Sopheon Completes Acquisition of Information Services Division of Aventis Research & Technologies.

Business Editors & Technology Writers

MINNEAPOLIS & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 2, 2001

Stock Transaction Adds $8.5 Million in Annual Revenues and

Strengthens Global Position in Life Sciences Markets

Sopheon announced today that it has completed the acquisition of the Technology and Information Services division (AIT) of Aventis Research & Technologies, Frankfurt, Germany, creating a new subsidiary, Sopheon GmbH.

Originally formed as the Scientific Information Department of Hoechst A.G.- Central Research, AIT was converted to profit-center status in 1998 when it extended its service reach to include a growing number of customers outside the former Hoechst group. AIT is focused on serving companies in life sciences markets, and offers expert research, content delivery, portal and applications development and a range of integration support, including hosting services. It generates about $8.5 million in annual revenues, and is profitable.

"Sopheon's acquisition of AIT brings together businesses that are highly synergistic in capabilities and strategic direction," said Barry Mence, chairman of Sopheon, the international knowledge management software and services company. "Both organizations provide technology-based solutions that integrate software applications, expert services and specialized content to improve knowledge-intensive business processes. And AIT is dedicated to serving companies in the life sciences sector, which is also central to Sopheon's market focus.

"The acquisition immediately gives Sopheon a substantial presence and customer base in Germany, and provides us with a platform for accelerated development of additional products and services. Overall, it expands the range and depth of our capacity to address the knowledge and information management needs of major life sciences companies on a global scale."

Dr. Wolfgang Schueller, president of Aventis Research & Technologies, will serve as a member of the Sopheon GmbH Advisory Board.

"The business logic for combining the resources of AIT and Sopheon is compelling," Dr. Schueller said. "The acquisition brings together highly complementary businesses, each of which has proven capacity to help organizations turn knowledge and information management into a source of competitive strength. We look forward to continuing our close service relationship with the former AIT organization as it merges with Sopheon, and to taking good advantage of the enriched services and solutions that will result from this union."

With the completion of the transaction, in which Sopheon issued 3,471,191 ordinary shares of stock, Aventis Research & Technologies holds 8.24% of Sopheon's outstanding shares. In addition, the transaction is subject to earn-out arrangements equivalent to 50 percent of the before-tax profit of Sopheon GmbH in each of 2001, 2002 and 2003, up to an overall maximum of $1.5 million.

About Sopheon

Sopheon (LSE:SPE), which last year merged with Minneapolis-based Teltech Resource Network Corporation, is an international provider of information and knowledge solutions that enable companies to more efficiently access internal and external information and turn it into the knowledge to compete. Sopheon's experience in integrating information process and content is the foundation for a unique combination of pre-loaded, industry-specific software applications, expert services and specialized content. Its comprehensive solutions can enhance business processes ranging from product development and customer relationship management to R&D and quality management. Sopheon has operations in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany and the United States. Its clients are companies in the life sciences, high tech and healthcare industry sectors, and include nearly half of the technology-driven companies on the Fortune 500. For more information, please visit www.sopheon.com.

About Aventis Research & Technologies

Aventis Research & Technologies GmbH & Co KG is a subsidiary of Aventis Group, Strassbourg, France - the leading pharmaceuticals and agro group created in December 1999 through the merger of Hoechst A.G. of Germany and Rhone-Poulenc S.A. of France. For more information, please visit www.rt.aventis.com/en/index.htm.