Business Engine Network, Ernst & Young and its clients will benefit from real-time visibility into the status and performance of each and every critical activity in the M&A process. All engagement personnel - Ernst & Young and client - will leverage The Business Engine Network's collaborative workspace to provide a common understanding of overall milestones, key deliverables and potential execution risks. Because The Business Engine Network also includes a version-controlled document management system that provides shared access to all project-related documents, the system functions as a single book of record spanning internal and external stakeholders alike.

About Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young, a global leader in professional services, understands the business issues that are important to senior executives. With extensive business knowledge and hands-on industry experience, the global Ernst & Young organization can implement a broad array of solutions to help companies capture growth, improve financial performance and manage risk--anywhere in the world. Its 84,000 people serve as trusted business advisers in more than 130 countries, offering audit, tax, corporate finance and transaction services across all industries to many of today's leading global corporations as well as emerging growth companies. In addition, legal services are available in various parts of the world where permitted. A collection of Ernst & Young's views on a variety of business issues can be found at www.eyi.com/thoughtcenter.>Ernst & Young refers to all members of the global Ernst & Young organization, including the U.S. firm of Ernst & Young LLP.

About Business Engine

Since 1987, Business Engine has been delivering project, resource and financial management solutions to project-driven companies throughout North America and Europe. Global 2000 financial services, pharmaceutical, and other IT and R&D organizations are using Business Engine products, including The Business Engine Network (TM) (The BEN(TM)), to operate 10-20% more efficiently by improving the effective management of their global projects, initiatives and budgets, and the utilization of their internal and external resources. Business Engine is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and has offices throughout the United States, Belgium, England and India. Privately held, key investors in Business Engine include Broadview Capital Partners, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Oak Investment Partners, DB Capital Partners and NSE Ventures. For more information, please visit www.businessengine.com.