by

Alliances

Vertis Europe, part of Vertis, a global powerhouse for integrated advertising and marketing solutions, has chosen Source Assist, Ceridian Centrefile's ASP (Application Service Provider) service, to deliver a synergized HR and payroll solution across all of its UK operations. This latest software implementation will improve the visibility of information between Vertis' recently integrated companies across the UK. Angus Fisher, European Financial Director, Vertis Europe, explained: "With 1,200 employees working across six sites, a number of systems were previously in use. Our main objective was to get all the businesses working from one, single system which would allow inter-communication between all our sites. It was imperative that we reduced the overhead burden at the individual sites, while allowing HR to control the payroll and become less dependent on IT systems. This would significantly help create harmony across the various departments and Source Assist provided the solution we were looking for. With Ceridian Centrefile's ASP, we have the advantage of remaining in control of our system while benefiting from the significant back up it provides, as well as updates on the latest legislative developments. Furthermore, we are confident of Ceridian Centrefile's capability to remain robust in the event of disaster recovery." Vertis looked at various HR and payroll systems before selecting Ceridian Centrefile's solution, as Fisher explains: "Other systems were good but didn't interface the payroll and HR function as effectively as Source Assist. This, combined with their experience of working with a range of well known companies convinced us that Ceridian Centrefile was the best choice." n Brown Brothers Harriman announced that it will outsource online enrollment and employee benefits administration services to Black Mountain Group. The addition of Brown Brothers Harriman as a client reinforces Black Mountain's qualifications in providing outsourced HR administration for financial services firms operating both domestically and internationally. Its success in the HR outsourcing sector was affirmed by its recent ranking in the new Inc 500. "We are delighted to be chosen by Brown Brothers Harriman and we appreciate the confidence they have placed in us," says Steve Medici, President & CEO of Black Mountain Group. It is a pleasure to work with clients of this stature." "Black Mountain is the right fit for us, both operationally and strategically," observes Don Jannazzo, SVP and head of compensation & benefits for Brown Brothers Harriman. "They (Black Mountain) have been supportive and patient in helping us adjust to a new working arrangement. They have succeeded in making this arrangement for us nearly totally transparent to our employees on a day-to-day basis. A real accomplishment indeed." In recent weeks, Black Mountain and Brown Brothers Harriman have worked through the detailed logistics of transitioning benefits administration to Black Mountain, including the transfer of two members of staff onto Black Mountain's team and related HR systems integration. Brown Brothers Harriman will be implementing Black Mountain View (BMV) 3.0 in conjunction with its new PeopleSoft 8 infrastructure. BMV 3.0 is a self-service application developed by Black Mountain to give employees easy access to their benefits and HR information online. "Our new colleagues from Brown Brothers Harriman have been great in helping to achieve a timely and successful transfer of activity and the technology integration has proved to be seamless," observes Mike Harris, SVP with Black Mountain. Mike will manage the Brown Brothers Harriman account on behalf of Black Mountain. n ACS (NYSE: ACS), a premier provider of business process and information technology outsourcing solutions, announced that it has signed a three-year business process outsourcing (BPO) contract with CBCA Inc., one of the country's largest administrators of health benefits. The contract is valued at $10 million. ACS is a leader in health-claims processing and related services, handling nearly 3 million claims per day for clients through its pioneering electronic systems network and servers. The contract with CBCA calls for ACS to consolidate and handle all incoming mail, data capture, and storage information retrieval for seven CBCA regional mailrooms located throughout the United States. Health-care claim forms will be mailed to an ACS centralized mailroom for document preparation and scanning. Electronic images will then be routed to multiple ACS facilities for data capture, data validation, correction, and output. "We are delighted to be partnering with ACS for this critical business function. As an industry leader, ACS' commitment to perfection is in step with CBCA's core values of quality and Excellence Every Day. This new relationship will allow CBCA to focus on core competencies and become one of the largest and most significant third party administrators in the country," said James Pennington, President of CBCA Inc. "CBCA is one of the preeminent benefits administrators in the country," said Lynn Blodgett, ACS Group President of BPO Solutions. "We are very excited to be partnering with them to ensure that their data capture, storage, and delivery systems are first rate and able to keep up with growing business demand. ACS will provide improved quality, technology, and turnaround services to claims processing for CBCA, relieving administrative burdens and allowing for more focus on customer service and other business strategies." CBCA is an employee benefits outsourcing company that delivers full-service benefits administration to employers, insurers, and affinity groups throughout the U.S. The company's services help its customers manage the costs of health benefits. CBCA is the only company in the U.S. with an ISO 9002 certified health-care claims processing operation. ACS, a Fortune 1000 company with nearly 40,000 people supporting operations in 48 countries, provides business process and information technology outsourcing solutions to world-class commercial and government clients.

