Citrix Rolls Out Covast for EDI

Access Infrastructure Software Leader Goes "Live" with Covast and Microsoft BizTalk Server to Handle Both EDI and XML Transactions From Its Distributors

ATLANTA and ROTTERDAM -- February 17, 2004 -- Covast, provider of the recommended electronic data interchange (EDI) solution for Microsoft Corp.'s BizTalk Server, today announced that Citrix Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CTXS), the global leader in access infrastructure solutions, is currently rolling out a Covast- and Microsoft-enabled e-commerce initiative to support its global distributor network.

Citrix selected the Covast EDI Accelerator to provide connectivity to its 120 distributors worldwide and to enable the exchange of EDI documents. Designed chiefly to enable Citrix to handle electronic purchase orders from any of its distributors, the system will ultimately process 80 percent of orders placed by distributors and will allow Citrix to send electronic invoices and other documents.

Covast was chosen in the third quarter of 2003 and testing was completed on the Covast and Microsoft solution in late 2003. The system is currently being implemented for Citrix's largest distributor Ingram Micro. All North American distributors will be added to the system over the next 60 days, and international distributors will be added beginning in the second quarter.

"We selected Covast to leverage the value of our existing BizTalk Server infrastructure and because of Covast's unique relationship with Microsoft as the company's recommended EDI solution provider," said John Gardiner, director of business planning at Citrix Systems. "The system will allow us to increase our own productivity as well as that of our distributors. It will also deliver sizable cost savings to our company through greater efficiency."

Citrix engaged in business process reengineering to upgrade its manual process for handling purchase orders. The challenge was to move from receiving orders via fax and email to an all-digital system that enables real-time processing of orders and product shipments.

The Covast EDI Accelerator in conjunction with Microsoft BizTalk Server provides the technical foundation for this all-digital infrastructure, offering both EDI functionality and support for XML transactions. The EDI Accelerator sits on top of Citrix's existing solution for BizTalk Server, which interfaces with its SAP enterprise resource planning solution.

"The worldwide systems integration initiative at Citrix was an ideal application for the Covast EDI Accelerator," said Daan Scheer, CEO of Covast. "Through Covast technology and Microsoft BizTalk Server, Citrix has deployed a first-class EDI platform as well as a complete business-to-business trading environment that will greatly reduce the cost of supporting its distributors on a worldwide basis."

About Covast
Covast provides the Microsoft recommended EDI solution for BizTalk Server. The combination of Microsoft BizTalk Server and the Covast EDI Accelerator delivers the ultimate B2B solution - enabling companies to easily integrate their EDI infrastructures with internal applications and providing a gateway for connecting trading communities. With its European headquarters in the Netherlands and its U.S. headquarters in Atlanta, Covast has strategic relationships with partners and customers including Microsoft, HP, Flextronics, Siemens, Grampian Foods, SMI Steel and Oldcastle. For more information, visit www.covast.com.

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