EDS Acquires Assets of UK-based Nexagent

PLANO, Texas and LONDON, March 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- EDS today announced it has acquired the assets of Nexagent, a Reading, UK-based provider of innovative hardware and software solutions for network service provisioning and advanced IP-based services across multi-network environments. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transfer of assets is effective immediately.

This acquisition builds upon EDS' ongoing investment in the company's networking services capabilities and the EDS Global Services Network, one of the world's highest capacity and most resilient private networks. The GSN connects more than 500 EDS service delivery sites worldwide to clients though a single, secure, fully redundant network.

Leveraging Nexagent's technology enables EDS to automate and accelerate the design, transition and operation of enterprise service delivery and sets a standard for high availability connection of clients to the EDS Global Services Network.

Nexagent, founded in July 2000, is a developer of software tools that enable carriers, systems integrators and virtual network operators to automate and accelerate the design, provisioning and management of a client's IP VPN (Virtual Private Network). This capability is particularly valuable when the network connection spans multiple carriers and multiple regions.

"With the software, resources and technology of Nexagent, EDS will reduce connection expense and provisioning time for migrating clients onto the EDS network," said EDS Ray Thietten, vice president, Global Network Services. "Our clients rely on EDS for mission-critical functions to run their businesses. Acquiring these advanced technologies allows EDS to drive even greater operational efficiencies and improve service quality."

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to join with EDS, the global IT services leader, and merge our advanced networking technologies with the EDS Global Services Network," said Royce Murphy, Nexagent's CEO. "I am confident that with the addition of Nexagent's talented workforce and intellectual capital, EDS will continue to improve its already outstanding service quality and drive even more quickly toward its 'Zero Outages' goal."

Nexagent provides a Lifecycle Management System (LCMS) and a Multi-Carrier Interconnect System (MCIS) to EDS as a key underlying technology for "interconnecting" EDS carrier partners to the EDS Global Services Network. The high-availability, globally-distributed network interconnects have had zero outages since their installation on the EDS Global Services Network in 2006.

"By acquiring the assets of Nexagent, EDS will bolster its ability to offer a broader set of network solutions to clients and leverage this newly acquired expertise to further service existing and new clients," said Wu Zhou, senior research analyst, Network Consulting and Integration Services with IDC. "We see this acquisition as a key, strategic move that will give EDS a competitive advantage when onboarding clients to its global network."

Under the terms of the acquisition, current Nexagent employees will become employees of EDS, reporting into EDS' Global Network Services organization, EMEA centre, located in Stockley Park, UK.

EDS Network Services

EDS' suite of Network Services offerings enhances how enterprise clients derive greater flexibility and reduce expense when working with multiple communications carriers. The EDS approach -- having the ability to look for the best fit with carriers/communications vendors without bias, reducing carrier vendor lock-in, and easing transition from carrier to carrier -- allows EDS to act as an impartial advisor when recommending the best provider for carrier services to clients.

About EDS

EDS (NYSE: EDS) is a leading global technology services company delivering business solutions to its clients. EDS founded the information technology outsourcing industry more than 45 years ago. Today, EDS delivers a broad portfolio of information technology and business process outsourcing services to clients in the manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, communications, energy, transportation, and consumer and retail industries and to governments around the world. Learn more at eds.com.