Exhibit 99.1

Ascential Software Reports Third Quarter Revenue of $45.9 Million with License
Revenue of $22.4 Million

Marks Sixth Consecutive Quarter of Sequential Revenue Growth

Completes Acquisition and Integration of Mercator into Company Operations

Initiates 2004 Guidance

WESTBORO, Mass., October 23, 2003 — Ascential Software Corporation (NASDAQ: ASCL), the enterprise data integration leader, today announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2003.

On a GAAP basis, third quarter 2003 revenue was $45.9 million, up 52 percent from $30.2 million in the third quarter of last year, and up 15 percent from $39.9 million in this year’s second quarter. License revenue was $22.4 million in the third quarter of 2003, up 50 percent from $14.9 million in license revenue reported in the third quarter of 2002, and up 7 percent from $21.0 million in the second quarter. Net loss was $1.7 million, or ($0.03) per share, for the third quarter, compared to a net loss of $16.3 million, or ($0.27) per share, in the third quarter of 2002, and net income of $0.7 million, or $0.01 per share in the second quarter. All share and per share amounts have been retroactively adjusted for the 1-for-4 reverse stock split effected June 17, 2003.

GAAP and pro forma results for the third quarter of 2003 include eighteen days of Mercator Software results since the September 12, 2003 completion of Ascential’s acquisition of that company, as well as related charges and transaction expenses.

On a pro forma basis, as described below, the company realized pro forma net income of $3.7 million, or $0.06 per share, in the third quarter of 2003, compared with a pro forma net loss of $5.7 million, or ($0.09) per share, in the third quarter of 2002, and pro forma net income of $3.0 million, or $0.05 per share in the second quarter this year.

“We are extremely pleased to again report record quarterly revenue since becoming Ascential Software in July 2001, marking our sixth consecutive quarter of sequential revenue growth — even before the contribution of the Mercator acquisition to our business this quarter,” said Peter Gyenes, chairman and chief executive officer. “These results reflect the superior customer value and strong differentiation of our unique and integrated, end-to-end solution for enterprise data integration. The addition of Mercator creates the largest independent enterprise data integration software company, and is yet another “first” in our market as we uniquely provide customers end-to-end data integration solutions for the full spectrum of transactional, operational, and analytical application environments regardless of data source, volume or latency. Activity levels and sales pipeline remain robust, as our expanded customer base and the market in general respond to our increased market presence.”

At September 30, 2003, the company had $524.7 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. The major items affecting cash in the quarter were the payment of $98.0 million for 32.7 million of Mercator shares, and a tax payment of $8.1 million. Excluding these items, the company was cash flow positive. During the fourth quarter the company plans to pay the remaining balance of $11.3 million for the remaining Mercator shares not submitted in the original tender.

Highlights

During the third quarter of 2003, Ascential Software:

• Announced and completed the acquisition of Mercator Software. Mercator’s products provide enhanced transactional data transformation and routing capabilities and leading vertical industry solutions. The combined technologies uniquely allow customers to apply Ascential’s comprehensive data integration platform pervasively, throughout their enterprise, to support transactional, operational and analytical application environments, regardless of data sources, targets, volumes or latency. Ascential Software is now the largest independent software vendor focused exclusively on enterprise data integration with more than 3,000 customers and 900 employees worldwide.

• Signed 44 new customers including: China Unicom, Cooper Industries, Gibralter Insurance, Kellwood Company, Microstrategy, National Life Finance Corporation, Office Depot, Perot Systems, Polk Australia Pty Ltd., Saint-Gobain, Toshiba Industrial Products, the University of Missouri, The University of Texas and Yokohama Bank.

• Expanded business with 189 existing customers including: Acxiom, AIG, Airbus, AT&T, Bank of America, Beckman Coulter, Boeing, Blockbuster, Ingenix, International Paper, J.P. Morgan Chase, Kinkos, McKesson, Munich Reinsurance, Novartis, Pfizer, Rockwell Automation, Safeway, Inc., Sandia National Labs and Towers Perrin.

