MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 10, 2003--Firepond (Company
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Studies) (Nasdaq:FIRE - News) a leading provider of configuration and interactive selling solutions announced today a licensing agreement with SSA Global
Technologies(TM), Inc. (SSA GT(TM)), a global provider of extended enterprise solutions and services. Under the agreement, SSA GT will license Firepond's Configuration
Engine. The proven solution will strengthen SSA GT's ability to meet their customers' requirements for complex product configuration.
"SSA GT is committed to providing the best possible solutions. We look to align with companies that are domain experts and whose solutions can extend the value of
our offering," said Joe Mitchell, SSA GT's Director of Solutions Research. "We were impressed with the deep functionality of Firepond's Configuration Engine, as
well as the flexible architecture for integration."
Firepond's Configuration Engine is the industry's most powerful configuration system, proven to handle the simplest to the most complex product and pricing configuration
demands. The Configuration Engine provides a best-of-breed solution for needs analysis, product configuration, and pricing management that can be integrated with existing
systems to enhance functionality or used as the core intelligence to power custom solutions.
"This is a significant licensing agreement for Firepond, providing an immediate and future revenue stream. SSA GT has a proven record of meeting the information
technology needs of manufacturing companies on a global basis. Both SSA GT and Firepond have been providing solutions that create competitive advantages for
manufacturers for over twenty years," said Klaus Besier, Firepond's Chairman and CEO. "Anytime another vendor, especially one with the industry experience
that SSA GT has, selects your product to augment their product line it further validates your products and company vision."
About SSA Global Technologies
SSA Global Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of extended enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions for manufacturing, services, and public organizations
worldwide. In addition to core ERP applications, SSA GT offers a full range of practical integrated extended solutions including corporate performance management,
customer relationship management (CRM), and supply chain management and supplier relationship management. Headquartered in Chicago, SSA GT has 121 worldwide
offices serving more than 16,000 customers that represent market-leading companies in over 90 countries. For additional information, visit the SSA GT web site at
www.ssagt.com.
About Firepond, Inc.
Firepond provides interactive selling and eService software solutions that help companies more profitably acquire and retain customers. The complementary configuration,
guided selling, on-line customer service, and response management applications incorporate proven intelligence engines and patented automation technology. Firepond's
solutions help drive new revenue streams, increase profitability, and manage customer interactions across all channels throughout the sales and service cycle. Firepond is
headquartered in Minnesota with additional offices in Europe and Japan. For additional information about Firepond visit www.firepond.com.
Portions of this release contain forward-looking statements regarding future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. We wish to caution you that there are some
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results indicated by such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: economic and other
factors affecting the demand for e-business sales and service solutions; market acceptance of Firepond's SalesPerformer and Brightware Product Suites and their
components in chosen vertical industries; quarterly fluctuations in operating results attributable to the timing and amount of orders for our products and services; difficulties
with the implementation and integration of Firepond products; uncertainty, costs, potential damages associated with material litigation; our ability to attract and retain
qualified personnel; our ability to keep pace with changing product requirements; and other risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including our Form 10-K filed in January and Forms 10-Q filed in March, June, and September, copies of which may be obtained through the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
Firepond and Firepond product names are trademarks of Firepond, Inc. All other product or company names are the properties of their respective owners.
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