Realignment in Cluster Computing Market as Genias Software and Chord Systems Announce Merger and Name Change to Gridware, Inc.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 15, 1999--

Genias Software GmbH, the leading European supplier of computing resource management software, and Chord Systems, Inc., the leading US Value Added Reseller of computing resource management software, will announce their merger this week at SuperComputing99 in Portland, Ore.

The new company will be based in San Jose and will operate under the Gridware, Inc. name.

The merged companies will focus on providing resource management software solutions that optimize utilization and management of software and hardware resources in heterogeneous networked environments.

In making the announcement, Genias president and CEO Dr. Wolfgang Gentzsch said, "Combining the two companies into a new entity will provide the technical and enterprise computing markets a unique source for advanced job and resource management solutions with unbeatable price/performance, and world-class technical support and customer service."

Chord Systems CEO Jack Faraone concurred, saying, "Genias is a strong technology company, with the most innovative resource management solutions today. By leveraging Chord Systems' extensive marketing and sales relationships with computer manufacturers, application software providers, and end-users, we believe we will provide the marketplace compelling new alternatives."

Vice President of Sales Scott McDonald added, "We have seen performance demands increase substantially for many users, especially in technical computing environments. Genias has superior technology to meet these demands."

Gridware management sees substantial new opportunities for large-scale computing requirements. Dr. Gentzsch noted, "We selected the Gridware name to indicate our strategy regarding the emerging computing paradigm of computation grids as hardware/software infrastructure for corporate intranets, extranets, and the Internet.

"We intend to be a preferred source of the enabling technology for exciting commercial developments like application hosting."

About the companies

Genias Software GmbH, founded in 1990, is based in Neutraubling, Germany, with U.S. offices in Baltimore. They are the market leader for resource management software in Europe to High Performance Computing, Automotive, Government, and other vertical markets, and are gaining market share in the U.S.

Current customers include BMW, British Aerospace, ABB, Rover, Airbus Industries, Raytheon, Eastman Chemical, MCI, U.S. Army Research Lab, Sandia National Laboratories, and others. Their products include CODINE, a highly scalable job queuing and load-balancing system for heterogeneous computing environments, and GRD (Global Resource Director) for robust policy management and dynamic scheduling.

CODINE and GRD are based on CORBA compliant and object oriented technology.

Chord Systems, Inc. founded in 1994, is located in San Jose. Chord Systems is the leader in sales of resource management solutions to EDA and Digital Content Creation customers in the United States. Pioneering the acceptance of the cluster computing paradigm, Chord Systems has integrated over 12,000 computers into cluster systems for over 100 companies.