Lyondell Chemical Company Chooses Allegro for Feedstock Supply Operations and Risk Management.

Energy Editors/Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 27, 2003

Integrated Physical and Risk, Marine Scheduling Operations

Functionality Key to Selection

Allegro Development, a leading provider of software solutions to the energy industry, has been selected by Lyondell Chemical Company (NYSE:LYO) and Equistar Chemicals, LP to provide the Allegro suite of software components for trade capture, contract administration, actualization and risk management. Initial implementation of the integrated suite was completed earlier this year and it is now used for Lyondell's and Equistar's global olefin feedstock operations.

Allegro supports the company's NGL and petroleum related supply operations, which consume between 300,000 and 350,000 bbls/day. Lyondell uses Allegro for physical and financial trade capture, pricing, scheduling of marine and pipeline operations, position reporting, inventory management and actualization. The integrated risk software component supports Lyondell's hedging activities, real-time position keeping and risk reporting requirements.

"We selected Allegro after an exhaustive evaluation of third-party packages and consideration of custom development options," reports Mr. David Haynes, VP Feedstock Supply for Lyondell. "Allegro demonstrated its ability to handle multiple commodities including NGL, crude, naphtha and diesel with integrated pricing / risk management functions, and we expect that it will deliver the integrated functionality that we require."

Key to Lyondell's selection of Allegro was the software's unique abilities in providing full support for scheduling marine operations. This was a major requirement for the company.

Allegro, working with Lyondell staff, implemented the integrated software components earlier this year. "We were impressed with Allegro's overall systematic approach to implementation and their discipline throughout the implementation phase of the project," said Mr. Haynes. "They worked very well with our IT group on the important technical aspects of getting the system installed and operating on our internal platform."

"We are pleased to welcome Lyondell to our growing list of customers," said Allegro founder and president, Eldon Klaassen. "Clearly, our ability to support multiple energy commodities through the entire feedstock operations process combined with integrated risk management functionality provided an excellent match for Lyondell's requirements."

About Allegro Development

Allegro Development Corporation has provided energy companies with transaction and risk management software for almost 20 years. Founded in 1984 by Eldon Klaassen, Allegro provides a set of customizable energy software components that can be deployed as stand-alone business function solutions or as an integrated enterprise suite for companies ranging from E&P, through coal producers, gas gatherers, pipelines, refiners, petrochemical firms, utilities, LDC's, energy retailers, municipals, cooperatives and energy merchants. Providing support for multiple energy commodities including coal, crude, NGLs, natural gas, electric power and refined products, Allegro's solutions are used today by numerous energy companies in North America and Europe.

For more information, please visit www.allegrodevelopment.com