Bangkok--Nov 1--IBM Thailand
IBM today announced the completion of its acquisition of PwC Consulting, the global management consulting and technology services unit of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Thailand.
"This union creates a new category in the consulting field. We've combined two organizations with complementary skills and cultures, and which share a vision of fusing business insight and technology in a way that can significantly benefit a client's bottom line," said Songtham Phianpattanawit, General Manager, IBM Thailand Company Limited. "Together, we can offer the world's most complete range of consulting services. Combine that with the full range of IBM services, infrastructure, technology and financing resources, and you have the integrated business technology solutions that many of our clients are now demanding."
"Given the complex technology landscape, organisations are constantly looking at new ways of running their businesses. Facing this challenge will require strategic business consulting skills, expertise in specific industry issues, an understanding of key solution areas such as customer relationship management, supply chain and financial transaction management?all areas in which PwC Consulting has been a recognized leader," said Songtham Phianpattawit, General Manager, IBM Country.
"These skills need to be combined with large-scale implementation capabilities such as outsourcing, IT infrastructure skills, key technologies, and financing, where IBM is the market leader. IBM Business Consulting Services is now uniquely positioned to advise and enable clients to fully leverage these new models of business computing, driving greater return on IT investments," Songtham, added.
About IBM and PricewaterhouseCoopers Transaction
The deal was overwhelmingly approved by PricewaterhouseCoopers member firms and partners globally, and has received all regulatory clearances including in the United States and the European Union. Under terms of the transaction, IBM has paid PricewaterhouseCoopers approximately US$3.5 billion in cash and stock.
The combination creates a new global business unit, IBM Business Consulting Services, comprising more than 30,000 IBM and 30,000 transferring PwC Consulting professionals. As a result, IBM Business Consulting Services becomes the world's largest consulting services organization, with operations in more than 160 countries. IBM Business Consulting Services will be part of IBM Global Services.
Following the July 30 definitive agreement, IBM and PwC Consulting assembled a transition team of more than 600 professionals to plan for and manage all aspects of the expected integration of more than 60,000 client service professionals and staff. As part of this process, Business Consulting Services has determined that it will adopt IBM's sector and industry segmentation, and PwC Consulting's key solution areas, facilitating rapid and seamless integration.
IBM plans to use Ernst & Young to audit its Business Consulting Services unit.
About IBM
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with more than 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. IBM Global Services is the industry's largest business and information technology services provider, with approximately 180,000 professionals serving customers in 160 countries and annual revenue of US$35 billion (2001). IBM Global Services integrates a broad range of capabilities -- services, consulting, hardware, software and research -- to help companies of all sizes realize the full value of information technology.
For more information please contact;
Krisana Sinprasert
Communications Specialist
IBM Thailand Company Limited
Phone: 02-273-4639, Fax: 02-273-0687 End.
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