Industry news

Combined Enterprise with over USD 481 Million in Revenues, Merger creates Economies of Scale across Key Verticals.

HOV Services Limited, an end-to-end global BPO and services company, has announced that an agreement has been entered into

to combine its indirect subsidiary HOV Services LLC with SOURCECORP.

Shareholders of HOV Services and SOURCECORP will each control 50% of the combined entity, i.e. SCH Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation, incorporated under the laws of US (“SCH Services”). The transaction is expected to be completed in the next 45-60 days subject to regulatory approvals under laws of US and customary closing conditions.

Transaction Highlights:

• Strong global management team

• Combined headcount of approximately 14,200 globally on February, 2011

• Marquee customers – more than 50% of the Fortune 100®

• High visibility and large recurring revenue stream

• Deep domain expertise in several industries

• Increased access to global customers with an extensive global footprint

• Significant operating leverage, scalable operating platforms with new revenue growth

opportunities

Commenting on the merger, Suresh Yannamani, President of HOV Services, said "This merger is abouttwo strong companies coming together to create a sustainable platform for value creation and

growth. In joining forces, this merger creates an entity positioned to be a global provider of business process solutions and consultancy services in the industry."

He added, "The combined entity is globally positioned, active on four continents. Its enhanced platforms will enable us to collectively better service the needs of our customers and provide them with additional expertise in Healthcare, Insurance, Banking, Automotive, Retail, Government and Publishing verticals. We are very excited about this combination and look forward to working with Ed Bowman and the entire SOURCECORP team in partnership as one.”

Atos Origin, an international IT services company, has announced that with effect from 1 April 2011, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) the Scottish Government’s economic and community development agency, will have its IT services - including service desk, application management, desktop and IT infrastructure - delivered by Atos Origin.

This deal is a third in a series for Atos Origin in the North of Scotland having won contracts with Aberdeen City Council and FirstGroup last year.

HIE is the latest non departmental public body to join the successful Skills Development Scotland Information Systems (IS) Shared Services agreement, which now includes other NDPBs such as Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Development International, and the Scottish Criminal Case Review Commission in order to transform IT to achieve efficiencies and service improvements.

Steve Langmead, Senior Vice President – Scotland, Atos Origin, said: “This is a significant expansion of the provision of shared services across the Scottish public sector, and gives Atos Origin the opportunity to increase its footprint across Scotland.”

Atos Origin’s service provision will support HIE in its role, providing a shared service through which all the partner organisations can develop a common platform and pursue greater efficiencies.

Alex Paterson, Chief Executive, Highlands and Islands Enterprise said: “Efficient and effective IT systems are critical to support our performance and we are delighted to be part of the provision of shared services by Atos Origin. We believe it is important that organisations like ours collaborate wherever possible and expect the new arrangement will generate greater efficiencies for all the partners in the longer term.”

Capgemini and the Finnish Customs have signed a four-year contract for infrastructure services related to Customs’ information technology environment. The contract is worth €14 million, covering a wide range of server hosting and workstation services, plus related network and data security services.

The year-long transition project, from the incumbent IT service provider, will start in March. Capgemini’s services will be provided entirely from Finland.

“Finnish Customs has a significant role in the Finnish foreign trade logistics chain, collecting a great amount of tax income. The majority of our offerings are delivered through e-services, which is why real time operations must be secure. Finnish Customs also has a role in inland security, which sets special requirements for the IT service provider. Capgemini’s offering fulfilled our most strict standards. Finnish Customs’ IT based services have developed and the trend is still growing. We expect our partner to deliver stable IT services and the ability to carry out development initiatives with a quick response,” says Arja Palo, Finnish Customs Chief Information Officer.

Mahindra Satyam, a leading global consulting and IT services provider, has announced that it has won a multi-million, multi- year contract from Aspire Zone Foundation, Qatar, one of the leading sports institutes, to provide onsite and offshore support on various application development and infrastructure services projects. Aspire Zone will also utilise Mahindra Satyam’s expertise in event and venue management technologies as part of its ambitious sports event and venue management solution roadmap.

CP Gurnani, CEO, Mahindra Satyam visited Hilal Al-Kuwari, President, Aspire Zone Foundation President, in Qatar to discuss areas of mutual interest and opportunities for collaboration in the Sports Technology domain. Mahindra Satyam is also currently engaged with Aspire Zone Foundation in providing application and infrastructure support services based on a time and material contract.

“The partnership between Mahindra Satyam and Qatar’s ‘Aspire’ highlights a strategic alliance that will help position Qatar as a global hub of excellence in sports—from training athletes to holding international events. Mahindra Satyam will be bringing in its leadership in global outsourcing and IT services to help ‘Aspire’ come one step closer towards its goal of promoting itself as a leading sport’s institute and destination - showcasing its abilities to host or be responsible for other international sporting events in the future,” said C.P. Gurnani, CEO, Mahindra Satyam.

Gas and electricity supplier EDF Energy is to outsource much of its IT support to Capgemini in a contract worth up to £100m.

The contract is initially for three years and EDF Energy has the option to extend it by a further two years. If the full term of the contract is seen out, EDF Energy will have invested £100m by the end of 2015.

The main objective of the outsourcing deal is to improve the quality of IT support services for EDF Energy’s UK business, making them more consistent and standardised.

As part of the contract, Capgemini will provide IT service desk support and managed desktop services – including email, instant messaging and file sharing – for EDF Energy’s 15,000 IT users.