• Won the Best Enterprise Integration award from Software Business magazine. Ascential was honored at a ceremony in Boston on October 22, 2003 during the Software Business 2003 Conference. The publication wrote that “The Ascential Enterprise Integration Suite is unique in the integration landscape because it provides the only complete, comprehensive data integration solution. Competing solutions overlook data profiling and quality, focusing primarily on transformation ... and no company moves data faster.”

• Was recognized by IDC, one of the industry’s most respected IT analyst firms, in their September 2003 report, “Ascential Introduces QualityStage”, for delivering a unique data matching capability that allows companies to execute successful strategic initiatives in the areas of ERP, CRM, direct marketing campaigns and mergers, with superior results. In a special report, IDC commends Ascential Software’s commitment to a class of technology that they believe will revolutionize the way complex IT problems are approached.

• Engaged in a number of activities with strategic partner IBM, including:

• Building on Ascential’s already strong relationship through support for WebSphere Application Server 5.0. The deployment of Ascential™ Enterprise Integration Suite and Real-Time Integration (RTI) Services with WebSphere delivers advanced technology solutions to power the real-time enterprise. IBM and Ascential together make the real-time enterprise a reality, enabling users to take advantage of reliable, accurate and current information available from anywhere across the enterprise, at any time, further driving their strategic business initiatives.

• In September, the IBM Software Group distributed a major announcement introducing the Ascential Enterprise Integration Suite 7.0 to their global base of

	over 150,000 customers through its iSource Newsletter, the vehicle for introducing new IBM products and services.
•	Delivered an international training program to the IBM sales organizations for Data Management, Websphere, and Business Consulting Services.
•	Joined with the IBM Data Management Group and Meta for a customer event in France to promote the IBM DB2 Information Integrator and the Ascential Enterprise Integration Suite to IBM customers and partners.
•	Established a multi-national procurement agreement enabling IBM’s operations worldwide to purchase Ascential products and services for internal use.

• Teamed with Hewlett Packard to deliver programs for “Driving Business Value with ‘Right-Time’ Integration”. Ascential Software and HP experts explored strategies for leveraging real-time technologies through a pragmatic, cost-effective approach that puts business information where it needs to be exactly when customers need it. Ascential Software calls this “right-time” integration because the delivery of each piece of information is determined by the specific needs of a particular industry, business and process at hand.

• Hosted a special event in conjunction with The Data Warehousing Institute (TDWI) World Conference in August to lead a best practices discussion of one of the greatest challenges and opportunities facing IT organizations today – delivering valuable business information from strategic enterprise applications in “real time.” The Experts Forum featured four customers and was moderated by Maryfran Johnson, editor-in-chief of Computerworld.

• Appointed Mark Register as vice president and chief marketing officer. Mr. Register is responsible for directing and leading the company’s activities in Corporate and Product Marketing, Global Strategic Alliances, and Industry Solutions. Mr. Register joins Ascential from Mercator Software, where he was executive vice president and president, worldwide field operations.

• Was named a ZapThought Leader by industry analyst firm ZapThink for guiding Ascential Software customers in using XML, Web Services, and Service Oriented Architectures (SOA’s) to meet business needs.

• Gained increased visibility by being recognized for enterprise data integration leadership in research reports and notes by several industry analyst firms, including AMR Research, Current Analysis, Gartner, Giga Information Group, IDC, Meta Group, and Ventana Research.

Outlook and Guidance

“Our continuing financial and market share gain is increasing the visibility of our company at a time when CIOs are reassessing their internal integration infrastructures,” said Pete Fiore, president of Ascential Software. “As IT organizations strain under the weight of the one-piece-at-a-time approaches to integration, a significant market opportunity has been created which we

uniquely address with the Ascential Enterprise Integration Suite. The expanded talents, products and resources of Ascential Software provide us with an increased size, scale and market reach from which to serve our expanded customer base and growing market demand.

“During the third quarter, we shipped the Ascential Enterprise Integration Suite 7.0, along with Ascential’s Real-Time Integration (RTI) Services. This offering provides customers with the latest enhancements and expansions to our product suite. With this release, Ascential Software is changing the enterprise data integration landscape and making data integration pervasive by harnessing the benefits of a Services-Oriented Architecture and eliminating concerns about data sources, quality, volumes, and latency. Our customers can now integrate and leverage data across all strategic analytic and enterprise applications — including CRM, ERP, and supply chain management, as well as business-to-business transactional processes — with complete confidence in the accuracy, completeness and timeliness of their critical information.”

