Persbericht

5 maart, 2008

T-Systems en Cognizant breiden samen hun werkgebied uit Eerste systeemintegratieovereenkomst die Europese bedrijven wereldwijd bedient

T-Systems, de zakelijke klantdivisie van Deutsche Telekom, en wereldwijd IT-dienstverlener Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) kondigen vandaag aan dat zij een systeemintegratieovereenkomst zijn aangegaan. De overeenkomst is in eerste instantie gericht op het bedienen van Europese bedrijven die wereldwijd systeemintegratiediensten nodig hebben. Dit unieke partnerschap - tussen een wereldwijde IT-organisatie en een Europese gigant - maakt het voor klanten mogelijk om voordeel te behalen uit wereldwijde levering.

Het partnerschap combineert de onsite- en offshore-expertise van T-Systems en Cognizant. Met deze expertise hebben de organisaties een breder aanbod van dienstverlening en toegang tot de grootste talenten in de wereld. De overeenkomst biedt toegang tot een talentpool van meer dan 110.000 medewerkers wereldwijd, waarvan ruim 40.000 medewerkers offshore werken. De uitgebreide werkzaamheden in belangrijke regio's - Europa, de VS en Azië - zullen naar verwachting een aanzienlijke groei teweeg brengen bij de twee bedrijven. T-Systems India - met ongeveer 1.150 medewerkers - wordt onderdeel van Cognizant.

Hieronder het volledige Engelstalige persbericht:

First systems integration alliance to globally serve Corporate Europe T-Systems and Cognizant join forces to vigorously expand their businesses

Frankfurt/Main, Germany and Teaneck, US­March 5, 2008­Deutsche Telekom's enterprise customer division, T-Systems, and global IT services provider, Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH), today announced that they have entered into a truly global Systems Integration alliance. The alliance is primarily aimed at catering to European corporations with global delivery requirements for system integration services. This unique partnership­-between a global delivery IT powerhouse and a European giant­will enable customers to leverage the benefits of global delivery.

The partnership combines the onsite and offshore expertise of T-Systems and Cognizant across industry segments with an enhanced geographical footprint, a broader range of service offerings, and greater access to the best global talent. The new alliance will draw upon a combined talent base of over 110,000 employees worldwide, comprising more than 40,000 employees working offshore. Expanded operations in key geographies­Europe, Americas and Asia­are expected to significantly augment the growth of the two companies. As part of the new business partnership, T-Systems India and its approximately 1150 employees will be transferred to Cognizant, subject to appropriate regulatory clearance.

By harnessing the onsite, near-shore and offshore strengths of T-Systems and Cognizant, the partnership will facilitate the adoption of a global services delivery model in and beyond Europe that will enable the customers to save costs through labor arbitrage and drive business transformation and innovation through a powerful front-end deeply rooted in the local business environment. The two companies will provide customers with the synergy of local business power­business culture, language capabilities and operating philosophy­and global resources.

"This new alliance will make global delivery a reality in Europe. Strategically we are the first to give our customers unprecedented access to a new service and delivery model" stated Reinhard Clemens, management board member for business customers at Deutsche Telekom and CEO of T-Systems. So far, either Western competition has tried to integrate acquired tier-2 offshore workforces, or Indian vendors have struggled to enter the new markets of Continental Europe. Says Clemens: "Our new alliance will open up new opportunities, add significantly to T-Systems' profitability, and give both partners a stronger footing in key vertical industries. It will also bring together great talent from Cognizant and T-Systems- allowing our systems integration business to be more vigorous in their expansion plans."

"In partnership we can deliver truly unique global IT services, bringing together our complementary strengths with the goal of dramatically increasing the value provided to customers," said Francisco D'Souza, President and CEO of Cognizant. "Both Cognizant and Tâ¤'Systems have a long heritage of partnering with clients, and our joint capabilities will deliver a powerful combination of scale and agility in the key markets serviced by both companies. We also look forward to welcoming the T-Systems employees in India to the Cognizant family. We believe that this alliance will provide our joint customers with a world-class combination of deep local knowledge and market-leading global delivery platform."