Bechtle AG — M&A Activity 2005

Jul 29, 2005

News Details

Ad-hoc | 29 July 2005 15:04

Bechtle AG: Bechtle AG acquires Deskside Support Services from IBM

Ad hoc announcement §15 WpHG Others Bechtle AG: Bechtle AG acquires Deskside Support Services from IBM Ad hoc announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. —————————————————————————— Bechtle AG acquires Deskside Support Services from IBM – Transfer of up to 120 members of staff – Acquisition of services for some 50,000 PC workplaces by Bechtle – Expansion of Managed Services business within the System House Segment Neckarsulm/Stuttgart, 29 July 2005 – Bechtle and IBM have today signed an agreement that will become effective 1 October 2005, and will result in up to 120 members of staff from IBM’s Strategic Outsourcing division, the majority of whom service local customers, transferring to the Bechtle Group. As part of the agreement, Bechtle will take over the service and support of some 50,000 PC workplaces. As a result, Germany’s largest system house will expand its Managed Services business area and strengthen the strategic partnership with IBM. Both parties have agreed not to disclose details of the acquired outsourcing projects. Contact: Bechtle AG, Sabine Emich, Investor Relations, Phone: +49 (0) 7132/981-4115, Fax: +49 (0) 7132/981-4116, sabine.emich@bechtle.com Bechtle AG Bechtle Platz 1 74172 Neckarsulm Deutschland ISIN: DE0005158703 (TecDAX) WKN: 515870 Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin- Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart End of ad hoc announcement (c)DGAP 29.07.2005 Issuer’s information/explanatory remarks concerning this ad hoc announcement: Managed Services are expected to become one of Bechtle AG’s most important core competences in the future. With a broad customer base – primarily regional and high-end SMBs with 20 to 2,000 PC workplaces – and the full coverage it provides through its network of 60 locations, Bechtle has the necessary prerequisites to expand its services in the IT Outsourcing growth segment. The outsourcing of IT assignments is increasing in importance today. In addition to reducing IT costs, the outsourcing partner’s job is to ensure there is a high degree of standardization in the technologies employed and thus provide a secure IT Infrastructure. Small and medium business in particular, due to the limited resources they have available require cost- effective solutions. Market research institutes such as Gartner predict an increasing demand the Managed Services segment, particularly in the servicing of infrastructures and in security solutions. About Bechtle Bechtle operates a network of some 60 system houses providing full coverage throughout Germany and Switzerland and, with retail companies in nine countries, is one of Europe’s leading IT eCommerce providers. Founded in 1983, the company is based in Neckarsulm and currently employees around 3,500 people. Bechtle is a manufacturer-independent company that provides one-stop shopping for all the IT infrastructure needs of its more than 24,000 customers, largely small and medium-sized businesses, a from industry and trade, the public sector and the financial markets. Bechtle has been quoted on the stock exchange since 2000 and is also listed in the TecDAX technology index. In 2004, Germany’s largest system house generated revenues amounting to 1.1 billion euros. For the current financial year, the Group expects revenues to increase by 19.5 percent to 1.3 billion euros. The Executive Board anticipates an improvement in earnings before tax for 2005 of over 9 percent, rising to at least 42 million euros. Further information and a press release are available at http://www.bechtle.com End of message (c)DGAP 291504 Jul 05