Business Engine Network Version 5.4 Closes the Loop Between Portfolio Optimization and Project Execution; New Release Eliminates the Barrier between Executive-Level Strategy and Project-Level Execution

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 11, 2006--Business Engine, the leading provider of financial governance software solutions to project-driven organizations, has announced the availability of the Business Engine Network(TM) (BEN(TM)) 5.4. The new release provides the industry's first closed-loop project and portfolio management solution, engineered to ensure that project teams execute against portfolio strategy while portfolio optimization analysis continually evaluates new ideas against existing work-in-process projects.

The BEN is the premier industry-proven(1) choice for bringing financial governance to project-driven organizations. By integrating the entire project portfolio within a single, Web-based enterprise solution, the BEN provides organizations with the visibility and control they need to make informed decisions, align corporate objectives with business investments, and measure results.

"This new release gives IT and New Product Development organizations the tools to become more adaptive, better aligned, and cost-effectively govern their business," commented Mark Strauch, Business Engine's Chief Executive Officer, "By financially managing the portfolio of project assets end-to-end, business leaders are finally able to secure the true cost of a program."

Key areas of BEN 5.4's new and enhanced functionality include the following:

Closed Loop Project Portfolio Management - An integrated BEN Alignment Engine allows users to enjoy the value of all BEN modules with a single point of administration. Portfolio Managers can now consider ideas, work-in-process projects and actual resources supply as part of portfolio analysis. Governed ideas can then be easily promoted to executable projects that, in turn, can be reviewed in future portfolio decisions.

Improved Dashboard Capabilities - Cognos ReportNet has been embedded within key Business Engine Network dashboards to dramatically improve configurability and graphics that enable the creation of more powerful and intelligent dashboards.

Financial Management Improvements - BEN 5.4 adds to the market shaping functionality of the BEN Financial Engine by extending support to alternative approaches to budgeting, including budgeting by hours. A new capital item catalogs for budgets is also included to simplify and more accurately represent capital budget items.

Ease of Use Improvements - As with all major releases, BEN 5.4 incorporated customer-driven usability improvements including the ability to re-label fields to better align customer-specific nomenclature and automated XML imports to streamline import of external data.

About Business Engine

With more than 20 years experience in developing innovative enterprise applications, Business Engine is the leading provider of financial governance solutions for project-driven organizations. Business Engine solutions provide industry-leading organizations with visibility and control to align corporate objectives with portfolio investments, make informed decisions and generate greater ROI.

Our customers and their customers rely on Business Engine solutions for cost transparency into where investment dollars are being spent and what they are delivering in return. With real-time information about the portfolio, executives at all levels are able to make relevant and actionable decisions that improve business results. Business Engine serves over 80,000 end users at more than 500 global organizations, including Capital One, Western Asset Management, Northrop Grumman, Deutsche Bank, Merrill Lynch, Siemens, Advanced Medical Optics, and Tesco. Visit www.BusinessEngine.com for more information.