BroadVision Builds XML Arsenal with Interleaf Acquisition

Broadvision Inc. took steps to expand its wireless development resources Wednesday with the $852 million acquisition of Interleaf Inc., a provider of enterprise-wide software for content management and publishing.

Broadvision (BVSN)
will issue approximately 5.6 million shares of its common stock to pay for
the purchase. The companies expect to close the
transaction by May 31, though it is subject to Interleaf (LEAF)
shareholder approval.

With the acquisition, Broadvision will gain control of Interleaf’s e-content
company, a division dedicated to development, marketing and sale of
eXtensible Markup Language (XML)-based content management tools for Web and
wireless applications.

The use of XML-based wireless applications is growing. GartnerGroup
estimates that by 2003, 80 percent of application-to-application traffic
passing over public networks will be in XML.

BroadVision will combine its One-To-One personalized e-business applications
with Interleaf’s XML-based e-content management tools to create a
comprehensive suite of offerings for companies looking to do business over
the Web and with wireless devices. Features will include the ability to
automate B2B e-commerce through intelligent content as well as faster, less
expensive e-content management, said Pehong Chen, president,
chief executive officer and chairman of BroadVision.

“Through the acquisition of Interleaf, BroadVision will be able to quickly
expand our leadership in delivering
personalized e-business solutions for Web and wireless applications,” said
Chen. “With our combined
customer base of more than 2,500 blue-chip and ‘dot.com’ companies, both
firms have the proven ability to
meet e-business demands for a fast time-to-market, easier integration with
content sources and back-end
systems, and high performance and scalability.”