Software M+A Activity Returning in an Industry Ripe for Consolidation Says Standard + Poor's

com.

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Potential to be published and
participate in a panel discussion before an international
gathering of business , government and academic leaders during the
first two days of the global trade forum.
As of October 2005, Standard + Poor's forecast real gross domestic product
growth of 3. With
approximately 6,300 employees located in 20 countries and markets, Standard +
Poor's is an essential part of the world's financial infrastructure and has
played a leading role for more than 140 years in providing investors with the
independent benchmarks they need to feel more confident about their investment
and financial decisions.

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Two surveys on each
industry are published each year.

The analyst quoted above is a Standard + Poor's equity analyst.

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It was changed for transmission purposes only. Enterprise Customers Stay focused on Return on Investment

NEW YORK, Continued pricing pressure,
overcapitalization and vendor rationalization in the enterprise software
industry are combining to create an environment that will favor increased
merger and acquisition activity in the remaining portion of 2005 and into next
year, said Standard + Poor's in its semi-annual survey on the enterprise
software industry.

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Noting that the pace of mergers and acquisitions in this
sector may never again equal that of the boom period of the late 1990s, S+P
still sees growth opportunities in the enterprise software market,
particularly with respect to return on investment and total cost of ownership.com.

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utexas.5% for the year and 3.

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edu.
These and other findings are available in the report, Computers: Software
Industry Survey, published twice yearly by Standard + Poor's, a leading
provider of independent investment research, ratings and indices. This, and the likelihood that
companies will continue to invest in new hardware and will want to leverage
existing hardware infrastructures by installing upgraded and new software,
bodes well for the industry.

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HOW: Email paper submissions of at least 25 double-spaced pages, in
English, to WCIT2006@icc.

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Direct questions to Margaret
Cotrofeld, Administrative Associate, IC(2) Institute,
512-475 -8921

NOTE TO EDITORS: In "IC(2) Institute" above, the "2" is
superscript.activate.

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The latter includes antivirus software and
firewall/VPN software.
Readers can purchase Standard + Poor's Industry Surveys three ways:

Online for immediate download at http://sandp .
Members of the media can request a copy from the communications contact listed
at the end of this release.

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" International leaders from business, government and
academia will review submissions .

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Business Editors/Technology Editors
ADVISORY.

wmv (viewing the video
clip requires Real Player capability). Both text and data are provided, as are
references to additional sources of industry information. He has no
affiliation with any company he covers, nor any ownership interest in any
company he covers.
The equity research reports and recommendations provided by Standard +
Poor's Equity Research Services are prepared separately from any other
analytic activity of Standard + Poor's.

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AUSTIN, Texas----

Select Manuscripts to Be Compiled and Made Available
During the World Congress

The World Congress on Information Technology 2006 (WCIT 2006), the
World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) and The
University of Texas at Austin, announced today a call for papers
around the theme: "Information Technology and Human Development in The
21st Century. A select
group of the book 's authors will also be invited to present their
papers during the first two days of the global business forum. Standard + Poor's does not trade for its
own account.

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For more information, visit http:/ /www.

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ADVISORY/The World Congress on Information Technology 2006 World Information Technology and Services Alliance and The University of Texas at Austin Issue Call

WHO: WCIT 2006, WITSA and The University of Texas at Austin including
College of Communication, LBJ School of Public Affairs, McCombs
School of Business, and IC(2) Institute.

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Each Survey is organized into
the following sections: Current Environment, Industry Profile/Industry Trends,
How the Industry Operates, Key Industry Ratios and Statistics, How to Analyze
a Company, Industry References, Comparative Company Analysis, and a Glossary
of terms used in that industry.com, by telephone at
800-221-5277, or via e-mail order sent to bill_kelleher@standardandpoors.

affairs eurasian

."

Suggested Topics Include:

-- Knowledge , Innovation and Ownership

-- Freedom of Expression

-- Shared Prosperity

-- Sustainability

-- Case Studies of Social Transformation and Human Development

WHEN: Abstracts, outlines and chapters will be accepted for review
immediately

WHY: Potential to contribute to a body of work representing the
foremost thinking in the use of information technology to improve
lives on a global scale.
"We anticipate sales growth in the mid -single digits for the enterprise
software industry in 2005, driven by a stronger economy and a gradual
loosening of IT budget purse strings," said Jonathan Rudy, an equity analyst
for Standard + Poor 's and author of the report.

About Standard + Poor's
Standard + Poor's is the world 's foremost provider of independent credit
ratings, indices, risk evaluation, investment research and data.

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ecnext.

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Economic growth remains a key driver for the software industry overall.

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4% for 2006.net/sandp/windows/sptv-rudy. In this regard, Standard + Poor's
Equity Research Services has no access to non-public information received by
other units of Standard + Poor's.

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"In addition, we see
significant growth opportunities in three distinct areas that continue to
evolve rapidly: web services, consumer software, including video game
software, and internet security.
Standard + Poor's Industry Surveys provide a broad and fundamental
overview of each industry's structure, its recent performance, and an analysis
of trends that will influence it in the future.

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Select papers will be compiled in
book format and offered during the WCIT 2006 meetings in May.

WHAT: Issue call for papers supporting the theme: "Information
Technology and Human Development in the 21st Century."
To view a video clip of Standard + Poor's equity analyst Jonathan Rudy
discussing the sector, please point your Web browser to
mms://wmd31sea.standardandpoors.