Sword Group : European Commission awards multi-milion IT services framework (version française disponible sur le site en fin de journée)

European Commission awards multi-million IT services framework


SIZEABLE GROWTH IN SWORD GROUP'S PUBLIC SECTOR BUSINESS WITH NEW CONTRACT ANNOUNCEMENTS

E69M FOUR YEAR FRAMEWORK CONTRACT WITH EUROPEAN COMMISSION

MAJOR PUBLIC SECTOR WINS IN EUROPE, US AND AUSTRALIA

SWORD GROUP REVENUE SHARE FOR PUBLIC SECTOR PROJECTS IS ON TRACK TO INCREASE IN 2009

Monday 22nd June Sword Group (NYSE Euronext: FR0004180578 SWP), a leading international IT solutions company, today announces that the European Commission has awarded the company a E69 million four year framework contract for the provision of IT services for the Commission's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

This engagement is the latest in a number of public sector awards for Sword Group which includes the selection of its Ciboodle software to manage contact centres and citizen interaction for a number of state government departments in Australia, CTSpace software to manage major transport infrastructure developments including French rail infrastructure operator (RFF) and the Chicago Transit Authority, the patient records solution NHTop to improve patient care and enhance financial control for a healthcare trust in the UK . Last year the company's public sector business accounted 22.2% of annual revenue. The FP7 has succeeded the Commission's FP6 framework programme and is responsible for allocating E53.2 billion in research, education and innovation grants in the coming seven years. Under the terms of the contract Sword will be responsible for:

- The development, implementation and maintenance of Information Systems to support the research programmes for multiple Directorate Generals;

-Developing customised Information Systems for the European Research Council and the Research Executive Agency;

- Providing technical support for the ITER (originally the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) and the Development of Fusion Energy in Barcelona;

- Maintenance and enhancements of existing FP7 IT applications including those developed by Sword and also other IT suppliers.

This contract sees a significant expansion in the service Sword currently provides to the Commission and the company expects to grow its onsite team of technical resources in the Commission by around 100%. For larger programmes of activity, such as customised integration or application development, Sword will utilise its blended delivery model which supplements the core teams in Belux with Sword's own offshore resources providing a flexible, cost-effective and efficient solution to the European Commission.

Tony Claes, director of Sword's services business in Belux said: "We are delighted to have been selected by the European Commission to support such a significant initiative. Sword has a longstanding track record of successful delivery to the European Institutions and across the public sector which sees us recognised as a trusted partner."

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Sword Group

Founded: December 2000

Founder and Chairman: Jacques Mottard

Employees: 1,693 (12/05/09)

Stock Information

EURONEXT PARIS - Compartment C

ISIN code: FR0004180578

ICB:972 IT Services - SBF 250 - IT CAC

www.sword-group.com

Copyright Hugin

The appendixes relating to the press release are available on:
http://www.hugingroup.com/documents_ir/PJ/CO/2009/155061_88_JOFR_ENG-NewWins-FV-22-06-2009.pdf

Information réglementée :
Type : Nouvelle information
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Communiqués au titre de l'obligation d'information permanente - Autres communiqués


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