AgentWare released AgentWare Syndicator for B2B Exchanges, a software infrastructure solution that provides Global 2000 companies and B2B Exchanges a packaged solution for building and managing trading communities. This solution allows e-businesses to develop and manage B2B exchange applications without the traditional dependencies on costly infrastructure and labor. AgentWare’s e-business syndication platform, the Syndicator, provides an open Java and XML based architecture that helps e-businesses build and adapt Internet applications quickly to meet changing market demands. The Syndicator provides a scalable, efficient solution that enables customized syndication of content, commerce and services from multiple sources on the Internet to any device connected to the Internet. www.agentware.net

Vitria Technology, Inc. announced the next release of its data transformation component, BusinessWare Transformer 2.0. An integral component of Vitria’s ebusiness platform, Transformer provides the mapping services required to reconcile the disparate data and document formats encountered when integrating applications and trading partners within and across the extended enterprise. BusinessWare Transformer 2.0 is available immediately. Transformer provides a powerful and easy-to-use graphical tool that can solve simple to complex transformation problems without programming. For simple transformations, users drag and drop input fields onto output fields. In some cases, Transformer can detect and perform common transformations, such as mapping corresponding field names, automatically. For complex transformations, such as nested data structures, Transformer’s “Auto-Iterator” enables the transformation to be performed graphically. Augmenting Transformer’s drag-and-drop user interface is a set of built-in functions such as date conversions and string manipulations. Customers can also create user-defined functions using industry-standard Java and JavaScript. Transformer is an integral component of Vitria’s ebusiness platform, BusinessWare. Transformer is also an integral part of BusinessWare’s graphical connection modeling environment, allowing powerful transformations to be built into existing or new connection models, stored in the BusinessWare Repository. www.vitria.com

Software AG and SAGA Systems Inc. announced that Software AG will acquire all outstanding common stock in SAGA Systems for US$11.50 per SAGA Systems share in cash, for a total transaction value of approximately US$360 million. (Until March 1997, SAGA Systems was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Software AG, at which time the senior management of SAGA Systems together with Thayer Capital acquired 90% of the share capital.) SAGA’s markets and services Software AG’s products in North and South America, Japan and Israel. In addition, SAGA Systems licenses and services its own enterprise application integration product, Sagavista. With the acquisition of SAGA, Software AG will gain direct access to the large customer base in North and South America, Japan and Israel. The combined sales force will provide Software AG with a platform for accelerating growth of its Electronic Business products in the North American market. Software AG will combine the North American operations of Software AG and SAGA Systems into a single operating unit. Software AG, with its new headquarters in Reston, VA. and a major branch office in San Ramon, CA, will be present in 14 major business locations across the U.S. Software AG expects to incur a one-time cost of up to Euro 20 million in 2001. The transaction is expected to be significantly revenue and earnings enhancing to Software AG, excluding one-time costs. The acquisition of SAGA Systems is expected to close in Q1 2001. www.softwareag.com, www.sagasoftware.com

Virage, Inc. announced that it has joined forces with Vignette Corp., Sun Microsystems and 12 other partners to define enterprise requirements for content management. The group has created the eXtended Content Management (XCM) Alliance — a one-stop destination for companies looking for comprehensive content management solutions for building online businesses. The alliance intends to create and define the standard criteria for content management solutions and help companies develop a framework for evaluating their various business needs to create fully-integrated, end-to-end solutions. In addition, it plans to allow customers to contact one source when buying the highest quality content management solutions available that are extensible, scalable and easily integrated. The XCM Alliance brings together vendors from the three major categories that make up the content management world: Content Development Management, Application Content Management and Content Delivery/Acceleration Management. Classifying content management applications in this way is designed to enable customers to make faster, smarter purchasing decisions. www.vignette.com, www.virage.com

Adobe Systems Incorporated announced alliances with Art Technology Group, Inc. and Interwoven, Inc. The three companies plan to integrate their respective Web development, enterprise-class content management and e-business platform products to provide Web professionals complete workflow solutions for content creation, management and multi-channel content delivery. As part of these alliances, the companies will work together to integrate their product offerings. By integrating Adobe GoLive 5.0 and Interwoven TeamSite software, content contributors will be able to easily author and manage large volumes of content while working directly within GoLive. Likewise, Adobe and ATG will integrate GoLive with the ATG Dynamo e-Business Platform — enabling page designers to use GoLive to visually create highly personalized Dynamo pages. www.atg.com, www.interwoven.com, www.adobe.com

Sequoia Software Corporation and Software AG have announced a strategic partnership. The companies will integrate Software AG’s Tamino native-XML database with Sequoia’s XPS portal server, allowing businesses to move content between a portal, a database and the Web seamlessly and without the need for data conversion. To support the strategic partnership, Software AG will add XPS to the range of products it markets worldwide through its 1,500-member sales force and its extensive world-wide network of value-added resellers; Sequoia will offer Tamino licenses through its own sales force and through systems integrators, resellers and consultancies in North America and elsewhere. www.softwareagusa.com, www.sequoiasoftware.com