HPQ: Unilever Engages HP to Conduct Due Diligence for Enterprise Computing

HP and Unilever today announced that they have signed a memorandum of understanding to enter into due diligence of Unilever’s Enterprise Computing operations.

Under the terms of the memorandum, data center operations, server and database management, and application hosting for Unilever’s operations in the Americas, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Turkey would be outsourced to HP if an agreement is reached. The companies hope to reach a definitive agreement in the first half of this year.

“In this space, HP has demonstrated a distinctive collaborative approach combined with a clear expertise in the delivery of global services,” said Neil Cameron, chief information officer, Unilever. “This potential agreement would be a natural extension of our current relationship. The intention between both parties is to leverage HP’s scale, expertise and industry leadership to ensure Unilever has access to world-class technology at substantially lower costs.”

“We would be delighted to work with Unilever, a world-class company, and free it to focus on its core strengths,” said Pablo Sanchez-Lozano, senior vice president, HP Services. “With our highly experienced services professionals and global capabilities, we propose to deliver a more simplified and flexible IT infrastructure that would deliver true business value and effectiveness, a better return on IT and reduced operational costs.”

About Unilever

Unilever’s mission is to add vitality to life. We meet everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care with brands that help people feel good, look good and get more out of life.

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of fast moving consumer goods with strong local roots in more than 100 countries across the globe. Its portfolio includes some of the world’s best known and most loved brands including twelve €1 billion brands and global leadership in many categories in which the company operates. The portfolio features brand icons such as Knorr, Hellmann’s, Flora, Dove, Lynx, Persil, Domestos, Marmite and Pot Noodle.

Unilever has around 206,000 employees in approaching 100 countries and generated annual sales of €40 billion in 2005. For more information about Unilever and its brands, please visit www.unilever.com