Acquisition Extends Business Objects' Leadership in On-Demand Business Intelligence
SAN JOSE, Calif. and PARIS - Nov. 30, 2006 - Business Objects (Nasdaq: BOBJ; Euronext Paris ISIN code: FR0004026250 - BOB), the world's leading provider of business intelligence (BI) solutions, today announced it has acquired Nsite Software, Inc., a Sunnyvale, California-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider. The acquisition gives Business Objects access to Nsite's on-demand application platform; engineering talent experienced in building and managing SaaS offerings; and approximately 27,000 current Nsite subscribers. The acquisition will greatly accelerate and expand the ability for Business Objects to deliver on-demand business intelligence solutions, building upon the success of crystalreports.com. Terms of the transaction, completed today, were not disclosed.
"As a specialist in software as a service, Nsite has developed a large customer base and considerable expertise in developing a platform for using and building on-demand applications," said Steven Lucas, vice president of strategic markets at Business Objects. "SaaS is changing the software market and the acquisition of Nsite is a big step forward for Business Objects in opening up this important new market to business intelligence. Adding Nsite's experience and technology to our organization will enable us to extend our leadership in the growing market for on-demand business intelligence solutions, and complements our strategy to use on-demand solutions to make business intelligence more accessible and more affordable to all companies."
The On-demand Platform
Nsite's application platform enables users to quickly and easily build, customize, and deploy on-demand solutions that deliver the performance of enterprise applications through a browser. Nsite provides drag-and-drop functionality and uses asynchronous Java and XML (AJAX) technology for maximum usability and performance. The platform is integrated with salesforce.com customer relationship management solutions, and includes a wizard for building easy point-and-click web services integrations to other applications.
Business Objects will use the platform to build and offer customizable on-demand BI applications that integrate multiple data sources, such as information from ERP, CRM, and other information systems. With no need for capital investments or ongoing IT support, Business Objects customers will be able to reap the benefits of faster time-to-value and lower total cost of ownership that on-demand solutions provide.
Supporting the Growing Number of On-demand Subscribers
With the acquisition, Business Objects has expanded its staff devoted to developing its on-demand offering and supporting its growing number of customers. Business Objects launched its first on-demand solution, crystalreports.com, in April 2006, and already has more than 7,000 subscribers. Following the Nsite acquisition, Business Objects has now increased its on-demand subscriber base to more than 34,000.
Utilizing the Nsite platform, Business Objects expects to introduce additional on-demand BI solutions in 2007. Business Objects will continue to offer and support current Nsite applications and will extend on-demand business intelligence to Nsite users.
"Since its inception, Nsite has committed to delivering flexible, low cost on-demand solutions to our customers," said Bob Jandro, president and CEO of Nsite. "Over the years, we have invested significant resources into the development of our on-demand platform and accumulated considerable expertise in this market. Together, Business Objects and Nsite will be able to bring the advantages of our platform to Business Objects customers and extend the reach and accessibility of on-demand business intelligence."
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.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties concerning Business Objects' products, Nsite's on-demand offering, Business Objects' intended use of Nsite's products, the timing of Business Objects' anticipated introduction of new on-demand products, the benefits of the acquisition to Business Objects and its customers, the impact of the transaction on Business Objects' on-demand BI solution (crystalreports.com), and the impact of the transaction on Business Objects' financial results. Actual events or results may differ materially from those described in this document due to a number of risks and uncertainties. These potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, fluctuations in the company's quarterly and yearly operating results; the company's ability to estimate and sustain or increase its profitability; the company's ability to attract, migrate and retain customers for BusinessObjects XI; the company's ability to issue new releases of its products, including those obtained through acquired businesses; the company's ability to integrate acquired businesses successfully; changes to current accounting policies which may have a significant, adverse impact upon the company's financial results, including FAS 123(R); the introduction of new products by competitors or the entry of new competitors into the markets for Business Objects' products; the impact of the pricing of competing technologies; the company's ability to preserve its key strategic relationships; business disruptions; Business Objects' reliance upon selling products only in the Business Intelligence software market; Business Objects' ability to manage large scale deployments; Business Objects' mid-market strategy; and economic and political conditions in the US and abroad. More information about potential factors that could affect Business Objects' business and financial results is included in Business Objects' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, 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 document.
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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.