News - Shell Services International (Japan) Ltd and Dash Optimization enter into Technology Agreement

18 July 2002

Shell Services International (Japan) Ltd (SSI Japan) and Dash Optimization (Dash) are pleased to announce that they have entered into an agreement whereby SSI Japan will use Xpress-MP optimization software as the basis for new value-added services, products and solutions to customers in Japan.

SSI Japan has gained considerable experience in enterprise level software projects and services through its long and successful relationship with Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. In addition SSI Japan has several years of experience working with Xpress-MP, and is now offering its optimization experience to other customers in a variety of industries including manufacturing, process, telecommunications and the Internet.

In support of this and other agreements with consultants, OEM's and end-users, Dash has underlined its commitment to the Japanese market by opening an office, which is now responsible for sales, marketing and support in Japan, and product localization.

Both SSI Japan and Dash see great potential for optimization within the World's second largest economy. The Japanese market for enterprise software lags behind the US and Western Europe, but given the size of the Japanese economy, it will have to grow fast in order to catch up over the next few years. The same is true for optimization software, which has become an essential element of any enterprise software solution.

"We believe that services and solutions incorporating optimization present an excellent growth opportunity for SSI Japan", said Satoshi Goto, President of SSI Japan. "We have a long experience of working with Dash and look forward to further success in the future."

"We are confident that SSI Japan will be successful in this venture", said Alan Dormer, Director of Dash Optimization. "We wish them every success. We both look forward to the opportunities presented by the optimization market in Japan.'

About Shell Services International (Japan) Ltd

SSI Japan is a wholly owned company of Shell Information Technology International Holdings B.V. and is a member of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group's IT for Shell community. The company is located in Tokyo, Japan. SSI Japan's major customers are the Royal Dutch/Shell Group companies and their affiliates in Japan, including Showa Shell Sekiyu Kabushiki Kaisha.

Major business lines include systems integration especially in the areas of SAP consultancy and implementation, eBusiness, retail business applications, and security. The company is also involved in providing value added IT related business consultancy to clients.

For more information about SSI Japan, please refer to www.shell.co.jp under Products and Services.

For Dash Japan, please contact Hiroshi Kurono, telephone +81 43 297 8836, email hiroshi.kurono@jp.dashoptimization.com.