Awards

Exult, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXLT), a leading provider of integrated Human Resources Business Process Outsourcing to Global 500 companies, has been named a Rising Star on the 2002 Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology companies in North America. A special category of 25 Rising Star winners, companies in business less than five years, but at least three years, are ranked based on percentage of growth in revenues over three years (1999 to 2001). Exult's CEO Jim Madden credits the rising demand among multinational companies for HR Business Process Outsourcing with the company's 5,511 percent revenue growth over the past three years. "Exult is proud to be named to this prestigious list and honored at the recognition," said Jim Madden, chairman and CEO of Exult. "We design our services to enable multinational companies to enhance human capital productivity, reduce HR costs, and provide superior HR services to employees and are confident that these will continue to propel Exult toward long term growth, profitability and success." "To rank on the Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 500 Rising Star, companies must have phenomenal revenue growth in a three-year period. Exult has proven to be one of the fast-growth success stories, and we applaud its vision," said Mark A. Evans, managing director, Deloitte & Touche Technology, Media, & Telecommunications Group. Exult's increase in revenues of 5,511 percent over the three-year period of 1999 to 2001 resulted in Exult being named as a Rising Star in the 2002 Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 500. To qualify as a Fast 500 Rising Star, companies must have had operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD in 1999 and $75,000 CD for the United States and Canada, respectively, must be public or private companies headquartered in North America, and be "technology companies" defined as companies that own proprietary technology which contributes to a significant portion of the company's operating revenues or devotes a high percentage of effort to research and development of technology.

M&As

In a strategic move to expand the breadth of services provided to its client base, Mellon HR Solutions has acquired the training process outsourcing (TPO) business of Franklin Covey, a Utah-based training and consulting services organization. "Learning is a mission critical HR process for our clients," said Jude Metcalfe, president and chief executive officer of Mellon HR Solutions. "This acquisition adds top-tier talent and product depth to our existing capabilities in HR and training outsourcing." In the evolution of corporate training, TPO represents the complete outsourcing of a company's training operation and infrastructure. In addition to operating a company's entire learning program, TPO also redesigns the processes leading to greater efficiency, effectiveness and cost control in the delivery of training services. According to Learnframe.com, the market for corporate training is expected to reach $62.5 billion by 2003, with outsourced training accounting for $15 billion of that total. And W.R. Hambrecht & Co. projects the marketplace for online training will nearly double in size each year through 2003, eventually totaling $11.5 billion. Joining Mellon from Franklin Covey is Edward A. Trolley, a noted industry expert on training and development and co-author of the widely acclaimed business text "Running Training Like a Business." Trolley previously developed the training and outsourcing business for Forum Corporation and also served as manager of training and development at E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company. Also joining Mellon is Shawn Moon, who has held a variety of sales, strategic marketing and executive leadership roles over the last 15 years, most recently leading the TPO business development efforts. n eBenX, Inc. (Nasdaq: EBNX) and SHPS, Inc., a private company, announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to merge the companies. The combination will create the market's leading comprehensive HR/benefits administration and health management services company. The merged company will operate under the name SHPS, be headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, and be led by David Garner, chief executive officer of SHPS. The transaction provides for the eBenX shareholders to tender their common stock in return for $4.85 per share of cash. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2003, subject to regulatory and shareholder approval. "This is an excellent strategic transaction, creating a great new company," said John J. Davis, president and chief executive officer of eBenX. "The complementary service offerings and technologies of our two companies will result in significant market benefits both for existing customers, and purchasers and suppliers of employee benefits and health care in general. In return for creating that company, we believe our shareholders are receiving significant value versus the recent trading price of eBenX." David E. Garner, president and chief executive officer of SHPS, commented: "We approached eBenX with the idea of this combination because they have great technology, a great customer list, and talented employees. The merged company will be a strategic and operational combination born of the strength of the two companies. By combining our two companies, we believe we can deliver a significantly better set of products and services than either company could achieve individually. I believe that the combined technology platforms and service offerings are unmatched in the marketplace and position the combined company as the clear leader in our space." Following the closing of this transaction, SHPS will provide benefit administration and total population-based health-care management services for approximately 20 million covered lives and over 800 customers in both the large and mid-size employer market.

