ARMONK, NY--(MARKET WIRE)--Jul 23, 2008 -- IBM (NYSE:IBM - News) and Romero Group, Peru's largest private business group, today announced they have signed a five-year IT infrastructure outsourcing agreement.

To keep up with growing SAP resource demands, Romero Group started to assess -- in late 2007 -- the outsourcing of their technology platform as well as different services options available in the market. They sought a technology partner who would be capable of meeting the highest SAP outsourcing quality standards at competitive costs.

To meet these needs, IBM proposed a solution that leveraged its external storage and UNIX processing technologies, which met all the technical requirements and could provide the expected benefits. The service scope also included the application of outsourcing best practices, which IBM has leveraged with over 50 customers in Peru and on hundreds of technology campuses worldwide.

In addition, Romero Group has decided to expand the solutions scope to other IT components, adding new services for Intel and Power Systems platforms, as well as in-store equipment maintenance services.

"Romero Group's confidence in IBM further demonstrates our ability to deliver quality services as well as the continued need to develop our outsourcing services through investments in existing technology campuses and in the human capital for our organization," said Eduardo Sarmiento, Services Manager for Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay and Uruguay.

The agreement was signed in April of 2008.

     Media Contacts:
     Florencia Busto Alvarez
     IBM Communications
     Phone: (5411) 5070-3343
     bustoa@ar.ibm.com
      
     Jenna Gable
     IBM Communications
     Phone: (917) 472-3512
     gablej@us.ibm.com