Business Objects Authorizes $50 Million Stock Repurchase Plan.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 19, 2001

Business Objects (Nasdaq:BOBJ)(Euronext Paris: Sicovam code 12074), the world's leading provider of business intelligence solutions, today announced that its board of directors has authorized the repurchase of up to $50 million of the Company's stock over the next two years. Initially, the Company plans to purchase shares on the Euronext Paris market; the exact number of shares will be determined by market conditions. Consistent with current shareholders' authorizations, the Company may repurchase up to 2,000,000 shares. As of September 19, 2001, the Company had approximately 61 million shares outstanding, excluding treasury shares.

"This repurchase plan reflects our confidence in Business Objects and the world's financial markets," said Bernard Liautaud, chairman and chief executive officer of Business Objects. "Our strong balance sheet and cash position allow us to undertake this stock repurchase while continuing to invest in other opportunities that can create shareholder value."

The shares repurchased shall be used for general corporate purposes, including share issuance requirements of the Company's employee stock option plan and share issuance requirements in the context of acquisitions.

Any share repurchases may be made, from time to time, in the open market, through block trades or otherwise. Depending on market conditions and other factors, these repurchases may be commenced or suspended at any time or from time to time without prior notice.

This press release contains forward looking statements, including statements regarding the company's confidence in itself and in the financial markets and its ability to create shareholders' value. These forward-looking statements are based on the company's current expectations, and are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, the level of demand for the company's business intelligence solutions, changes in customer order patterns, the importance of business intelligence in the intranet and extranet markets, unexpected expenses, the continued success in technological advances and the ability of the company to adapt to technological changes, in particular with respect to the greater technical stability and better performance required by larger enterprise-wide deployments of our products on Unix platforms, the ability of the company to gain acceptance of its products, the company's reliance on partners and other third party distribution channels to market and distribute its products, the world's political situation, the impact of events outside the United States such as fluctuating currency rates, in particular fluctuations of the euro, worldwide economic conditions, the ability of the company to protect its intellectual property, litigation involving intellectual property and other issues, and increased competition. For a more complete discussion of risk factors that could materially affect the company's current and future operating results, see the discussions in the company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 and the company's Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2001 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Business Objects

Business Objects is the world's leading provider of business intelligence (BI) solutions. Business intelligence lets organizations access, analyze, and share information internally with employees and externally with customers, suppliers, and partners. It helps organizations improve operational efficiency, build profitable customer relationships, and develop differentiated product offerings.

The company's products include BusinessObjects 2000, the industry's leading integrated business intelligence toolset and platform; and BusinessObjects Analytics, an integrated suite of enterprise analytic applications.

Business Objects pioneered the modern BI industry in 1990 by inventing a patented "semantic layer" that insulates users from the complexity of databases. In 1995, the company was first to focus on enterprise-scale BI deployments and today supports customers with more than 20,000 users. The company moved aggressively to the internet in 1997 by pioneering the market for BI extranets, a market that it continues to lead today. In 2000, the company delivered the industry's first interactive mobile BI solution. Today, Business Objects continues to innovate, creating and delivering a unique vision for enterprise analytic applications.

Business Objects has more than 13,500 customers in over 80 countries. The company's stock is publicly traded under the ticker symbols NASDAQ: BOBJ and Euronext Paris (Sicovam code 12074). It is included in the SBF 120 and IT CAC 50 French stock market indexes. Business Objects can be reached at 408/953-6000 and www.businessobjects.com.