Credit Lyonnais to Use MEGA Simulation to Optimize Internal Business Process and IT System Efficiencies.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

NEWTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 21, 2004

Using MEGA Simulation to Support Value Chain Initiative to Refine,

Validate and Continuously Improve Core Business Processes

MEGA International, the leading independent provider of business process excellence and enterprise architecture solutions, today announced that Credit Lyonnais' Retail Banking group (CLRB) has begun deploying MEGA Simulation as part of its value chain initiative to improve internal business processes.

MEGA Simulation is a decision-making tool that assembles appropriate data and integrates all the elements required to simulate business processes. It is often used in analysis phase of projects so that different business process improvement hypotheses can be tested.

With the objective of increasing company performance and improving satisfaction to its over six million customers, CLRB has been implementing a value chain initiative for the past several years. This initiative introduces new management practices and disciplines that help the organization measure the cost and performance of each activity within the value chain. The end result translates into a higher economic performance for the organization and increased service value to its customers.

In support of this value chain initiative, CLRB sought out a solution so that managers could "try out" possible options within a project before any implementation. They were looking for a tool that would help them to identify best possible scenarios and make optimal decisions that achieved ROI and were in line with performance plans.

After an evaluation of other simulation tools on the market, CLRB selected MEGA International's MEGA Simulation to achieve this goal. In addition, CLRB contracted with MEGA's business consultant experts to help implement and analyze the results of the MEGA Simulation module. CLRB chose MEGA because of its expert business process analysts and its comprehensive simulation tool that integrates easily into its already existing repository of information, minimizing investment.

According Philippe Haniquaut, CLRB business process project manager, "Management is the key point of any business process-oriented approach. MEGA Simulation is a powerful means to help us manage our value chains and validate our decision-making."

CLRB has already identified several value chains where the application of MEGA Simulation will bring significant gains. Using MEGA Simulation, CLRB has been able to develop advanced optimization scenarios to refine time, cost and resource allocation in the context of the company's complex business processes.

"The ability to evaluate conjoint criteria using MEGA Simulation makes it a very powerful tool to make decisions on concrete and objective basis," said Michel Raquin, senior executive at CLRB. "Simulation allows us to make better choices."

The preliminary phase of the simulation initiative was completed in January 2004. In the following months, CLRB plans to use MEGA Simulation on four to six major business processes. In 2005, the bank plans to expand the use of Simulation of up to 15-20 business processes.

About Credit Lyonnais

Credit Lyonnais' Retail banking has a network of 1,844 branches in France to meet the needs of its six million customers. It contributes over half of the Group's total net profit. Asset management attracted EUR 10 billion of new funds in 2002 amid very tough market conditions. It now has almost EUR 140 billion in assets under management. Financing activities continues to place a strong focus on structured finance, and investment banking on strengthening its position in niche activities. Credit Lyonnais has improved its financial structure substantially, with a fivefold increase in earnings over four years and a Tier one ratio of 8.2% in 2002.

About MEGA

MEGA International (www.mega.com) is the leading independent provider of Business Process Analysis (BPA) and Enterprise Architecture (EA) solutions. Side by side with client design teams, MEGA's highly trained, project-proven consultants deliver concrete business results to drive enterprise competitiveness. MEGA solutions improve organizational efficiency by connecting fast changing business processes with IT development efforts. MEGA BPA and EA Solutions enable business and IT stakeholders to drive bottom line profits, unlock new customer value, and otherwise minimize the risk involved with changing critical business processes.

Founded in 1991, MEGA has delivered successful projects to over 800 clients. MEGA's process-oriented consultative approach has provided significant value to its clients including Alitalia, Allianz, AXA, British American Tobacco, Credit Lyonnais, General Electric EP, Renault, Societe Generale, Target, Vitro and Wyeth. MEGA is headquartered in Paris, with offices in Boston (USA), Birmingham (UK), Munich (Germany) and Milano (Italy) and with partners located around the globe. MEGA supports over 23,000 software licenses worldwide.

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