« October 2006 | Main | December 2006 »
November 30, 2006
Top Stories
INTERNAL INVESTIGATION LEADS TO SHAKEUP AT ACS...Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. announced the completion of the company's internal investigation into its historical stock option practices and the actions it is taking in response to the findings of the investigation, including changes in its executive management. The investigation concluded that certain conduct of Mark A. King, the company's Chief Executive Officer, and Warren D. Edwards, the company's Chief Financial Officer, violated the company's Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers. King and Edwards have resigned, effective November 26, 2006, and have entered into separation agreements with the company.
The Board of Directors has appointed Lynn Blodgett, who has been serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the company and as a director since September 2005, as President and Chief Executive Officer, and John Rexford, who has been serving as Executive Vice President - Corporate Development since March 2001, as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and as a director, in each case effective immediately. Blodgett and Rexford have served in various executive capacities with the Company for over ten years.
KENEXA NAMES NEW CEO/PRESIDENT...Kenexa announced that Troy Kanter, who joined the company in 1997 and currently holds the position of president, Human Capital Management, has been appointed to company president and chief operating officer, effective November 30, 2006. Kanter’s new role will include the responsibilities of Elliot Clark, who resigned from his position as chief operating officer and as a member of the board, effective November 30, 2006.
CERIDIAN ACQUIRES HEALTH COACHING FIRM...Ceridian Corporation has acquired Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Leade Health, a health coaching firm specializing in the areas of weight management, stress management, tobacco cessation, and cardiovascular health. Leade Health is a privately held company with more than 15 years experience in disease prevention within government agencies, health plans and corporations.
Posted by jbowles at 07:34 PM
New Business
GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A., Brazil’s low-cost, low-fare airline, has renewed its outsourcing agreement for Navitaire’s reservations system, enhancing services provided under a previous multi-year contract. The agreement includes new Web hosting services and further support for GOL’s recently announced pan-Latin America expansion plans. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. Navitaire, a wholly owned Accenture subsidiary, provides outsourced technology and business solutions to the airline industry.
EDS is developing a middleware, messaging and security platform for Deutsche Lufthansa AG, a leading international airline, based on an application development and integration services contract awarded to EDS at the end of the second quarter of 2006. This platform serves as the basis of the Lufthansa Service Oriented Architecture (SOA), enabling Lufthansa the ability to interface, interoperate and integrate with Lufthansa business partners and other airline systems through open standards.
Siemens Business Services, Inc. has signed a multi-year maintenance services contract with Xerox Corporation to provide maintenance services for Xerox black and white and color network printers, as well as select multifunctional systems throughout the United States that are under warranty or an existing service contract.
Church's Chicken announced a worldwide partnership with WNS Global Services. The partnership initially will focus on finance and accounting (F&A) processes for restaurants owned by Church's throughout the world. The relationship between Church's and WNS signifies the first time a U.S. restaurant company has outsourced 100% of its financial and accounting processes overseas. WNS will handle functions such as accounts receivables, accounts payables, bank account reconciliation and general ledger maintenance.
Kanbay International, Inc. was selected as the key information technology provider for NISH, a nonprofit organization creating employment opportunities for people with severe disabilities.
Posted by jbowles at 07:33 PM
New Services
EquaTerra announced it will use Microsoft business intelligence (BI) technology to make an outsourcing and business process governance solution available that will enable, it says, organizations to more efficiently and effectively govern and manage the performance of their internal business processes, such as HR, IT, Procurement and Finance & Accounting.
Posted by jbowles at 07:33 PM
Advertising Information
Outsourcing Alert reaches 50,000 key decision-makers a week. For advertising information and rates, contact Peter Bowes. Tel: (508)359-9356 or send an email.
Posted by jbowles at 07:32 PM
November 22, 2006
Top Stories
Thanksgiving Edition - Have a Great Holiday!
BARCLAYS RENEWS SIEMENS BPO CONTRACT...Siemens Business Services announced the extension of its business process outsourcing (BPO) contract with Barclays, in a multi-million dollar deal. This extension to 2008 is the second since the beginning of the relationship with Barclays in 2000. Siemens Business Services is operating areas of Barclays’ retail banking back office, including: account closures, transfer of funds and administrative processing for direct debit and standing order instructions.
