Business Objects' Founder, Bernard Liautaud, Resigns as Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer Following Close of Business Objects Acquisition by SAP

Business Objects (Nasdaq:BOBJ) (Euronext Paris ISIN code: FR0004026250 - BOB), the world’s leading provider of business intelligence (BI) solutions, today announced that Bernard Liautaud, the company’s founder, has resigned his duties as Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer (CSO). At its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in June 2008, the SAP Supervisory Board intends to propose to elect Bernard Liautaud to the SAP Supervisory Board. Until that time, Mr. Liautaud will have an advisory role to Henning Kagermann, CEO of SAP, on aspects of strategy and integration. This announcement is pursuant to the organizational changes announced following SAP’s acquisition of Business Objects (link to http://www.sap.com/usa/company/press/press.epx?pressid=8734). "The industry I helped create almost two decades ago has changed dramatically over the years, and I am very proud to say that Business Objects has consistently been a pioneer in bringing innovation to the market,” said Liautaud. "The vision we started out with is now a reality and the need for business intelligence has become pervasive across enterprises large and small. This industry is now at a tipping point and I am confident that, together with SAP, Business Objects will continue to innovate and help transform the way the world works by connecting people, information and businesses.” Bernard Liautaud cofounded Business Objects in 1990 and was chief executive officer until September 2005, when he brought the Company to the one billion Dollar revenue mark. Liautaud took the company public on Nasdaq in September 1994, and established a precedent by making Business Objects the first French software company listed in the United States. Since that time, Liautaud led Business Objects through 15 successful years of growth and profitability, transforming the Company into one of the 15 largest software companies in the world and the clear leader in the business intelligence market. In parallel to his successful stewardship of Business Objects, he created the Business Objects Foundation to channel employee and corporate philanthropic activities into communities around the world. About Business Objects Business Objects has been a pioneer in business intelligence (BI) since the dawn of the category. Today, as the world’s leading BI software company, Business Objects transforms the way the world works through intelligent information. The company helps illuminate understanding and decision-making at more than 46,000 organizations around the globe. Through a combination of innovative technology, global consulting and education services, and the industry’s strongest and most diverse partner network, Business Objects enables companies of all sizes to make transformative business decisions based on intelligent, accurate, and timely information. Business Objects has dual headquarters in San Jose, Calif., and Paris, France. The company’s stock is traded on both the Nasdaq (BOBJ) and Euronext Paris (ISIN: FR0004026250 - BOB) stock exchanges. More information about Business Objects can be found at www.businessobjects.com.