WALKER AND IBM TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ANALYTIC SOLUTION

Walker Interactive Systems Inc, a global provider of e-business solutions for the enterprise, announced that it is working with IBM to provide a completely integrated, Internet-based Financial Analytic solution running on the IBM DB2 Universal Database and the IBM DB2 OLAP Server for the IBM eServer zSeries.

IBM and Walker will combine their relational database, OLAP server, analytical application software and services, for a comprehensive solution that gives customers access to a best-of-breed Financial Analytic application suite that is scalable, reliable, and can manage their data across the entire enterprise. The two companies will market this joint zSeries solution to customers in the $2 billion worldwide Financial Analytic market through combined promotions and industry events.

Walker has committed to lead with the IBM eServer zSeries Web Application Server as well as iSeries, pSeries, and xSeries Web servers as an integral part of its e-business strategy for analytics. This announcement follows similar agreements IBM has made with other software application leaders including Hyperion Solutions. These agreements resulted from IBM's strategic alliance initiative, in which developers gain access to new customers and revenue opportunities through IBM's extensive marketing, sales, and solutions resources. At the same time, developers lead with IBM's middleware, server platforms, and services.

In recent months, Walker has adopted the IBM DB2 OLAP Server and has begun shipping Horizon Version 4.0 to a number of companies.

"The alliance strengthens our combined vision of leading the e-business world with an Internet based Financial Analytic solution, that integrates the entire enterprise," said Paul Lord, president for Walker Interactive Systems. "The Horizon platform extension on the zSeries is a natural fit for IBM and Walker. Deployed together, Walker's Financial Analytic solution and the IBM eserver, zSeries server, DB2, and DB2 OLAP represent a best-of-breed approach and a compelling analytic solution that is completely in line with the expectations and demands of our global 2000 customers. Under the existing IBM and Hyperion agreement DB2 OLAP technology will be shipped with DB2 Version 7 representing enormous potential for the Horizon PCA application."

"The combination of Walker Financial Analytics with IBM DB2 Universal Database and DB2 OLAP server on the powerful IBM zSeries platform provides scalable, reliable service for our mutual customers," said Rich Lechner, vice president, Enterprise Servers for IBM. "This solution has the ability to handle thousands of concurrent budgeting, planning, and forecasting contributors and coordinators with uninterrupted service, providing the finance community premier service to their customers."

IBM DB2 and DB2 OLAP on zSeries complement the strengths of Walker's Horizon Financial Analytic enterprise solution as an industry-leading e-business architecture platform. The combined solution delivers a proven, best-of-class system that connects the finance group to all revenue and expenditure entities throughout the corporation's operations. It accommodates financial interactions via the Web and email during budgeting, consolidation, reporting, modeling, and analysis. This in turn empowers companies to focus on their customers -- driving revenues, increasing earnings per share and share holder value, and providing the technology to achieve world-class Financial Analysis and reporting delivered via the Internet.

The relationship can be especially meaningful to IBM customers who are interested in building an e-business future using seamlessly integrated Financial Analytic applications from a single vendor. Walker's Horizon e-business solution meets the financial analysis enterprise-wide needs of a corporation.

About Walker

Walker Interactive Systems Inc, headquartered in San Francisco, California, is a leading, global provider of e-business solutions for the enterprise. The Walker family of e-business applications and vertical industry solutions, combined with integration and consulting services, is utilized by Global 2000 organizations in industries including banking and financial services, retail, transportation and utilities. Information about Walker is available at www.walker.com or 800-PICK-WALKER.

Contact Erin Kirk of Walker Interactive Systems Inc, 415-243-2865, or ekirk@walker.com.