The company is currently anticipating fourth quarter revenue in the range of $61 million to $64 million, with GAAP profitability in the quarter on a net income basis toward the higher end of that revenue range. Pro forma profitability is calculated as described in the following paragraph, with the predominant factors detailed as follows: Mercator related transition expenses were approximately $1.2 million in the third quarter, and are anticipated to be approximately $3.5 million in the fourth quarter. Amortization of purchased intangibles and stock-based compensation was approximately $1.6 million in the third quarter, and is anticipated to be approximately $3.0 million in the fourth quarter, reflecting the full quarter effect of the Mercator acquisition. Legacy expenses related to previously divested business operations were approximately $0.3 million in the third quarter, and are anticipated to be approximately $0.3 million to $0.5 million in the third quarter, and are anticipated to be approximately $0.3 million to $0.5 million in the fourth quarter. Merger, realignment and other charges were approximately $1.7 million and write-off of in-process research and development was $2.0 million in the third quarter. These charges are related to the Mercator acquisition and are not anticipated to recur in the fourth quarter. For 2004, the company anticipates revenue in the range of $265 million to $275 million, and anticipates GAAP profitability in each quarter of 2004, barring unforeseen circumstances. Total costs and expenses for 2004 are anticipated to be between $61 million and $64 million per quarter. Included in those costs and expenses are amortization of purchased intangibles and stock-based compensation, estimated at $3.0 million per quarter and legacy expenses related to divested business operations, estimated as less than $0.5 million per quarter. Interest income, based on recent interest rates and expected cash balances, is expected to be approximately $2.3 million per quarter. The tax rate planned for 2004 is 33%.

The company believes that the pro forma results described in this release are useful for an understanding of its ongoing operations because GAAP results include expenses unrelated to the company’s ongoing data integration business, as well as the non-cash charges associated with the amortization of purchased intangibles and stock-based compensation. Management of the company uses these pro forma results to compare the company’s performance to that of prior periods for analysis of trends, and to evaluate the company’s financial strength, develop budgets, manage expenditures, and develop a financial outlook. Pro forma results are supplemental and are not intended as a substitute for GAAP results. Relative to GAAP, pro forma results described in this release exclude the following items, net of associated taxes: amortization of purchased intangibles, such as developed technology and customer lists; amortization of stock-based compensation; a litigation settlement; merger, realignment and other costs primarily related to employee severance and the closure of idle facilities; in-process research and development charges; non-recurring acquisition-related transition expenses; and revenue, expenses and other items related to divested business operations.

Conference Call

Management will host a conference call at 5:00 PM (EST) today to discuss the company’s operating performance and results. The conference call will be broadcast live through a link on

the Investor Relations page on the Ascential web site at www.ascential.com/investors. Please go to the web site at least fifteen minutes prior to the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software.

For those who cannot attend the live broadcast, a replay will be available on the web site at www.ascential.com/investors or by calling (888) 562-6892 beginning about two hours after the call ends.

