DGAP-News: DATAGROUP AG / Key word(s): Agreement DATAGROUP AG: DATAGROUP and Hewlett Packard Enterprise sign memorandum of understanding to enter delivery network 17.03.2016 / 11:30 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- DATAGROUP and Hewlett Packard Enterprise sign memorandum of understanding to enter delivery network DATAGROUP is exclusive negotiation partner for the takeover of SAP and application management employees from Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Pliezhausen, March 17, 2016. DATAGROUP AG (WKN A0JC8S) intends to take over parts of HPE's supply chain in the fields of SAP and application outsourcing in the future. In this way, the company seeks to secure itself a guaranteed sales volume in the triple-digit millions over the next 5 years. Additionally, DATAGROUP seeks to take over up to 400 SAP and application management experts from HPE to accelerate further growth. In October 2015, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) had announced its intentions to enter into a delivery network with partners for its German-based services in the fields of IT infrastructure outsourcing and application outsourcing to have a more flexible supply chain. HPE will now enter into exclusive negotiations with DATAGROUP for the application outsourcing part. 'SAP and application management services are strategic growth areas of DATAGROUP and are strongly sought after by the market', says Max H.-H. Schaber, CEO of DATAGROUP AG. 'Taking over IT experts from HPE offers the best development opportunities for both companies, its employees and customers. The HPE employees are qualified specialists, with whom we can significantly expand our performance level and market position at a single stroke.' At the same time, the memorandum provides for the establishment of a delivery network between DATAGROUP and HPE. This means that DATAGROUP, following successful contract signing, will render the services of HPE's existing application management and SAP customer contracts with the acquired employees. Customers will thus benefit from a consistent high service quality, DATAGROUP from guaranteed revenues and a high utilisation of the new employees. Going forward, DATAGROUP and HPE plan to go to market together to acquire further attractive customers in this growth segment. 'For DATAGROUP, this preferred partnership stands for outstanding development and business opportunities, which may extend far beyond the guaranteed sales volume', comments DATAGROUP COO Dirk Peters. 'Together with the HPE experts from the German-based SAP and application management we can strongly push our growth and will be able to offer our customers even more high-quality IT services in the future.' Inorganic growth is an integral part of DATAGROUP's corporate strategy. Since its IPO in 2006, the IT service provider has acquired 17 companies and company parts, including those equalling the size planned now. 'Today they all are successful parts of DATAGROUP and attend to customers worldwide from their base in Germany. It is very important for us to welcome new employees right from the start. We offer an attractive working environment for the HPE employees and want to sustainably develop the company together with them,' comments DATAGROUP CEO Schaber. Comprehensive experience in integrating employees, in addition to specialised expertise, is a major reason why HPE has decided for DATAGROUP as exclusive negotiation partner for the SAP and application outsourcing. About DATAGROUP: DATAGROUP is a leading German IT service company. Over 1,400 employees at 16 locations across Germany design, implement, and operate IT infrastructure and business applications such as SAP. With its product CORBOX, DATAGROUP is a full-service provider, serving over 360,000 global IT workstations for medium and large enterprises as well as for public-sector clients. In other words: 'We manage IT'. The company is growing organically and through acquisitions. The acquisition strategy is particularly noted for its optimal integration of the new companies. DATAGROUP is actively participating in the IT service market's consolidation process with its 'buy and turn around' and its 'buy and build' strategy. Contact: DATAGROUP AG Dr. Michael Klein Investor Relations Wilhelm-Schickard-Str. 7 D-72124 Pliezhausen T +49-7127-970-059 F +49-7127-970-033 [email protected] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17.03.2016 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: DATAGROUP AG Wilhelm-Schickard-Str. 7 72124 Pliezhausen Germany Phone: +49 (0)7127 970 000 Fax: +49 (0)7127 970 033 Internet: www.datagroup.de ISIN: DE000A0JC8S7 WKN: A0JC8S Listed: Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Munich, Stuttgart; Open Market (Entry Standard) in Frankfurt End of News DGAP News Service --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 445813 17.03.2016