ARAMARK CALLS SPECIAL SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO CONSIDER SALE...ARAMARK Corporation has called a special meeting of shareholders for December 20, 2006 to consider and vote upon the proposal to adopt the previously announced merger agreement providing for the acquisition of ARAMARK by an investor group led by Joseph Neubauer and investment funds managed by GS Capital Partners, CCMP Capital Advisors and J.P. Morgan Partners, Thomas H. Lee Partners and Warburg Pincus LLC.
UNISYS EXPANDS DEAL WITH BRUSSELS AIRPORT...Unisys Corporation announced that its Belgian subsidiary has expanded its relationship with The Brussels Airport Company through a new five-year IT outsourcing contract. Unisys Belgium will replace and manage the common infrastructure used by more than 80 airlines to issue tickets, route baggage and generate boarding passes. Unisys Belgium will upgrade Brussels Airport’s Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE), the technology infrastructure that provides a single interface into passenger and baggage information throughout the airport.
BISYS NAMED PROVIDER FOR BLUE FUND...BISYS announced that it is the mutual fund service provider of choice for The Blue Fund Group’s recently launched portfolios. Through its FundEnsemble service model, BISYS will provide turnkey administrative services, including comprehensive treasury, board, and distribution support as well as core fund accounting, fund administration, transfer agency, and shareholder services.
NETSUITE FORMS JAPANESE PARTNERSHIP...NetSuite announced a major partnership with Miroku Jyoho Service (MJS), a leading accounting software provider in Japan. NetSuite will leverage the expertise that MJS has in providing ERP software to SMEs and accounting firms, which accounts for 25 percent of the market share in Japan. Additionally, MJS has made a an investment of nearly $5 million that represents an equity stake in NetSuite K.K. (NetSuite's Japan subsidiary) and a combination of distribution rights and joint engineering commitments.
Posted by jbowles at 07:01 PM
Infrastructure Management Outsourcing Survey
Everest Research Institute is conducting a brief survey across professionals associated with IT outsourcing services, and we would appreciate your valuable input. Please take 10 minutes to complete this important survey.
Posted by jbowles at 07:01 PM
Advertising Information
Outsourcing Alert reaches 50,000 key decision-makers a week. For advertising information and rates, contact Peter Bowes. Tel: (508)359-9356 or send an email.
Posted by jbowles at 06:54 PM
November 16, 2006
Top Stories
EDS TO ACQUIRE SAP SPECIALIST FIRM...EDS will acquire Global Enterprise Management Solutions, LP. (GEMS). Based in Irving, Texas, GEMS is a provider of SAP enterprise management and customer relationship management solutions. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close by year-end. GEMS is a certified SAP value-added partner serving clients primarily in the IT services, assembly/manufacturing, logistics and transportation industries.
OCE COMPLETES CASEDATA ACQUISITION...Oce N.V. announced that its U.S. division, Oce Business Services, has completed the previously announced acquisition of CaseData, Inc., a leading provider of electronic discovery and litigation support services to U.S. law firms and corporations, with approximately $14 million annualized revenue.
OPI OPENS SERVICE CENTER IN BULGARIA...Outsource Partners International, Inc. (OPI), a leading professional services firm dedicated solely to finance and accounting outsourcing, announced today the expansion of its business with the opening of a European service center in Sofia, Bulgaria. The Sofia operation offers capacity for 125 people delivering finance and accounting services in a number of languages, including English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, and Bulgarian.
Posted by jbowles at 05:29 PM
New Business
Avon Products, Inc. and IBM announced a strategic multi-year business partnership by which IBM Global Services will provide Avon with a portfolio of specialized human resources services and technologies. Financial terms were not disclosed. Under the partnership, IBM will provide Avon with support for certain key HR processes, including compensation, payroll, benefits, and performance management.