About Ascential Software

Ascential Software Corporation is the leading provider of enterprise data integration solutions to organizations worldwide. Customers use the Ascential Enterprise Integration Suite to integrate and leverage data across all transactional, operational, and analytical applications with confidence in the accuracy, completeness and timeliness of critical information. Ascential Software’s powerful data profiling, data quality, data transformation, parallel processing, meta data and connectivity solutions enable customers to reduce total cost of ownership and increase return on IT investment. Headquartered in Westboro, Mass., Ascential Software has offices worldwide and supports more than 3,000 customers in such industries as financial services, telecommunications, healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, consumer goods, retail, and government. More information on Ascential Software can be found on the web at www.ascential.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This public announcement contains forward-looking statements that are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements address a variety of subjects including, for example, revenue growth; customer value; technology differentiation; activity levels and sales pipeline; market validation; increased market presence and visibility; payment of the remaining balance for the remaining Mercator shares; market opportunity of integration infrastructure; expanded customer base and growing market demand; changes to the enterprise data integration landscape; increased presence of data integration through the harnessing of the benefits of a Service Oriented Architecture and elimination of concerns about data sources, quality, volumes and latency; ability of customers to integrate and leverage data; growth of the enterprise data integration market and the company’s unique position therein; seasonality; the functionality, characteristics, quality and performance capabilities of Ascential Software’s products and technology; results achievable and benefits attainable through deployment of Ascential Software’s products; anticipated innovation and product development; reduction in total cost of ownership for customers and return on IT investment; profitability; costs and expenses; interest income; 2004 tax rates; and the usefulness of pro forma results. Any statements contained in this public announcement, including without limitation statements to the effect that the company or its management “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “projects,” “continues,” “intends” or “estimates,” or statements concerning “potential” or “opportunity” or other variations thereof or comparable terminology or the negative thereof that are not statements of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results and events materially to differ for historical or anticipated results and events. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements: the closing of the company’s books and customary quarter-end accounting procedures; the ability of Ascential Software to expand its market share; growth rates for the enterprise data integration software market; general business conditions in the software industry, the technology sector, and in the domestic and international economies; rapid technological change in the markets served by Ascential Software; dependence on international operations; global and geopolitical instability; and difficulties that Ascential Software may experience integrating technologies, operations and personnel of completed or future acquisitions, including the recent acquisition of Mercator Software, Inc. The financial measures discussed in this press release also involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to final audited results for the period or periods covered. Investors and potential investors should review carefully the description of risks and uncertainties that, together with other detailed information about the company, is contained in the periodic reports that the company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company’s most recent Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements and financial measures contained herein represent the judgment of Ascential Software, as of the date of this release, and Ascential Software disclaims any intent or obligation to update such forward-looking statements to reflect any change in Ascential’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, and circumstances on which such statements are based.

© 2003 Ascential Software Corporation. All rights reserved. Ascential is a trademark of Ascential Software Corporation or its affiliates and may be registered in the United States or other jurisdictions. Other marks are the property of the owners of those marks.

For more information, contact:

Chas Kielt Ascential Software Corporation (508) 366-3888 x3256 chas.kielt@ascential.com	David Roy Ascential Software Corporation (508) 366-3888 x3290 david.roy@ascential.com
Jeff Aubin Beaupre & Co. Public Relations (603) 559-5838 jaubin@beaupre.com	Stephanie Prince/Julie Prozeller Financial Dynamics (212) 850-5600 sprince@fd-us.com jprozeller@fd-us.com

Page 1

ASCENTIAL SOFTWARE CORPORATION
PRO FORMA UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (1)
(In thousands, except per share data)

			Three Months Ended September 30, 2003
			Total			Transaction			Other Pro
			Consolidated			& Transition			Forma			Pro Forma
			GAAP			Expense (2)			Adjustments (3)			Adjusted (4)
NET REVENUES
		Licenses	$	22,353		$	—		$	—		$	22,353
		Services		23,536			—			—			23,536
				45,889			—			—			45,889
COSTS AND EXPENSES
		Cost of licenses		3,874			—			(1,210	)		2,664
		Cost of services		10,331			(53	)		(160	)		10,118
		Sales and marketing		19,531			(732	)		(97	)		18,702
		Research and development		6,834			(349	)		—			6,485
		General and administrative		6,472			(451	)		(88	)		5,933
		Merger, realignment and other charges		1,654			(1,654	)		—			—
		In-process research and development		2,000			—			(2,000	)		—
				50,696			(3,239	)		(3,555	)		43,902
Operating income (loss)				(4,807	)		3,239			3,555			1,987
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
	Interest income			2,719			—			—			2,719
	Interest expense			(58	)		—			—			(58	)
	Other, net			576			—			—			576
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES				(1,570	)		3,239			3,555			5,224
	Income tax expense (benefit)			129			972			467			1,568
NET INCOME (LOSS)			$	(1,699	)	$	2,267		$	3,088		$	3,656
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
		Basic	$	(0.03	)							$	0.06
		Diluted	$	(0.03	)							$	0.06
SHARES USED IN PER SHARE CALCULATIONS
		Basic		58,195									58,195
		Diluted		58,195									59,946

