EDB Business Partner enters into a new contract for the supply of computer operating services to Christiania Bank

Christiania Bank has chosen EDB Teamco, a wholly owned subsidiary of EDB Business Partner ASA, to supply computer operating services for its decentralised IT platform and infrastructure. The agreement provides a more stable, robust and forward-looking operation for Christiania Bank, and also serves to reduce the bank's IT costs. The new agreement has a total value of around NOK 800 million over the course of five years, and is to be delivered in co-operation with Telenor Business Solutions. EDB Teamco's share of the contract is worth approximately NOK 480 million, with NOK 320 million for Telenor Business Solutions.

"The contract with Christiania Bank represents a vote of confidence in our technical expertise, and demonstrates that our aggressive emphasis on computer operating services is the right strategy for EDB Teamco. Over the past few years we have built up a level of expertise in the operation of business-critical IT systems which is unique in the Norwegian market, and we have matched this with an operational infrastructure which ensures that we are well placed to meet the future demands which the market will place on suppliers of computer operating services" comments Bjørn Carlsen, the Managing Director of EDB Teamco.

"Christiania Bank was one of the first players to offer internet-based services, and this is an area of strong growth for us. We have recognised that having a reliable IT network which offers uninterrupted availability and rapid response times is a key competitive factor in this business. This makes it essential that we have a network which is actively supervised at all times - which means 24 hours a day every day of the year - and which has sound contingency back-up. This can be best achieved by entrusting the operation of our IT network to an external supplier such as EDB Teamco" says Jan Melandsø, the manager responsible for Christiania Bank's IT unit.

EDB Teamco will take over all Christiania Bank's severs, networks and workstations in order to implement a technical consolidation of these resources. The technology platforms currently in use are NT, Unix and AS/400 servers, routers, switches and PCs. The consolidation of this technology will provide the basis for centralisation and the use of new technology such as thin clients, making possible a higher level of operational stability and greater workplace mobility, as well as permitting further reductions in IT costs. EDB Teamco will be responsible for all basic computer operations, and this will take the form of an acquisition of the relevant business undertaking, including the transfer of the Christiania Bank staff working in these areas. EDB Teamco already supplies Christiania Bank with operating services in respect of the bank's core mainframe systems.

This represents the largest single co-operative project to date for EDB Teamco and Telenor Business Solutions. "By co-operating on the operation of complex systems in this way our two companies create considerable synergies. We expect to see a rapid increase in this type of outsourcing of IT and telephony services over the next few years, and we are well placed to jointly win new assignments in this area" comments Thor Halvorsen, Managing Director of Telenor Business Solutions.

For additional information please contact:
- Bjørn Trondsen, Chief Executive Officer, EDB Business Partner ASA, Tel. 22 94 40 40,
Mobile: 917 85 617
- Bjørn Carlsen, Managing Director, EDB Teamco, Tel. 23 13 76 40,
Mobile: 911 93 855
- Jan Melandsø, IT Manager, Christiania Bank, Tel. 22 48 45 87, Mobile: 952 86 151
- Thor Halvorsen, Managing Director, Telenor Bedrift, Tel. 23 16 61 02