Perot Systems Corporation has teamed with Salt Lake City-based Medicity, Inc. to build the first statewide health information exchange for the Delaware Health Information Network (DHIN). The six-year contract, with two automatically renewing two-year extensions, was awarded in competitive bidding in October. The DHIN Clinical Information Exchange Utility is designed to help the state of Delaware monitor public health, allow providers to better manage patient care, and provide consumers with tools to become more engaged in their own healthcare.
Comcast has selected StarTek to support Comcast's rapidly growing IP-enabled phone service, Comcast Digital Voice. StarTek will provide provisioning services and additional back-office operations.
Computer Sciences Corporation has signed a seven-year,$180 million information technology (IT) services contract with Newmont Mining Corporation, one of the world's largest gold mining
companies. Under the agreement, CSC will manage IT operations for all of Newmont's global shared services operations and regional gold mining facilities,including locations in Denver, Nevada, Ghana, Peru and Australia.
Workscape, a provider of outsourced benefits administration and performance-driven compensation solutions, announced that Spartanburg, S.C.-based BMW Manufacturing Co. has recently implemented the company's comprehensive outsourced benefits administration services to handle the benefits service needs of BMW's more than 4,400 employees.
Posted by jbowles at 05:28 PM
New Services
Ceridian announced the launch of CPA Client Connection — a secure, hosted Web portal that enables accounting firms to easily share data and information with clients, helping them mitigate compliance risks and increase productivity.
Posted by jbowles at 05:28 PM
Infrastructure Management Outsourcing Survey
Everest Research Institute is conducting a brief survey across professionals associated with IT outsourcing services, and we would appreciate your valuable input. Please take 10 minutes to complete this important survey.
Posted by jbowles at 05:27 PM
Advertising Information
Outsourcing Alert reaches 50,000 key decision-makers a week. For advertising information and rates, contact Peter Bowes. Tel: (508)359-9356 or send an email.
Posted by jbowles at 05:26 PM
November 09, 2006
Top Stories
MCKESSON TO ACQUIRE PER-SE FOR $1.8 BILLION...McKesson Corporation will acquire Per-Se Technologies, a leading provider of financial and administrative healthcare solutions for hospitals, physicians and retail pharmacies, for $28.00 per share in cash. In total, including Per-Se’s outstanding debt, the transaction is valued at approximately $1.8 billion. By the third year, McKesson expects to realize pre-tax synergies of at least $50 million to $75 million. The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2007, McKesson’s fourth fiscal quarter, subject to customary conditions, including regulatory review.
MCCAIN NAMED HEAD OF HP SERVICES...HP announced that it has promoted John W. McCain to run HP Services, the company’s $15.5 billion worldwide services business. A seasoned information technology services and sales executive, McCain will serve as senior vice president and general manager of HP Services. He will report to Ann Livermore, executive vice president, Technology Solutions Group, HP. McCain, 47, has been the senior vice president of HP Consulting & Integration since December 2005.
EXECUTIVE MOVES AT CAPGEMINI ENERGY...John Christens has joined Capgemini Americas Outsourcing Services (AOS) as CEO of Capgemini Energy, a Dallas-based joint venture that provides business process and information technology outsourcing solutions to utility companies. Christens succeeds Bob Pryor, who earlier this year was chosen to lead Capgemini’s AOS division. Amin Bishara has been named to Capgemini’s Outsourcing Global Utilities Sector and Perry Stoneman will step into Bishara’s former role of Business Development Leader for Capgemini’s Utilities Outsourcing Practice in North America.
CSC OPENS IT CENTER IN PRAGUE...Computer Sciences Corporation opened of a new delivery center in Prague, Czech Republic, in response to client demand for near-shore service delivery alternatives. The center will provide a range of information technology (IT) services and be fully integrated as part of CSC's World Sourcing model.
Upcoming Everest Research Institute Webinar: Save the Date!
December 5, 2006 – Procurement Outsourcing in 2006: Is the market coming out of the chasm?
Posted by jbowles at 07:15 PM
New Business
EDS was awarded two task orders supporting anti-fraud activities at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). In addition to the one- year base term, each task order includes four one-year options. If all options are exercised on both task orders, the value of the contracts is estimated at $120 million.