(1)	See Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations on a following page of this release. Pro forma presentation is not intended to replace GAAP presentation. Pro forma measures are calculated in the manner described in this release.
(2)	Pro forma adjustments in this column include a) $1.7 million of merger, realignment and other charges consisting of severance and adjustments to reserves for vacated real estate for the consolidation of Ascential offices associated with the Mercator Acqusition, b) $1.2 million of transition expenses related to the Mercator Acquisition, and c) legacy expenses associated with divested business operations. The adjustments in this column also include the effect of an estimated associated tax benefit based on the effective tax rate.
(3)	Other pro forma adjustments consist of a) the write off of in process research and development costs related to the Mercator Acquisition, and b) $1.2 million, $0.2 million, $0.1 million, and $0.1 million of purchased intangible amortization recorded to cost of licenses, cost of services, selling and marketing, and general and administrative costs, respectively, and these estimated associated tax benefit of these adjustments based on the effective tax rate.
(4)	On September 12, 2003, we acquired Mercator Software. During the third quarter, subsequent to the acquisition date, Mercator contributed $2.2 million of license revenue, $2.7 million of services revenue, $4.1 million of costs and expenses, resulting in $0.8 million of operating income, $0.4 million of net income, and $0.01 of net income per common share (diluted). These results are included in this column.

Page 2

ASCENTIAL SOFTWARE CORPORATION
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (GAAP)(1)
(In thousands, except per share data)

		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2003			2002			2003			2002
NET REVENUES
	Licenses	$	22,353		$	14,897		$	62,539		$	40,764
	Services		23,536			15,315			58,575			38,203
			45,889			30,212			121,114			78,967
COSTS AND EXPENSES
	Cost of licenses		3,874			3,675			10,828			14,745
	Cost of services		10,331			9,064			26,406			25,641
	Sales and marketing		19,531			18,298			53,075			57,229
	Research and development		6,834			6,170			17,714			19,277
	General and administrative		6,472			8,773			19,843			31,307
	Merger, realignment and other charges (2)		1,654			7,704			2,086			19,370
	Write-off of acquired in-process research and development		2,000			—			2,000			1,170
			50,696			53,684			131,952			168,739
Operating loss			(4,807	)		(23,472	)		(10,838	)		(89,772	)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
	Interest income		2,719			4,100			8,934			15,561
	Interest expense		(58	)		(39	)		(88	)		(78	)
	Adjustment to gain on sale of database business		—			(1,394	)		—			6,240
	Litigation settlement income		—			—			—			3,127
	Other, net		576			(872	)		652			(3,070	)
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES			(1,570	)		(21,677	)		(1,340	)		(67,992	)
	Income tax expense (benefit)		129			(5,420	)		198			(14,587	)
NET INCOME (LOSS)		$	(1,699	)	$	(16,257	)	$	(1,538	)	$	(53,405	)
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE (3)
	Basic	$	(0.03	)	$	(0.27	)	$	(0.03	)	$	(0.85	)
	Diluted	$	(0.03	)	$	(0.27	)	$	(0.03	)	$	(0.85	)
SHARES USED IN PER SHARE CALCULATIONS (3)
	Basic		58,195			61,330			58,028			62,842
	Diluted		58,195			61,330			58,028			62,842

(1)	See pro forma results of operations and related reconciliations to GAAP results for the three months ended September 30, 2003 on a prior page of this release and reconciliation between GAAP and pro forma results for the three months ended September 30, 2002 on a subsequent page of this release
(2)	Merger, realignment and other charges principally include severance and real estate costs related to the consolidation or elimination of offices. These costs are the result of a realignment of the business due to business combinations, a sale of a business or the termination of a product line.
(3)	On June 17, 2003 the Company effected a 1-for-4 reverse stock split. Accordingly, all share and earnings per share figures have been restated as though the reverse split was in effect for all periods presented.

