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3 June 2005

Business & Decision announced the acquisition of a majority share in Métaphora, a consultancy company specialising in change relating to the implementation of new IT platforms.

Métaphora positively impacts various stages in the data processing lifecycle: human factors (particularly end-user interfaces), functional performance (ensuring data processing tools are capable of meeting future requirements), user requirements (defining requirements, improving communications, providing documentation, assisting help-desks, implementing changes at base-level, etc.) communication (ensuring that MIS strategy is communicated to relevant users with accompanying documentation).

“Business & Decision have the capability of assisting organisations throughout all phases of their data projects” commented Patrick Bensabat, Chairman, Business & Decision. “With the additional expertise that Métaphora bring, the Business & Decision Group can offer a more comprehensive solution to ensure the success of data projects. With a change management offering, it is possible for us to support appropriate new projects for end users and ensures data management applications are better utilised.”

This acquisition enables Business & Decision to strengthen its position as a leading consultancy organisation and to expand its offering to large enterprises beyond that of financial management (e.g. internal audits, risk management, market process management, etc.).

Created in 1995 and with offices throughout France (Lille, Paris and Toulouse), Métaphora recorded a sales turnover of €3.2m for 2004 (to 31 December), an increase of 9% compared to the previous year. This represents a net income of €0.1m, an increase of 42%. The company, which has approximately 30 employees, has implemented more than 1,200 projects at 150 customer sites including: Arcelor, Airbus, Axa, Bonduelle, Boulangeries Paul, CCF-HSBC, Cegetel, Cnam, Cnes, Dalkia, Fnac, Galeries Lafayette, Gras Savoye, Vauban Group, La Redoute, Le Monde, The Ministry of Agriculture and Safran-Snecma.

The Founder and Chairman of Métaphora, Jean-François Galloüin (44 years old, holder of a data-processing DEA and Master of Cognitive Psychology from Carnegie Mellon University) and Patricia Sebbag, General Director, (41 years old, holder of a DESS in Political Sciences), have been named as Directors within the Business & Decision Group, where they will be in charge of change management and the communication with users of management information systems. For more information visit: www.metaphora.com.