Business Objects Foundation Shares the Light.

Employee-Driven Grant Program Supports At-Risk Children and Youth Around the World

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Business Objects (Nasdaq:BOBJ)(Euronext Paris ISIN code: FR0004026250 - BOB), the world's leading provider of business intelligence (BI) solutions, today announced that its philanthropic arm, the Business Objects Share the Light Foundation, has completed the mid-year grant cycle, supporting 30 different community programs in four countries. Non-profit organizations in Canada, France, United States, and the United Kingdom have received financial grants from the Foundation, to benefit vulnerable children and youth.

The grant program at Business Objects is entirely employee-driven and aims to fund educational and technology programs for young people. The employees identify the community programs, volunteer their time to review funding applications, conduct site visits, and present grant recommendations to the board of the Business Objects Share the Light Foundation. Once the grants are funded, Business Objects' involvement does not stop there. The company forges a deeper relationship with many of the organizations, also donating employee time and technology.

"Community investment is an integral part of our culture," said Bernard Liautaud, founder, chairman, and chief strategy officer at Business Objects. "The Foundation's grant process is unique as it is driven by our passionate employees. This accomplishes two goals: we help vulnerable children and youth gain access to education, and we increase our employee engagement in the community. Each year I am impressed and moved by the community programs that our employees identify and to which they commit personal time and expertise."

Books and More Program, Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, City of San Jose

One of the many 2007 grant recipients, Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, located in San Jose, developed a pilot program that will provide a new service for families to help them support the early learning of their young children. The kits will provide parents with resources to use at home with their children, ages 0-8. The kits will focus on literacy and language while integrating math and science concepts. There will also be one kit on language development specifically for families with babies and toddlers. The program will take place in three centers located in the most underserved areas of San Jose with high populations of vulnerable children.

"My staff and I are delighted to have the opportunity to work with Business Objects employees on our pilot project proposal, Family Learning Kits (now called Books and More)," said Dawn Perry, manager, early care and education unit. "Their enthusiasm and commitment to assisting our community was evident. We are excited to partner with Business Objects to assist parents in providing essential interactive and enriching early literacy activities with their young children through the use of our Books and More activity kits. These parent-initiated activities and 'lap time reading' will support the children's social and emotional growth and promote academic success."

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About the Business Objects Share the Light Foundation

Since 2002, more than 170 grants have been made in Canada, the United States, France and the United Kingdom to support programs to benefit at-risk children and youth. The Foundation accepts applications sponsored by Business Objects employees and partners. Business Objects employees volunteer their time by joining grant teams that research and identify programs in their community worthy of support. Through respectful, curious exploration of the organizations applying for the grants, employees learn about the programs and the impact they have. Each grant team member shares their discovery and then the team collectively makes the difficult decision on which organizations will be the recipient for the grant round. Employees present their recommendations to the Foundation's board at the end of the grant cycle. The work of the Foundation is guided by the Berkshire Community Fund, Community Foundation Silicon Valley, Fondation de France, and the Vancouver Foundation.

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 44,000 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.

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