TMCnet News

Sybase Takes Top Leadership Position in Mobile Enterprise Solutions With Acquisition of XcelleNet
[April 02, 2004]

Sybase Takes Top Leadership Position in Mobile Enterprise Solutions With Acquisition of XcelleNet

DUBLIN, California, April 2 /PRNewswire/ --

- Sybase Solidifies Leadership in All Critical Software Categories Needed
to Unwire the Enterprise, Adds Important Mobile Data Security Products to
Portfolio

SYNOPSIS:
Sybase today agreed to acquire XcelleNet, Inc. The company will be
integrated into Sybase's iAnywhere Solutions subsidiary.

- Positions Sybase in the number one leadership position in mobile
database, mobile middleware and mobile and remote device management
categories; adds critical mobile data security solutions

- Strengthens and expands Sybase's Unwired Enterprise portfolio

- Assures XcelleNet customers and partners continued product innovation,
support and global resources

Sybase, Inc. (NYSE: SY), a leading provider of enterprise infrastructure
and mobile software, today announced it has signed an agreement to purchase
privately held XcelleNet, Inc., the leader in frontline device management
software, in an all cash transaction from investment firm Francisco Partners,
for a net purchase price of approximately $95.2 million, subject to
adjustment based on changes between December 31, 2003 and the closing of the
transaction. Sybase intends to integrate XcelleNet into its iAnywhere
Solutions subsidiary, and expects the transaction to close in the second
quarter of 2004, subject to customary closing conditions including compliance
with the requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.


This acquisition is expected to bring important enhancements to the
Unwired Enterprise offering, said John Chen, chairman, CEO and president of
Sybase. We can now offer our enterprise clients a full portfolio of
solutions for the management of their remote and mobile systems -- from
security, to network connections and even the devices themselves. Sybase will
be number one in the critical software categories required to unwire the
enterprise.


In addition, Sybase expects to gain 2,200 global customers through this
acquisition, as well as new and expanded relationships with partners and
independent software vendors (ISVs) including HP and Microsoft.


IT decision-makers have been interested in moving critical business
applications out to the edge and are focusing on the issues of device
management, security and usability of applications, said Stephen Drake,
program manager for IDC's Mobile Infrastructure Software Service. Companies
with best of breed solutions in security and device management will be better
able to offer their customers complete and secure mobile enterprise solutions
that move business critical data to the point of action.


We are impressed by the commitment of the Sybase and iAnywhere Solutions
management teams to drive opportunities for our XcelleNet products around the
world, said Joan Herbig, CEO, XcelleNet. We believe there are strong
opportunities to leverage Sybase's significant global strength and
resources.


The integration of our companies will expand the global reach of
XcelleNet's products through our combined sales channels and robust partner
network, said Terry Stepien, president of iAnywhere. In addition, this
acquisition will help to ensure continued XcelleNet customer and partner
success through ongoing product innovation, support and access to our broad
line of leading mobile enterprise solutions.


About Sybase, Inc.


Celebrating 20 years of innovation, Sybase enables the Unwired Enterprise
for customers and partners by delivering enterprise and mobile solutions for
information management, development and integration. The world's most
critical data in commerce, communications, finance, government and healthcare
runs on Sybase. For more information, visit the Sybase Web site:
http://www.sybase.com .


About XcelleNet


XcelleNet delivers success at the Point of Action. More than 2,200
companies worldwide use XcelleNet's frontline management solution to keep
information and applications current wherever business takes place -- in
retail stores and branch offices, at customer sites, and in the field. With
XcelleNet software solutions, business can see and direct its frontline
activities, IT can manage any platform in the field from a browser, and end
users can enjoy unparalleled reliability of the solutions on which they
depend. To deliver the total solution, XcelleNet partners with global
leaders such as Microsoft, HP, and Palm.


About Francisco Partners:


With $2.5 billion of committed capital, Francisco Partners is one of the
world's largest technology-focused private equity funds. The firm was founded
to pursue structured investments in technology companies undergoing
strategic, technological, and operational inflection points. Francisco
Partners targets majority and minority investments in private companies,
public companies, and divisions of public companies, with transaction values
ranging from $30 million to $2.0 billion. The principals of Francisco
Partners have a proven track record, having invested in excess of $2.4
billion of equity capital in over 50 technology companies during the past
decade, including several of the most successful buyouts effected to date.
For additional information, visit www.franciscopartners.com.


NOTE:


iAnywhere, iAnywhere Solutions and Sybase are registered trademarks of
Sybase, Inc. or its subsidiaries. (R) indicates registration in the United
States of America. All other company and product names mentioned may be
trademarks of the companies with which they are associated.


FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS:


Statements concerning the benefits of Sybase's acquisition of XcelleNet,
future growth, the completion of the acquisition and Sybase's plans following
completion of the acquisition are by nature forward-looking statements
(within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995)
that involve a number of uncertainties and risks and cannot be guaranteed.
Factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially
include the risk that the acquisition may not be consummated in a timely
manner, if at all, risks regarding employee relations, risks relating to
shifts in customer demand, rapid technological changes, competitive factors
and unanticipated delays in scheduled product availability and other risks
concerning Sybase, XcelleNet and their respective operations, some of these
risks are detailed in filings with the SEC of Sybase, including its most
recent filings on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q.

Web site: http://www.franciscopartners.com
Web site: http://www.sybase.com

Sybase, Inc.


CONTACT: Leslie Nakajima of Sybase, Inc., +1-925-236-8650, or [email protected]; or Andrew Wittman of Citigate Cunningham, +1-415-618-8738, or [email protected], for Sybase, Inc.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]