SPE.L Regulatory News (SPE)

16 Dec 2005 07:00

Embargoed Release: 07:00hrs Friday 16 December 2005 SOPHEON PLC DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT SIGNED FOR SALE OF LESSENGER BUSINESS Sopheon plc ("Sopheon"), the international provider of software and servicesthat improve the financial return from innovation and product developmentinvestments, announces that it has concluded a definitive agreement to sell itsLessenger business to Mavim B.V. of Noordwijk, The Netherlands. The Lessengerbusiness provides hospital laboratory management software to approximately 70customers based in the Netherlands, and accounted for approximately 2% ofSopheon's 2004 consolidated revenues.The divestment is consistent with Sopheon's concentration on its flagshipAccolade platform. This includes continued focus on the Dutch healthcaremarket, where Accolade is being used to address needs in areas such asmanagement of hospital protocols, clinical trials and innovation. As announcedpreviously, Sopheon is actively considering how to apply these solutions to theUS market.Sopheon's Chairman, Barry Mence said:"Today's announcementfurtherunderpins our continuing focusand belief inAccolade. As the year end approaches we areconcentratingalleffortson closingnew Accoladebusinessand delivering on closed orders, while concluding ourplanning for 2006 and beyond. Our divestment of Lessenger makes strategic sensefor Sopheon, and also for Lessenger's customers. We believe they will be wellserved by Mavim, who are committed to the laboratory market and to continuedinvestmentin the solution."For further information contact:Barry Mence, Chairman Sopheon plc Tel : + 44 (0) 1483 685735 Arif Karimjee, CFO Adam Reynolds Hansard Communications Tel : + 44 (0) 207 245 1100 Andrew Tan + 44 (0) 7957 203 685 Floor Van Maaren Citigate First Financial Tel : + 31 (0) 205 754 010About SopheonSopheon (LSE:SPE) is an international provider of software and services.Sopheon's Accolade‚® product development system automates gate- or phase-basedproduct development (PD) processes and provides strategic decision support thatallows companies to improve innovation, cut product development spending wasteand shorten time to market. Sopheon's Monitor software operates as a "readingrobot" that monitors, filters, analyzes and pushes relevant content tohealthcare and engineering professionals to enable effective compliance withprotocols, standards and regulations. Sopheon is listed on the AIM market ofthe London Stock Exchange and on the Euronext in the Netherlands. For moreinformation, please visit www.sopheon.com. ENDSOPHEON PLC