Meridian Health Increases Budgeting Efficiency With Business Objects

Meridian's Corporate Budget Manager to Discuss Organization's Success Story and Budgeting Best Practices at Business Objects Insight Planning User Conference

SAN DIEGO - Business Objects Insight Planning User Conference - February 20, 2006 - Business Objects (Nasdaq: BOBJ; Euronext Paris ISIN code: FR0004026250-BOB), the world's leading provider of business intelligence (BI) solutions, today announced that Meridian Health has implemented Business Objects planning solutions to improve budget preparation efficiency and enhance the functionality of its financial reporting applications. Business Objects enables Meridian to create and implement a comprehensive budgeting and reporting process which increases compliance, strengthens quality, and minimizes turnaround time. Steven Esposito, corporate budget manager at Meridian, will discuss the organization's deployment this week at the Business Objects Insight Planning User Conference in San Diego, California.

Meridian, which has annual system revenues of $725 million and provides quality health services, facilities, and programs in 70 locations throughout New Jersey, is using Business Objects as the cornerstone of its annual budget development process. Meridian can now calculate net patient service revenue budgets, and fixed cost center budgets and margins with more accuracy and in less time. Additionally, Meridian ensures reports are reflective of the changing needs of the end user by automating processes and eliminating the need to develop reports that provide only marginal business value.

"Budgeting is the cornerstone of planning and controlling operations, but it can be a time-consuming and resource intensive process," said Steven Esposito, corporate budget manager at Meridian Health. "Without some degree of advanced preparation, the massive scope of the annual budget development process and the intricacies of tailoring these financial reports to specific audiences can be overwhelming. Our Business Objects deployment provides the foundation to develop an efficient, end-to-end budgeting process, helping us become better prepared to tackle this task each year."

"Budgeting is an indispensable function of any business. However, the extra time spent on this process due to a lack of early planning and comprehensive budgeting applications results in lost productivity and revenue for companies year after year," said Jay Spence, director of healthcare planning solutions at Business Objects. "Meridian Health is a perfect example of an organization that has leveraged Business Objects to streamline its budgeting and planning process, while maintaining the necessary level of accountability and control. Business Objects also allows Meridian Health to ensure its budget stays on track with the organization's long-term strategies and plans."

For more information on planning and budgeting solutions from Business Objects, please visit www.businessobjects.com/planning.

About Meridian Health
Meridian Health is a leader in Monmouth and Ocean counties, providing quality health services, facilities, and programs. With 70 convenient locations, annual system revenues of $725 million, 7,500 dedicated employees, and affiliations with over 1,400 of the area's finest physicians, Meridian continues to be the largest employer in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

About Business Objects, an SAP company

Business Objects has been a pioneer in business intelligence (BI) since the dawn of the category. Today, as the world's leading BI software company, Business Objects transforms the way the world works through intelligent information. The company helps illuminate understanding and decision-making at more than 46,000 organizations around the globe. Through a combination of innovative technology, global consulting and education services, and the industry's strongest and most diverse partner network, Business Objects enables companies of all sizes to make transformative business decisions based on intelligent, accurate, and timely information.

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.

Business Objects and the Business Objects logo, BusinessObjects and Crystal Reports are trademarks or registered trademarks of Business Objects in the United States and/or other countries. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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The Business Objects logo, BusinessObjects, Crystal Reports, Intelligent Question, and Xcelsius are trademarks or registered trademarks of Business Objects in the United States and/or other countries. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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