EDS Responds to National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace

EDS, a leading global IT services company, submitted to the President's Critical Infrastructure Protection Board its review of the draft report of the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace. The draft report, issued in September, is the first national effort to bring together businesses, government agencies, universities and individuals to make cyberspace a safer place in which to communicate and do business. While recent attacks against the Internet Domain Name Service underscored the continuing threat to American cyberspace as well as the level of risk civilized societies must face, those same cyber attacks also demonstrated the resilience of the Internet structure, EDS said. "A national strategy to secure cyberspace is clearly needed," Terry Milholland, EDS senior vice president, chief information officer and chief technology office, wrote. "The National Strategy represents a significant advance in securing the future of the digital economy." The company's response followed a detailed analysis of the far-reaching plan by EDS cyber security experts, EDS Fellows and other corporate thought leaders. EDS also announced that President Bush intends to appoint Albert J. Edmonds, president of EDS U.S. Government Solutions, to serve on the administration's National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC) and help safeguard America's cyber security and economy. The President established the NIAC in 2001 to provide advice on the security of information systems for critical infrastructure supporting various sectors of the economy including energy, banking and finance, transportation, manufacturing and emergency government services. In addition, the Council will propose and develop ways to encourage private industry to perform periodic risk assessments of critical information and telecommunications systems. The 30-member council has expertise relevant to the functions of the NIAC and was selected from industry chief executive officers, academicians and state and local government representatives with responsibilities for the security of critical information infrastructures. Edmonds oversees EDS' relationship with government-from strategic growth planning to delivery of the corporate services portfolio-for all U.S. federal civilian, military and state and local government clients. He has spoken frequently on cyber security and homeland defense issues, and is an advocate of e-government as a means of improving government operations and information sharing across departments and agencies at the federal, state and local levels. "It is a great honor to be called to serve by the President," said Edmonds. "Our nation's critical infrastructure is being targeted by rogue nations and terror cells bent on disrupting our economy and our way of life. Though much of the infrastructure is owned and operated by the commercial sector, government has an important legislative, regulatory and enforcement role to play. Only through the joint cooperation of government and the private sector can we hope to safeguard our critical infrastructure.

PEOPLE

ACS, a premier provider of business process and information technology outsourcing solutions, announced that it has expanded its senior leadership team to include a Managing Director to oversee commercial BPO operations for education services and financial services divisions. ACS has experienced tremendous growth over the past year, especially within the BPO Solutions group. BPO services now account for nearly two-thirds of ACS' annual revenues. ACS' growth has led to new and exciting career opportunities. To sustain this level of growth, ACS continues to expand its leadership team. Randall Booth has joined ACS' commercial BPO Solutions group as Managing Director of BPO Services. This newly created position will enhance ACS' ability to expand BPO services and operations, review business strategies, and create new business opportunities within BPO. Randall will also work to extend the scope of services to existing clients. Randall will have specific responsibility for the Education Services and Financial Services BPO operating units. "Randall's vast experience in the business, technology, and health-care industries make him the ideal candidate for ACS. His experience with payment processing services is a great fit for ACS' expansion of services to the education and financial services vertical markets," said Lynn Blodgett, ACS Group President of BPO Solutions in the commercial sector. Randall comes to ACS with a wealth of operational and business experience from IT industry leaders, including Perot Systems and EDS. During his time at Perot Systems, Randall held a variety of executive positions including Corporate Vice President. As Corporate Vice President, Randall led the Marketing and Business Development activities for all business units. Prior to that, he led Perot Systems' Healthcare Services Division, Perot's largest business unit. In that capacity, he led a team that executed a market development and growth strategy which resulting in the healthcare group's record growth. Randall is a graduate of the University of Georgia, and he has participated in numerous speaking and teaching engagements across the country. ACS, a Fortune 1000 company with nearly 40,000 people supporting operations in 47 countries, provides business process and information technology outsourcing solutions to world-class commercial and government clients. n SHPS, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer David Garner announced that W. Earl Reed, III has been appointed to the SHPS Board of Directors and will chair the Audit committee. "Earl brings nearly three decades of financial, operational, and health care experience to the SHPS family. His executive management and consulting experience will be a great asset to our board," said Garner. "We are extremely fortunate to retain someone of his talent and expertise." "I am pleased to be joining SHPS as a board member," said Reed. "This is an exciting time in the HR outsourcing and medical management industries and I look forward to assisting Dave Garner and his team. The growth opportunities in HR outsourcing are extensive. With the infrastructure Dave has assembled, I am excited about assisting in the future growth of SHPS." Reed is currently Chief Executive Officer of The Allegro Group, a consulting group that provides advisory services for public and privately held health care companies, equity and venture capital firms, and investment banks. Prior to his current position, he was Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer for Rehab Designs of America, a provider of orthotic and prosthetic devices, where he successfully restructured the company under Chapter 11 bankruptcy. He was also Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Vencor, Inc., and has held senior management positions at Humana and Ernst & Young, LLP.

WEBSITE OF THE MONTH

www.cendantmobility.com

The Danbury, CT, relocation company bets on clarity. The clean front page offers four distinct areas of interest for organizations, employees, suppliers, and the compulsory About Us section. The e-Solutions link on the left spells out the client services, complete with online reporting page samples. Click on the samples to get a detailed view. Additional links on the left of the home page will bring you to Cendant's sites in foreign countries and to the secure client/ employees login area. There is also an Office of the President link for experience feedback. Up-to-date white papers, industry trends, and news are available by clicking on the news link or on the logo at the bottom. This site is easy to navigate; information is clear and concise and there is lots of it. Looks like these guys have it all thought out for you-down to your employees' children's moving activity books. That's a Good Thing!