LWSN Lawson Software, Inc. (MM)

Lawson Software (Nasdaq: LWSN) today announced the general availability of Lawson QuickStep Government, a pre-configured enterprise software package designed to help city and county governments achieve faster business benefits at a low total cost of ownership. The application package is designed to address city and county governments� key administrative processes, such as integrating budgeting, finance, procurement and human resource management systems. The company made the announcement during the 2008 Lawson Conference and User Exchange (CUE) in Las Vegas. Lawson QuickStep Government combines government-specific content with built-in business best practices based on Lawson�s deep knowledge of the government sector and the company�s proven implementation methodology. The application package will help reduce the time, cost and risks typically associated with an ERP software implementation by pre-configuring the key business processes required by government organizations. It also provides more than 100 learning simulations to help address change management needs. Because it is pre-configured around these core business processes, Lawson QuickStep Government is suited for city and county governments as well as multi-agency state governments. Lawson QuickStep Government helps deliver greater visibility into organization-wide information. For example, it includes Lawson Business Intelligence, which offers comprehensive role-based dashboards and Smart Notification alerts that focus on key business processes to help improve management of budget, finance, procurement and human resources functions. Lawson QuickStep Government helps customers address government-specific business challenges, such as: Managing fund accounting, including chart of accounts, encumbrance management, budget checking and beginning-of-period/end-of-period processing. Closing, reporting and analyzing periodic financial statements as well as proper accounting of all assets for compliance with GASB requirements. Affirming proper tracking and administration of grants. Managing and budgeting positions and FTEs, including grant funding and multiple positions per employee. Administering payroll, benefits and absence plans for public safety employees, including fire and police department staff. Enhancing supply chain visibility to manage vendor agreements, requisitions, purchase orders, inventory and disadvantaged business contributions. Helping to minimize the time and costs associated with implementing new technology so government organizations can focus scarce resources on constituent services. �City and county governments have told us they want comprehensive, yet simple-to-use ERP software that combines business best practices with government-specific processes,� said Alex Kaplan, public services practice director, Lawson Software. �We tailored QuickStep Government to directly address those needs based on that feedback as well as our expertise in government ERP implementations.� Lawson QuickStep Government is the latest Lawson QuickStep application, targeting key industries the company serves. Other Lawson QuickStep application packages include QuickStep Food & Beverage, QuickStep Fashion, QuickStep Distribution, QuickStep Healthcare and QuickStep Enterprise Asset Management. �While prepackaged applications carry industry-specific functionality and localizations, they also bear the promise of quick implementations that don�t involve lengthy blueprinting processes,� said Simon Jacobson in the 2007 AMR Research Report, �ERP Providers Serving the Midmarket.� �This addresses the potential concerns midmarket executives have to deploying an ERP product from the same vendor that sells to the leading companies in their target industries.� Lawson serves more than 120 public services customers, including three of the top seven digital state governments and four of the 25 largest school districts in the United States. State governments, cities, counties, school districts, publicly owned utilities/authorities and special districts rely on Lawson solutions to help meet the needs of a variety of stakeholders � constituents, employees, students, vendors and communities � while helping to maximize limited budgets. About Lawson Software Lawson Software provides software and service solutions to 4,000 customers in manufacturing, distribution, maintenance and service sector industries across 40 countries. Lawson�s solutions include Enterprise Performance Management, Supply Chain Management, Enterprise Resource Planning, Customer Relationship Management, Manufacturing Resource Planning, Enterprise Asset Management and industry-tailored applications. Lawson solutions assist customers in simplifying their businesses or organizations by helping them streamline processes, reduce costs and enhance business or operational performance. Lawson is headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., and has offices around the world. Visit Lawson online at www.lawson.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that contain risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements contain statements of intent, belief or current expectations of Lawson Software and its management. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the potential results discussed in the forward-looking statements. The company is not obligated to update forward-looking statements based on circumstances or events that occur in the future. Risks and uncertainties that may cause such differences include but are not limited to: uncertainties in Lawson's ability to realize synergies and revenue opportunities anticipated from the Intentia International acquisition; uncertainties in the software industry; uncertainties as to when and whether the conditions for the recognition of deferred revenue will be satisfied; increased competition; uncertainty regarding potential future deterioration in the market for auction rate securities which could result in additional permanent impairment charges, global military conflicts; terrorist attacks; pandemics, and any future events in response to these developments; changes in conditions in the company's targeted industries and other risk factors listed in the company's most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Lawson assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release.