Crossroads 2000 A-List Awards Outperforms the Market; Investors Do Understand Value Of B2B Players.

Business/Technology Editors

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 18, 2000

Open Systems Advisors, Inc. (OSA) today announced the availability of the View from the Crossroads white paper, "Crossroads 2000 A-List Award Winners Outperform the Market."

Lately, people have been talking about a return to reason in tech stock valuation. In some areas, hype is already giving way to results. In the case of the Crossroads A-List Award winners, the market has been able to recognize value delivered for customers and translate this into superior value for investors. The Crossroads A-List Award Program recognizes technology companies whose products or services meet two key criteria:

--They address today's most critical business priorities -- determined by primary research with business decision makers

--They are newly proven to deliver real business results to customers in the field -- determined by a second round of primary research with installed customers

Winners were chosen based on two rounds of due diligence: the first with prospects (to ascertain if the need is there); the second with customers (to ascertain if the value is delivered). Our purpose is to help corporate business and technology executives make faster, better informed technology purchase decisions.

"There's a parallel between the value we see in the products and services and the value the financial markets have accorded to these companies," said Nina G. Lytton, president, Open Systems Advisors.

Winners of the first group of Crossroads 2000 A-List Awards, "Customer Interaction in the New Economy," were announced on September 7, 1999. During the period between September 7, 1999 and January 13, 2000 the NASDAQ computer index rose almost 43% and the Internet Index rose more than 76%. However, the average share price of the six publicly held Crossroads 2000 A-List Award winners rose almost 314%. The list of winners includes the following public companies, Accrue Software, Inc. (ACRU), Art Technology Group (ARTG), Broadvision, Inc. (BVSN), Exchange Applications, Inc. (EXAP), Silknet Software, Inc. (SILK) and Vignette Corporation (VIGN). (Broadbase Software, Inc. (BBSW), also a winner, was not included in the above analysis because it went public on September 22, 1999. Its shares rose 302.29% from the first-day closing price of $27.25 to $109.625 on January 13, 2000.)

The second group of Crossroads A-List Awards was awarded for helping technology user organizations achieve "Excellence in Execution." During the same period, September 7, 1999 to January 13, 2000, the average share price of the publicly held Crossroads 2000 A-List Award Group 2 winners rose almost 174% . The public companies in this category include Agile Software Corporation (AGIL), Autonomy (EASDAQ: AUTN), Latitude Communications (LATD), Netobjects, Inc. (NETO), Open Text Corporation (OTEX). Two of the Group-2 winners are not included because they went public after the beginning of the period we're using for comparative purposes. Interwoven, Inc. (IWOV) went public on October 8, 1999. Its shares rose 178.66% from the first-day closing price of $41 to $114.25 on January 13, 2000. Viador, Inc. (VIAD) went public on October 26, 1999. Its shares rose 211.24% from the first-day closing price of $11.125 to $34.625 on January 13, 2000.

Apparently, investors do understand the value of these technologies, and are disproportionately rewarding young companies who successfully deliver business results.

To learn more about what Crossroads A-List Award-Winning products and services have already delivered for the reference customers who participated in our due diligence process. Visit www.crossroads-osa.com.

About the Crossroads A-List Awards

The Crossroads A-List Awards clearly outline the business benefits, concisely summarize the technology differentiators, validate solutions with real customer experiences, and provide a basis for informed dialogue between business and technology partners.

The Crossroads A-List Awards focus on enterprise computing, the integrated system supporting the business process from the supply chain through the back office all the way to customer interaction. Winners are determined after a detailed review of the vendors' products or services and strategies. In-depth, confidential interviews with experienced customers are the cornerstone of the judgment process.

Past winners of the Crossroads A-List Awards include: BEA Systems, Inc. (BEAS), Citrix Systems, Inc. (CTXS), Informatica Corporation (INFA), MicroStrategy Incorporated (MSTR), Netegrity, Inc. (NETE), New Era of Networks (NEON), Pivotal Software (PVTL), Rational Software Corporation (RATL), The Santa Cruz Operation (SCOC), Verity, Inc. (VRTY), and Vitria Technology, Inc. (VITR).

Seventh Annual Crossroads Conference

Winners of the Crossroads 2000 A-List Awards and their customers will be recognized at the Seventh Annual Crossroads Conference to be held March 12-15, 2000 at the Westin Mission Hills Resort in Rancho Mirage, CA. Additional information on the conference can be obtained by contacting Jennifer Richards at 617.859.0859 or [e-mail]

About Open Systems Advisors, Inc. and the Crossroads Research Program

Founded in 1989, Open Systems Advisors, Inc. (OSA) provides business and technology executives with due diligence and a real-world perspective on using new technology in global 2000 corporations, rapidly growing midsized enterprises, and dot coms. OSA's research is based on an ongoing and in-depth dialogue with hundreds of seasoned IT executives and business leaders who are using emerging technologies to achieve business results. OSA reports the Crossroads Decisions, awards the Crossroads A-List and produces the Crossroads Conference.

Open Systems Advisors Inc. (OSA) are computer industry analysts, not investment analysts or financial advisors. The information provided does not constitute a recommendation by OSA to buy, sell, or hold any security, financial product, or instrument discussed therein. This information neither is, nor should be construed, as an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities by OSA. OSA does not offer or provide any investment advice or opinion regarding the nature, potential, value, suitability, or profitability of any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction, or investment strategy, and any investment decisions you make will be based solely on your revaluation of your financial circumstances, investment objectives, risk tolerance, and liquidity needs. Research provided has been prepared by OSA and is the exclusive property of OSA. Opinions and estimates expressed herein reflect the judgment of OSA as of the date of the relevant article and are inherently subject to change without notice and may become dated.

For additional information, contact the company at: Open Systems Advisors, Inc., 268 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116, 617/859-0859; www.crossroads-osa.com

(R)Crossroads is a registered trademark, and (TM)Crossroads A-List, (TM)Crossroads Decisions and (TM)Bizno-tech are trademarks of Open Systems Advisors, Inc.; any other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.