Ascential Software Helps H.B. Fuller Advance Demand-Driven Supply Networks Single View of Data from Ascential Software Solution Promotes Improved Purchasing Decisions and Stronger Relationships with Suppliers WESTBORO, Mass., Nov. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ascential Software Corporation (NASDAQ:ASCL), the enterprise data integration leader, today announced that H.B. Fuller Company has standardized on Ascential Software's data transformation solution for enterprise data integration, to gain a single view of its business and enhance supply chain visibility. The manufacturer of adhesives, sealants, coatings, paints and other specialty chemical products is using Ascential DataStage(TM) to power data warehousing projects across the enterprise, providing H.B. Fuller with the accurate, on-time information required to effectively improve supply chain management, including the demand- driven manufacturing process. H.B. Fuller uses Ascential DataStage to access, transform and load data from disparate inventory and customer information sources into its enterprise data warehouse. Executives use the information for sales status, raw material forecasting, budget consolidation, and anticipation of price changes and inventory requirements to suppliers. By integrating both internal and third party data to develop a single view of supplier and product data, the company is able to lower operational costs, maximize profitability and gain a competitive advantage. In addition, the Ascential Software solution gives H.B. Fuller a basis for certainty in making business decisions. H.B. Fuller has also utilized the data integration solution for its internal Lean Six Sigma program that focuses on process improvement. Lean Six Sigma is a rigorous and disciplined methodology that uses data and statistical analysis to measure and improve a company's operational performance by identifying and eliminating inefficient or non value added processes. "As we continue to expand our operations globally, the need for a unified view of data becomes critical for our supply chain- and customer service- oriented processes," said Brian Sjoquist, director, Enterprise Data Management and Customer Solutions, H.B. Fuller. "With Ascential DataStage, we have been able to overcome the challenges and complexity of working with multiple data formats and standardize on data in an efficient way. Also, with the Ascential Software solution we have been able to identify trends, such as the top 20 customers, the top sales personnel and areas where sales needs to become more aggressive. Prior to using Ascential DataStage, we needed to access 20 separate databases to compile these statistics." "Manufacturers such as H.B. Fuller face intense global competition, constant pressures on revenues and profits, and the need to bring innovative products to market in as short a time as possible," said Thracy Varvoglis, executive director of industry solutions at Ascential Software. "With more than 500 manufacturing companies using Ascential Software enterprise data integration solutions, we are continuing to find ways to help manufacturers optimize material sourcing, inventory control, demand forecasting and other key supply chain processes." Ascential DataStage, a core component of Ascential Enterprise Integration Suite(TM), enables companies to tightly integrate enterprise information, regardless of the sources, targets and timeframes. Whether an organization is building an enterprise data warehouse to support the information needs of the entire company, building a "real-time" data warehouse, or integrating multiple source systems to support strategic business systems such as CRM, SCM, ERP, BI/analytics, and e-business, Ascential DataStage helps ensure the success of enterprise data integration initiatives. About H.B. Fuller H.B. Fuller Company is a worldwide manufacturer and marketer of adhesives, sealants, coatings, paints and other specialty chemical products, with fiscal 2003 net sales of $1.287 billion. Common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol FUL. For more information about the company, visit the Web site at: http://www.hbfuller.com/. About Ascential Software Ascential Software Corporation (NASDAQ:ASCL) is the leader in enterprise data integration. Customers and partners worldwide use the Ascential Enterprise Integration Suite to confidently transform data into accurate, reliable and complete business information to improve operational performance and decision-making across every critical business dimension. Our comprehensive end-to-end solutions provide on demand data integration complemented by our professional services, industry expertise, and methodologies. Ascential Software is headquartered in Westboro, Mass., and has more than 3,000 customers and partners globally across such industries as financial services and banking, insurance, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, consumer packaged goods, telecommunications and government. For more information call 1-800-966-9875 (508-366.3888 if calling from outside the US or Canada) or visit the Ascential Software website at http://www.ascential.com/. Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations or beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions about future events, and these statements are subject to important factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this release address a variety of subjects including, for example, the functionality, characteristics, quality and performance capabilities of Ascential Software's products and technology; results achievable and benefits attainable through deployment of Ascential Software's products and provision of services; and improvements in operational performance and decision-making. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements: the ability of the company to expand its market share; growth rates for the enterprise data integration software market; general business conditions in the software industry, the technology sector, and in the domestic and international economies; rapid technological change in the markets served by the company; dependence on international operations; global and geopolitical instability; compliance costs associated with regulations to which the company is subject, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and the impact of such regulations; and difficulties that the company may experience integrating technologies, operations and personnel of completed or future acquisitions. For a detailed discussion of these and other cautionary statements, please refer to the filings made by Ascential Software with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, the most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Ascential Software disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements made herein to reflect any change in Ascential Software's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which such statements are based. Ascential Software is not responsible for statements attributed to third parties within this release or in any materials referenced herein. Partnerships described herein shall be deemed to be strategic alliances only, and shall not imply the power of either partner to bind the other partner or to incur obligations on behalf of the other partner. All rights reserved. Ascential, Ascential DataStage and Ascential Enterprise Integration Suite are trademarks of Ascential Software Corporation or its affiliates and may be registered in the United States or other jurisdictions. Other marks are the property of the owners of those marks. DATASOURCE: Ascential Software Corporation CONTACT: Chas Kielt of Ascential Software Corporation, +1-508-599-7256, ; or Mary Keith of Porter Novelli, +1-617-897-8281, Web site: http://www.ascentialsoftware.com/ http://www.hbfuller.com/

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