Page 3

ASCENTIAL SOFTWARE CORPORATION
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)

		September 30, 2003		December 31, 2002
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	303,344	$	216,551
	Short-term investments		221,383		288,199
	Accounts receivable, net		38,767		27,112
	Receivable on sale of database business		—		109,200
	Other current assets		13,596		31,136
Total current assets			577,090		672,198
Property and equipment net			11,358		5,427
Software costs, net			14,502		14,124
Long-term investments			2,031		966
Goodwill and Intangible assets, net			350,853		173,740
Deferred income taxes			29,789		28,515
Other assets			10,527		11,280
Total Assets		$	996,150	$	906,250
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
	Accounts payable	$	12,930	$	8,136
	Accrued expenses		69,379		23,137
	Accrued employee compensation		19,904		14,861
	Income taxes payable		79,313		98,916
	Accrued merger, realignment and other charges		10,023		15,698
	Deferred income taxes		32,235		33,171
	Deferred revenue		43,021		17,666
	Other current liabilities		14,483		479
Total current liabilities			281,288		212,064
Lease Obligations			665		—
Total Liabilities			281,953		212,064
Total Stockholders’ Equity			714,197		694,186
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity		$	996,150	$	906,250

Page 4

ASCENTIAL SOFTWARE CORPORATION
SELECTED UNAUDITED REVENUE HISTORY
(In millions)

													Total								(1)
		Q1 2002			Q2 2002		Q3 2002			Q4 2002			2002			Q1 2003		Q2 2003			Q3 2003
LICENSE REVENUE:
	Data Integration	$	10.7		$	15.1	$	14.9		$	18.8		$	59.5		$	19.2	$	21.0		$	22.3
	Content Management		0.1			—		—			0.1			0.1			—		—			—
Total			10.8			15.1		14.9			18.9			59.6			19.2		21.0			22.3
SERVICES REVENUE:
	Data Integration		9.3			12.5		15.1			15.1			52.0			16.0		18.8			23.6
	Content Management		0.7			0.4		0.2			0.1			1.4			0.1		0.1			—
Total			10.0			12.9		15.3			15.2			53.4			16.1		18.9			23.6
TOTAL:
	Data Integration		20.0			27.6		30.0			33.9			111.5			35.2		39.8			45.9
	Content Management		0.8			0.4		0.2			0.2			1.5			0.1		0.1			—
Total		$	20.8		$	28.0	$	30.2		$	34.1		$	113.0		$	35.3	$	39.9		$	45.9
% of revenue from 10% customers in the period			11	%		—		11	%		16	%		11	%		—		13	%		—

(1) Includes Mercator license revenue of $2.2 million, and services revenue of $2.7 million for the period from the date of acquisition, September 12, 2003, through September 30, 2003.

Page 5

ASCENTIAL SOFTWARE CORPORATION
PRO FORMA UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (1)
(In thousands, except per share data)

		Three months ended June 30, 2003
		Total GAAP			Pro Forma			Pro Forma
		Consolidated			Adjustments (2)			Adjusted
NET REVENUES
	Licenses	$	21,016		$	—		$	21,016
	Services		18,913			(81	)		18,832
			39,929			(81	)		39,848
COSTS AND EXPENSES
	Cost of licenses		3,353			(1,113	)		2,240
	Cost of services		8,828			(243	)		8,585
	Sales and marketing		16,849			—			16,849
	Research and development		5,510			—			5,510
	General and administrative		6,962			(1,583	)		5,379
	Merger, realignment and other costs		432			(432	)		—
			41,934			(3,371	)		38,563
Operating income (loss)			(2,005	)		3,290			1,285
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
	Interest income		2,903			—			2,903
	Interest expense		(7	)		—			(7	)
	Other, net		102			—			102
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES			993			3,290			4,283
	Income tax expense		298			987			1,285
NET INCOME		$	695		$	2,303		$	2,998
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE (3)
	Basic	$	0.01					$	0.05
	Diluted	$	0.01					$	0.05
SHARES USED IN PER SHARE CALCULATIONS (3)
	Basic		58,009						58,009
	Diluted		59,059						59,059

(1) Pro forma presentation is not intended to replace GAAP presentation. Pro forma measures are calculated in the manner described in this release.

(2) Pro forma adjustments represent:

— revenue and expenses associated with the remaining service obligations under content management customer contracts including $81 in services revenue, $83 in cost of services and $24 of general and administrative costs. The content management product line was terminated during the second quarter of 2002.

