Citadon Forms Strategic Business Alliance With PricewaterhouseCoopers to Deliver Integrated Solutions for Engineering and Construction Industry


SAN FRANCISCO, March 7, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) --


   Alliance Enables Deployment of Integrated Solutions for the Design,
     Construction and Operation of Capital Projects in the Power,
            Oil and Gas, Process Plant and Transportation
                      Infrastructure Markets

Citadon, Inc., the leading provider of online software solutions for collaboration on the design, construction and operation of large, complex capital projects, announced today that they have formed a strategic business alliance with PricewaterhouseCoopers' Engineering and Construction Management Consulting Practice. PwC's Engineering and Construction practice will be a preferred systems integration partner to enterprise clients wanting to take advantage of Citadon's extensive application programming interfaces.

The alliance will focus on developing integrated software solutions that address the needs of enterprises with capital works programs involving complex engineering and construction projects. The partnership is an extension to the services offered by Citadon's Professional Consulting & Educational Services Group.

PwC will provide services to integrate Citadon's solutions with other enterprise software applications, such as ERP, cost and asset management systems, supply chain management and procurement systems. System integration efforts will include consulting related to software development, technology architecture, alignment with business processes and recommendations on middleware and technology solutions. The strategic alliance will combine the industry expertise of PwC's professionals with Citadon's industry leading online collaboration technology to help companies transform themselves and their industries in the pursuit of competitive advantage and economic value.

"Program management is a critical discipline for our clients and we are always looking for tools to facilitate the process for them. Upon review of project management tools currently on the market, we chose Citadon as a partner as it offers a solution that focuses on the owner's perspective, providing an integrated approach to collaboration to support timely and accurate decision-making," said Evandro Braz, partner-in-charge of PwC's Engineering and Construction Management Consulting Practice. "Citadon CW provides owners with an open architecture that allows for integration to enterprise systems thereby facilitating an enterprise approach to collaboration."

"PwC's expertise in building integrated solutions, combined with Citadon CW, our new next generation software solution that has been built from the ground up using extensive XML/SOAP-based application programming interfaces, will allow our clients to leverage their investments in their enterprise applications across the entire facility lifecycle" said Bernard Fried, Citadon's President and CEO. "Our alliance with PwC is a significant part of our strategy to deliver integrated solutions to the power, oil and gas, process plant and transportation infrastructure industries."

Since 1997, Citadon has developed web-native applications that leverage the Internet by allowing geographically dispersed teams to communicate and collaborate via secure shared project workspaces. Citadon recently introduced Citadon CW, its next generation software solution that has been designed with direct input from a number of existing customers and is based on the cumulative experience of over five years of helping companies manage their projects online.

About PricewaterhouseCoopers' Engineering and Construction Practice

The Management Consulting Services practice of PwC Consulting, a business of PricewaterhouseCoopers, helps clients maximize their business performance by integrating strategic change, process improvement and information technology solutions with an e-business focus. Through a worldwide network of skills and resources, consultants manage complex projects with global capabilities and local knowledge, from strategy through implementation. PwC Consulting (www.pwcglobal.com) is the world's largest professional services organization. Drawing on the knowledge and skills of more than 150,000 people in 150 countries, the firm helps its clients solve complex business problems and measurably enhance their ability to build value, manage risk and improve performance in an Internet-enabled world.

The PwC Consulting Engineering and Construction Practice advises engineering and construction firms and project owners in strategic, operational and technological facets of business and management. Through our deep industry experience we understand the fundamental issues driving change in the engineering and construction industry, which create the complexities faced by project owners and contractors. We provide the thought leadership, world-class management practices and the latest technology necessary to turn today's challenges into tomorrow's successes.

Our consultants identify, develop and install the tools, techniques and processes, including e-solution sets that project team members, whether architect, engineer, vendor, contractor or owner require to collaborate and build the project within budget and on schedule. Solution sets include our Construction Program Diagnostic, Construction Auditing, Construction Technology integration and implementation and Facilities Management reviews.

About Citadon

Citadon provides an online software solution for collaboration on the design, construction and operation of large, complex capital projects. Citadon's solution automates and streamlines business processes and communications within and across enterprises, resulting in reduced project risk, shorten project schedules and reduced overall project cost. Headquartered in San Francisco, Citadon's application services are currently being utilized in over 30 countries, by more than 30,000 active subscribers on projects with construction values in excess of $120 billion.

Current Citadon customers include owners such as Unocal, Alcoa, Duke Energy and Constellation Power and engineering and construction firms such as Bechtel, Fluor, Odebrecht, URS/O'Brien Kreitzberg, Halliburton and GE Power Systems. Citadon is represented throughout Asia by IcFox International and in the UK by Bidcom Ltd. Citadon is privately held. For more information about Citadon, go to www.citadon.com or call (415) 882-1888.


            

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