Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

RESTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 22, 2001

Europe's Largest System Software Company Recognized at U.S.

Support Center for Demonstrating Outstanding Performance in Customer

Satisfaction, Performance Metrics and Corporate Commitment

XML pioneer Software AG has achieved certification for superior customer support for the third year under the prestigious Support Center Practices (SCP) Certification program.

Software AG Customer Support was certified after an extensive audit of their Highlands Ranch, Colorado support center. SCP certification quantifies the effectiveness of customer support based upon a stringent set of performance standards and represents best practices in the industry.

"The team at Software AG made significant investments in time and resources to drive higher levels of customer satisfaction and develop best in class practices within the support center," said Greg Coleman, principal and vice president of certification, SSC. "These efforts clearly demonstrate their commitment to satisfying customers and delivering the highest quality support possible."

"Software AG Customer Support has worked hard over the past year to evolve into a full service knowledge organization," said John Rehl, vice president of Customer Support, Software AG, Inc. "This means we strive to delight our customers not only when working one-on-one over the telephone, but also through exceptional web self-service tools. I'm proud of this team for being able to balance these demands and do so at a level that earned this certification," he said.

SCP Certification requires comprehensive on-site audits to confirm that companies meet the requirements of over 100 business elements defined in the SCP program. SCP Certification measures factors such as corporate commitment and strategic direction, customer satisfaction, performance metrics, research and development interface, and other strategic areas of the support operation.

Certified companies must continue to demonstrate their commitment to excellence and high performance standards through annual re-certification audits.

Last year the Software AG U.S. support center received another highly respected award for customer service from the SSPA - the STAR award - which measures performance metrics and independently-audited customer satisfaction levels over a period of at least three years.

Software AG is one of several leading technology companies that have achieved SCP certification. Currently, over seventy-five companies representing approximately one hundred and sixty support centers around the world are participating in the SCP program.

"SCP certification has established itself as the global standard for service quality and is being rapidly adopted by leading technology companies," said Bill Rose, founder and executive director of the SSPA. "Software AG can be proud to be placed among the industry leaders in service excellence through their attainment of SCP certification."

About Support Center Practices (SCP) Certification

The Support Center Practices (SCP) Certification program was developed to address service quality issues that affect the rapidly growing technology support industry. The Software Support Professionals Association (SSPA) and thirty-five of its member companies created the program along with Service Strategies Corporation.

These companies contributed their insight and perspective into defining the key elements required for delivering world-class support. The SSPA is made up of over 500 of the world's leading technology companies and provides a value added forum where service and support professionals share ideas and discuss developing trends (www.supportgate.com).

Service Strategies Corporation is responsible for administering the SCP Certification program and conducting on-site certification audits. For more information about SCP Certification contact Service Strategies Corporation at 858.674.4864 or visit the certification section at http://www.supportgate.com/scp.

About Software AG, Inc.

Based in Reston, VA, Software AG, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Software AG, Europe's largest system software provider and a major global player offering cutting edge technology for data management and electronic business. Since 1998 Software AG has focused its development activities on XML products for the Internet.

With some 3,500 employees and representatives in more than 70 countries, Software AG will achieve sales revenue of more than 600 million euros in 2001. Software AG's products control the central IT processes of thousands of renowned companies worldwide.

Some examples of these are Lufthansa, Delta, Sabre/US Air, British Sky Broadcasting, Swiss Post, Federal Express, DaimlerChrysler, Mitsubishi, Deutsche Bahn AG (German Rail), BP, MCI Worldcom, VIAG Interkom, Telefonica, Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan Chase. Software AG is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (MDAX, Security identification number 724264 / SOWGn.F).

For additional information go to: www.softwareagusa.com