Blue Fox Partners with Microsoft for Vertical Text

Dordrecht The Netherlands, December 20, 2005--Blue Fox Enterprises N.V., has signed an agreement with Microsoft to develop a solution for the vertical industry segment “Textile and Apparel,” as part of the Microsoft Industry Builder Initiative. Blue Fox will develop this solution based on its 37 years know-how from its existing Porini product line and will integrate the solution in Microsoft Dynamics Ax, previously called Axapta. Microsoft is partnering with Blue Fox because it is the first and only company in the world offering global-integrated software solutions for the Textile & Apparel industry, from design up to integrated production management and control. Blue Fox expects to deliver a first release of the new Axapta-based solution in the fourth quarter of 2006. Blue Fox expects to finance the development from its own sources, with serious revenues coming in during 2007. Blue Fox will maintain its existing IBM-based platform, but will also offer existing ERP customers a smooth transition to the Microsoft Axapta platform. Sjoerd Eisma, CEO of Blue Fox, said that this agreement is very important for Blue Fox to accomplish its goal to be able to supply Blue Fox solutions to every textile and apparel company in the world. “We are partnering with Microsoft because Microsoft has a clear strategy to supply the best vertical ERP-solutions with the lowest total cost of ownership. The customers know that they will buy from one source with Microsoft backing the full solution. Our industry is ready for that kind of approach.” Craig McCollum, vice president of sales strategy for Microsoft Business Solutions at Microsoft, said that the Industry Builder initiative offers proof of Microsoft’s commitment to working closely with its worldwide network of partners to deliver innovative business applications. “By combining the incredibly deep industry expertise of our solution partners like Blue Fox with Microsoft’s innovative business applications, support plans, and research and development capabilities, we are delivering a winning group of solutions for our mutual customers,” McCollum said. “We’ve listened closely to our customers, identified unmet needs and delivered solutions that meet them.” The "Industry Builder Initiative" is a structured program in which Microsoft partners with select independent software vendors (ISVs) to deliver complete, top-quality solutions that meet the needs of specific industries. Microsoft-Axapta industry solutions developed through the Industry Builder Initiative meet Microsoft's strict quality standards and are packaged with a Microsoft customer support offering. This initiative guidelines help meet the following critical needs to ensure that Microsoft Axapta is a sound IT investment for specific industries: • Reliable solution providers: To meet the high standards of Microsoft's customers around the world, ISVs that partner with Microsoft are required to demonstrate overall business stability and fiscal accountability, a solution-development process that uses best practices, and readiness in providing global support. • Quality, compliant code: Industry-builder applications delivered by ISV’s must also pass a Microsoft review for code quality standards. Microsoft Axapta Industry Builder solutions are compliant with quality specifications created by Microsoft development and quality assurance staff. By working closely with Microsoft as part of the Industry Builder initiative, the Industry Builder ISV’s closely follow the Microsoft development path. • Single point of contact for support: With the Industry Builder initiative, customers can have a single point of contact for support of their core Microsoft Axapta solution and the ISV-provided industry functionality. Blue Fox is the first and only provider of complete, integrated software solutions for the textile & apparel industry.

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