SSA Global Technologies Acquires Ironside Technologies; Strategic Acquisition Extends Customers' Enterprise Software Investment with Sell-Side and Buy-Side eCommerce Solutions

    CHICAGO--June 19, 2003--SSA Global Technologies, Inc.(TM) (SSA GT(TM)), a leading global provider of extended enterprise solutions and services, today announced it has acquired Ironside Technologies Inc.(R), a global leader in business-to-business electronic commerce solutions for the manufacturing and distribution markets. The company's proven sell-side and buy-side eCommerce solutions will extend and strengthen SSA GT's existing product portfolio and become important components of SSA GT's customer relationship and supplier relationship strategies.
    Ironside solutions enable manufacturers and distributors to more effectively transact with customers and suppliers by automating key processes such as order management, supplier management, customer service and procurement. Customers have netted a 50 percent reduction in transaction costs; 87 percent increase in order size; and a 20 percent decrease in returned goods. Average order fulfillment time has reduced from 24 hours to less than one hour. Ironside solutions are typically implemented in less than 90 days for a fast return on investment.
    "Our customers have told us that to remain competitive, they need comprehensive eBusiness solutions that are easily implemented, drive more sales and cut costs. Ironside solutions create a solid eBusiness platform that delivers increased collaboration and value to SSA GT customers," said Mike Greenough, president, chairman and CEO of SSA GT. "The acquisition of Ironside supports our continued focus on offering products that deliver incremental value to our customers' existing enterprise systems."
    Customers that have gained benefits from implementing SSA GT and Ironside solutions include Tyco Plastics & Adhesives, Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee and ESAB Cutting and Welding. "This acquisition brings together two dynamic organizations that are focused on helping my company manufacture and sell product far better than our competitors," said Daryl Simpson, MIS Director, Tyco Plastics & Adhesives. "SSA will now be our end-to-end solutions partner saving us significant time and money."
    Synergies between the two companies include a complementary client base, industry expertise and technology platform. SSA GT and Ironside target mid-market manufacturers and distributors and both run on the IBM iSeries as well as Windows NT and Unix.
    SSA GT continues to improve its product offerings through a series of strategic acquisitions that have provided extensions to the core product line. SSA GT is merging components of its flagship and recently acquired products to create and maintain world-class financial, human resource, distribution and manufacturing applications. SSA GT customers are currently realizing incremental value from implementing acquired product extensions.
    Ironside Technologies was represented in this sale by Updata Capital.

    About Ironside Technologies

    Ironside Technologies, Inc., is a global leader in business-to-business eCommerce solutions responsible for powering the eCommerce strategies of some of the world's most prominent manufacturers and distributors. Ironside solutions enable suppliers to quickly and flexibly integrate online channels with existing business strategies to deliver measurable results, strengthen trading partner relationships and increase efficiencies. The Ironside solution suites automate key business processes such as order management, customer service, supplier relationship management enabling manufacturers and distributors to transact with customers and vendors in real-time through browsers, wireless devices, e-Marketplaces and e-Procurement systems. Ironside Powered(R) solutions integrate into virtually all enterprise business systems and are available as rapidly deployable integrated solutions for most leading enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms.

    About SSA Global Technologies

    SSA Global Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of enterprise solutions for process manufacturing, discrete manufacturing, consumer, services and public companies worldwide. SSA GT delivers integrated e-business solutions including business intelligence, customer relationship management (CRM) and supply chain management (SCM) applications. Headquartered in Chicago, SSA GT has 121 worldwide offices serving more than 10,000 customers that represent market-leading companies in over 90 countries. For additional information, visit the SSA GT web site at www.ssagt.com.

    SSA Global Technologies and SSA GT are trademarks of SSA Global Technologies, Inc. Infinium Software, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of SSA Global Technologies, Inc. All copyright, registration and trademarks for BPCS, PRMS, MAX International, KBM, MK, MANMAN, Warehouse BOSS, CAS, Masterpiece, MAXCIM, interBiz and Infinium are owned by SSA Global Technologies, Inc. Other products mentioned in this document are registered, trademarked or service marked by their respective owners.

    Forward Looking Statements

    These materials may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this press release or otherwise attributable to SSA GT regarding the business which are not historical fact, including those regarding forecasted revenue, earnings, cash flow and liquidity and the future prospects of its business, are "forward looking statements" made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any "forward-looking statements" in these materials are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including without limitation statements to the effect that SSA GT or its management "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "looks forward" and similar expressions) should be considered forward-looking statements. Many important factors could cause SSA GT's actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of SSA GT, including, without limitation, the size and timing of license transactions, the effect of economic conditions on the spending patterns of SSA GT's customers, the impact of competitive products and services, the effect of fluctuations in the economy and local currency, the ability of SSA GT to accurately forecast revenue, the ability to maintain adequate cash flow, the ability to maintain a satisfactory credit facility, the relationship between SSA GT and its affiliates and suppliers, the ability to manage costs and expenses, the availability of qualified resources, the ability to develop and enhance products, and other unknown risks including those as may be detailed in other SSA GT filings, reports and releases. SSA GT undertakes no obligation to revise or publicly update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or otherwise.