Business Layers' eProvision Day One-TM- Selected by Chevron for International Directory Services Project.

Business Editors

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 23, 2001

CATALYST 2001--

Project is Part of Chevron's Global e-Business

Infrastructure Initiative

Business Layers, a leading developer of eProvisioning(TM) solutions, today announced that the company's eProvision Day One software application has been selected by Chevron Information Technology Company (CITC) to be part of a company-wide directory-based provisioning project.

Chevron has also selected Business Layers' partner ePresence, Inc. (NASDAQ: EPRE), a market leader in delivering directory-based solutions that personalize e-business, as the systems integrator for the provisioning initiative.

The Directory Services Project is a sub-project of CITC's company-wide program to upgrade Chevron's IT Infrastructure and to improve it's e-business capabilities. Specifically, the Directory Services Project Team will be responsible for upgrading the company's current enterprise directory services to provide complete and accurate employee, vendor and supplier information to Chevron. Additionally, through eProvision Day One, Chevron will establish a more robust foundation for managing internal and external access to IT resources.

"Businesses need to understand the link between IT infrastructure and bottom line profitability," stated Izhar Shay, CEO of Business Layers. "Chevron has demonstrated this understanding by assigning a team of experts to reassess and improve technology systems for the benefit of the overall business. We look forward to adding eProvisioning functionality to Chevron's IT infrastructure and anticipate that Chevron will see a significant return on investment as the project is implemented across the entire company."

Business Layers' eProvision Day One software allows global organizations to reduce costs and increase productivity by systematically and securely aligning digital resources with e-business priorities. By allocating digital resources to employees and business partners across existing IT infrastructure, eProvision Day One eliminates bottlenecks in the provisioning process, ultimately resulting in higher organizational efficiency and lower operating costs.

"Chevron intends to streamline the provisioning of computer IDs and accounts, as well as automate the approval process for assigning employee, supplier and vendor access to Chevron's digital resources," noted Mike Reddy, Manager of Global Infrastructure Delivery for Chevron Information Technology Company. "Directory services are a key element of Chevron's next generation IT infrastructure. Optimizing the performance of our directory-based applications will provide substantial operating efficiencies within the IT organization as well enable our businesses to control access to their resources more easily.

The extent to which e-business depends upon multiple applications and data-stores makes a provisioning solution for the systematic allocation of digital and physical resources essential. In this context, eProvisioning functionality is especially important given the varied profiles of key business audiences: a mixture of employees, contractors, partners and suppliers, all playing integral roles in building and supporting global business initiatives.

Directory services offer an essential enabling technology for global e-business. For example, providing a unique directory for each application across an entire infrastructure and managing countless access control lists is neither sustainable nor scaleable for any enterprise. By taking proactive steps to ensure IT efficiency through the Directory Services Project, Chevron is setting the standard for smart IT deployment, with the business benefits of the overall corporation in mind.

About Business Layers, Inc.

Business Layers, Inc. is a developer of e-business infrastructure software designed to enhance the productivity and security of global organizations. The company's flagship product, eProvision Day One(TM), enables businesses to improve time-to-productivity and reduce operating costs by securely and efficiently integrating employees, partners and vendors into existing network infrastructure.

Business Layers is a privately held company with leading international investors including Ascent Venture Partners, Canaan Partners, Novell, Garage.com, Gemini Capital, Formula Ventures and Israel Seed Partners. Headquartered in Rochelle Park, NJ, the company employs IT professionals throughout North America, Europe and Israel. For more information, please contact Business Layers at 877-552-9377, or visit www.businesslayers.com.

About Chevron & CITC

Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CHV), one of the world's largest integrated petroleum companies, is involved in every aspect of the oil and gas industry, from exploration and production to transportation, refining and retail marketing, as well as chemicals manufacturing and sales. Active in more than 90 countries, Chevron employs about 31,000 people worldwide.

Chevron Information Technology Company (CITC) is the information technology provider for Chevron Corporation and its operating companies. With headquarters in San Ramon, California, CITC has other facilities in the United States, and employees on site in several international locations.

For more information, please visit www.chevron.com.