— amortization of purchased intangibles including technology and customer lists consisting of $1,113 in cost of software and $160 in cost of services.

— general and administrative costs totaling $434 associated with the Informix database business sold to IBM in the third quarter of 2001; comprised primarily of dispute resolution costs and administrative costs associated with the closure of idle database operations.

— general and administrative costs totaling $1,125 related to the settlement of litigation during the quarter.

— merger, realignment and other costs totaling $432 for adjustments to reserves for vacated real estate.

— the estimated tax benefit of $987 associated with the above adjustments based upon the effective tax rate.

(3) On June 17, 2003 the Company effected a 1-for-4 reverse stock split. Accordingly, all share and earnings per share figures have been restated as though the reverse split was in effect for all periods presented.

Page 6

ASCENTIAL SOFTWARE CORPORATION
PRO FORMA UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (1)
(In thousands, except per share data)

			Three Months Ended September 30, 2002
						Results of
						Content			Database			Adjustments
			Total			Management			Transaction			for GAAP			Pro Forma
			Consolidated			Product Line			& Transition			Reporting			Continuing
			GAAP			(2)			(3)			Purposes (4)			Operations
NET REVENUES
	Licenses		$	14,897		$	(34	)	$	—		$	—		$	14,863
	Services			15,315			(175	)		—			—			15,140
				30,212			(209	)		—			—			30,003
COSTS AND EXPENSES
	Cost of software			3,675			(7	)		—			(1,113	)		2,555
	Cost of services			9,064			(725	)		—			(160	)		8,179
	Sales and marketing			18,298			—			—			—			18,298
	Research and development			6,170			(178	)		—			—			5,992
	General and administrative			8,773			(370	)		(2,503	)		(72	)		5,828
		Merger, realignment and other charges (5)		7,704			—			—			(7,704	)		—
				53,684			(1,280	)		(2,503	)		(9,049	)		40,852
Operating loss				(23,472	)		1,071			2,503			9,049			(10,849	)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
	Interest income			4,100			—			—			—			4,100
	Interest expense			(39	)		—			—			—			(39	)
	Adjustment to gain on sale of database business			(1,394	)		—			1,394			—			—
	Other, net			(872	)		—			—			—			(872	)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES, excluding charges, related tax benefit and amortization of purchased intangibles				(21,677	)		1,071			3,897			9,049			(7,660	)
	Income tax expense(benefit)			(5,420	)		268			974			2,263			(1,915	)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS, excluding charges and related tax benefit and amortization of purchased intangibles			$	(16,257	)	$	803		$	2,923		$	6,786		$	(5,745	)
LOSS PER COMMON SHARE: (6)
	Excluding charges and related tax benefit and amortization of purchased intangibles		$	(0.27	)										$	(0.09	)
NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE (6)
	Basic and Diluted		$	(0.27	)										$	(0.17	)
SHARES USED IN PER SHARE CALCULATIONS
	Excluding charges			61,330												61,330
	Basic and diluted			61,330												61,330

(1)	Pro forma presentation is not intended to replace GAAP presentation. Pro forma measures are calculated in the manner described in this release.
(2)	Operating results in this column include revenue and expenses associated with the content management product line which was discontinued during the second quarter of 2002.
(3)	Operating results in this column include expenses associated with the database business sold to IBM during the third quarter of 2001, and is comprised primarily of litigation settlements, adjustments to real estate reserves and administrative costs associated with the closure of idle database operations.
(4)	In addition to the revenue and expenses associated with the content management and database operations, reconciling items between pro forma presentation and GAAP presentation are comprised of amortization of purchased intangibles and merger, realignment and other costs.
(5)	Merger, realignment and other charges consist of severance and facilities charges associated with the third quarter 2002 realignment, adjustments to real estate reserves and write off of fixed assets associated with the sale of the database business to IBM, and additional severance and legal settlements associated with the content management product line that was discontinued during the second quarter of 2002.
(6)	On June 17, 2003 the Company effected a 1-for-4 reverse stock split. Accordingly, all share and earnings per share figures have been restated as though the reverse split was in effect for all periods presented.