Posted by jbowles at 07:14 PM
Infrastructure Management Outsourcing Survey
Everest Research Institute is conducting a brief survey across professionals associated with IT outsourcing services, and we would appreciate your valuable input. Please take 10 minutes to complete this important survey.
Posted by jbowles at 07:13 PM
Alliances
KARVY Global Services Limited and Real Time Accounting, Inc., an online accounting and BPO firm, have entered into a collaborative agreement to provide online accounting and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services to the rapidly growing QuickBooks, SAGE and Microsoft Dynamics marketplaces.
Posted by jbowles at 07:13 PM
Advertising Information
Outsourcing Alert reaches 50,000 key decision-makers a week. For advertising information and rates, contact Peter Bowes. Tel: (508)359-9356 or send an email.
Posted by jbowles at 07:12 PM
November 02, 2006
Top Stories
CB RICHARD ELLIS ACQUIRES TRAMMELL CROW FOR $2.2 BILLION...CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Trammell Crow Company for $49.51 per share of common stock in cash. The transaction is valued at approximately $2.2 billion, including the assumption of Trammell Crow Company’s corporate debt as well as transaction and integration costs. The deal is expected to close either in late 2006 or early 2007, subject to approval by Trammell Crow Company’s shareholders and federal regulatory agencies as well as other customary conditions.
R.R. DONNELLEY TO ACQUIRE BANTA...R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company will acquire Banta, a provider of printing, supply chain management and related services in an all-cash deal valued at approximately $1.3 billion, or $36.50 per share after the special dividend of $16.00 per share already declared by Banta. The agreement has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2007.
CAPGEMINI BUYS KANBAY FOR $1.25 BILLON...Capgemini will buy Kanbay International, provider of technology services to financial institutions, for $1.25 billion in a bid to boost its presence in India and the U.S. Under the acquisition deal, Paris-based Capgemini will pay $29 per share in cash for the U.S. consultancy. With the purchase, India becomes the second-largest operation for Capgemini, after France. Kanbay, which has three sites in India, employs more that 5,000 people.
ADP FIRST QUARTER REVENUES RISE...Automatic Data Processing, Inc. reported 15% revenue growth, to $2.2 billion, and $0.46 earnings per share for the first fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2006. Pretax and net earnings from continuing operations grew 24% and 25%, respectively, and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations increased 31%, from $0.35 earnings per share a year ago on fewer shares outstanding.
COMPANIES MOVING HIGH-END OPERATIONS OFFSHORE...Companies are increasingly moving sophisticated, mission-critical functions such as product design and research and development to China, India and other offshore locations primarily because these countries can provide highly skilled scientific and engineering workers who are in short supply in the U.S. and Europe, according to a new study by Duke University and management consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton.
Posted by jbowles at 04:43 PM
New Business
TechTeam Global, Inc. has been chosen by Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, to deliver a portfolio of managed support services, including help desk, user administration, tape library, and desktop support services for the firm's IT infrastructure. Under the three-year contract, TechTeam will provide support for Boehringer Ingelheim's employees in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Computer Sciences Corporation has won a task order to provide information technology (IT) operations and maintenance services to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). CSC estimates the value of the contract, which has a one-year base period and four one-year options, to be $98 million if all options are exercised.
Ariba, Inc. has signed a new agreement with National City Corporation, one of the nation's largest financial holding companies, to implement a comprehensive range of Ariba Spend Management solutions to streamline its procurement process and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of its operations.
Posted by jbowles at 04:42 PM
WEBINAR: Understanding Risk in BPO
Join SAP and Everest Group to learn how to understand risk in BPO, allocate it appropriately during the procurement of BPO services, and manage it on an ongoing basis.
Date: 15 November 2006 at 5pm CET, 11am Eastern, 8am Pacific. Click here to register.
Posted by jbowles at 04:41 PM
Advertising Information
Outsourcing Alert reaches 50,000 key decision-makers a week. For advertising information and rates, contact Peter Bowes. Tel: (508)359-9356 or send an email.
Posted by jbowles at 04:40 PM