Capgemini will also assist EDF Energy with its technology procurement.

The outsourcing arrangement will result in some of EDF Energy’s IT staff - as well as some staff from its current IT suppliers - moving to Capgemini, most of whom will be based in the UK.

The Independent newspaper has announced a new outsourcing supplement to be released in April. Working in association with the National Outsourcing Association, The Independent will look to promote outsourcing as a way of streamlining and helping British businesses through tough economic times.

Editorially, the supplement will look at how the landscape of British business has changed in the aftermath of the recession and change in Government. Positive aspects of this change will be emphaised as well as how how outsourcing has had a positive effect on the UK economy.

http://www.independentonlinesolutions.com/advertisingGuide/outsourcing.pdf

Credit Suisse is to outsource the administration of its Guernsey-domiciled funds of hedge funds managed internationally by Credit Suisse Asset Managers, which were previously serviced in-house.

The business will be moved to the new provider over the next six months. Credit Suisse will not disclose the name of the third-part administrator, nor the volume of assets involved, but says the new service provider is “one of the biggest fund of funds administrators globally”.

A spokeswoman for Credit Suisse says: “The outsourcing of our fund of funds administration business in Guernsey involves devolving a non-core administrative function, which is in line with our strategy to provide a core, client-orientated service focusing on offering strong investment performance to our asset management clients.”

The spokeswoman says that the group’s banking, wealth management and trust businesses in Guernsey are not affected by the deal, and insists that it remains committed to the island.

Accenture has appointed Oliver Benzecry geographic unit managing director of its business in the United Kingdom and Ireland and country managing director for the United Kingdom, effective April 2. Mr. Benzecry will assume this role from David Thomlinson, who will continue to serve as Accenture’s senior managing director—Geographic Strategy & Operations, leading all of Accenture’s geographic operations as well as the company’s strategy to build and extend its market-leading position in key geographies around the world. Mark Ryan will continue as country managing director for Ireland, working with Mr. Benzecry.

Mr. Benzecry, 49, currently serves as managing director of Accenture’s Management Consulting growth platform in the company's EALA region, which covers countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Prior to assuming this role in 2009, Mr. Benzecry served as chief operating officer of Accenture’s Products operating group and of its Management Consulting growth platform globally. He is active with several Accenture clients in the United Kingdom and has also been involved with significant transformational technology outsourcing efforts for clients in the region.

“We are delighted that Olly is stepping into this important role leading our business in the United Kingdom and Ireland,” Mr. Thomlinson said. “His 19 years of experience with Accenture in multiple leadership roles, and his extensive client work across the company, position him well to continue to grow our business in this important region.”

Mr. Benzecry said, “I am honored to lead Accenture’s operations in the United Kingdom and Ireland. We have great momentum in the business, and I look forward to building on the work that David has done over the last four and a half years. Our focus will remain on accelerating the execution of our business strategy and delivering value to our clients.”

Wipro Infotech has announced it has signed a 5 year strategic contract to drive Canara Bank's Regional Rural Bank (RRB) initiative. The contract to provide a state-of-the-art, technology-driven, core anking solution for three of Canara Bank's sponsored Regional Rural Banks - Pragathi Gramin Bank, Karnataka, South Malabar Gramin Bank, Kerala, and Shreya Gramin, Uttar Pradesh.

The engagement is of vital importance to Canara Bank to achieve its objective of financial inclusion and bringing low cost and efficient banking services to the rural masses. The centralized Core Banking Solution is not only expected to facilitate efficient internal operations for the three RRBs but also increase its competitive edge in its ability to offer innovative products and services at optimum costs.

The Core Banking project aims to integrate around 900 branches and offices in a phased manner. This would include Branches, Extension Counters, Service Units, Head Offices, Regional Offices, Training centers, other back offices, Data Centre, Disaster Recovery Centre, Project Office which would also operate as the Data Centre Monitoring Unit (DCMU), and Network Operations Centre (NOC).

Wipro will also setup a 24-hour centralized Helpdesk facility for the project covering applications, Data Center, networks, security and end user systems.

The Chairmen of all three RRBs said, "The mission of RRBs is to transform into a Bank with sound financials, committed to overall economic development of rural areas with care, competence and compassion towards its customers. Coupled with Wipro's technological expertise, we are confident of achieving this mission including expanding our client base to make it the most preferred Banking outlet in rural India."

CSC has announced today that the U.S. Navy awarded the company a task order to provide engineering and program support for the DDG 1000 Zumwalt Class Destroyer Program Office (PMS 500). The task order has a one-year base period and four one-year options, bringing the estimated total five-year value to $110 million. The Navy awarded the task order under the Naval Sea Systems Command SEAPORT-Enhanced contract vehicle, which CSC won in 2004.

Under the terms of the task order, CSC will provide engineering and program management support for the development, design, building, outfitting and testing of the Zumwalt Class Destroyer. Services include program, business, financial and risk management; software and mission systems integration; hull, mechanical and electrical systems engineering; and naval architecture.

“As a trusted member of the ship acquisition community, CSC provides the best value for responsive, effective support to critical acquisition programs,” said James W. Sheaffer, president of CSC’s North American Public Sector. “We will draw upon our recognized success in supporting cost effective program management and test and evaluation of new systems to deliver vital, mission-critical expertise for the Navy’s future class of destroyers.”