RUTHERFORD, N.J. & JOHANNESBURG, South Africa--(BUSINESS
WIRE)--Jan. 20, 2004--AXS-One (Pty) Ltd., a wholly owned South
African subsidiary of AXS-One Inc. (AMEX: AXO), today announced that
it was awarded a multi-million dollar contract with Siemens Business
Services (SBS) during December 2003. The contract includes one
component for license fees for its Web Services architected
financial applications and another component for professional
services to be provided over the next eight years.
In 2002, the Department of Labour (DoL) entered into a
groundbreaking 10-year information and technology partnership with
SBS to improve service delivery. The Public Private Partnership
(PPP) provides a vast range of IT solutions and services - including
hardware, software, maintenance and support. Through this
partnership, SBS assumes responsibility for the design, building,
operation and maintenance of the Department's IT systems and for the
technology risks associated with a project of this size. In order to
contribute towards achieving the IT objectives of this partnership
mandated under the PPP, AXS-One have been contracted to supply their
Web Services product line, AXS-One(R) Enterprise version 8w, to
enhance the functionality of the existing financial software modules
currently being utilised and to provide integration technology
between the core modules and other line of business systems.
"The contract underpins the value of our financial products that
were originally implemented by the Unemployment Insurance Fund and
the Compensation Fund and their appropriateness to today's
environment, as well as confirming AXS-One's ability to keep abreast
of new technologies through innovation," commented Al Clegg,
Managing Director of AXS-One (Pty) Ltd.
Mr. Clegg continued, "The second component of this contract,
estimated at US$5.6 million (36 million Rand based on exchange at
date of contract signing), calls for AXS-One (Pty) Ltd to act as a
sub-contractor to SBS for the remainder of the PPP outsourcing
initiative, which spans a period of approximately eight years. This
contract provides for the supply of services around the AXS-One
products in use at the DoL and includes enhancements, maintenance
and business improvement benefits that can be derived from new
technology that will be introduced over the duration of the PPP.
This services contract is an important milestone for us in that it
also justifies our investment in the government-assisted graduate
training program announced two years ago, thereby enabling us to now
meet both our own and SBS/DoL's empowerment objectives."
"We realise that AXS-One is a global leader in the provision of
Web enabled financial products and are delighted for them to be
partnering with us in this DoL initiative," added Adrian Overberg,
SBS Contract Manager for the PPP agreement. "The contract with
AXS-One allows us to share both risks and rewards associated with
the extensive financial processing requirements of the PPP
agreement. Furthermore, we are continually looking at cutting cost
while increasing IT enablement; this contract allows us to deliver
more within currently allocated budgets."
"AXS-One is the global leader in the provision of Web Services
and this major contract with SBS underscores that position,"
commented John Rade, CEO and President of AXS-One Inc. "We are
delighted to partner with SBS in this very important endeavour, and
look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship.
Additionally, these contracts solidify our position in South Africa
and provide long-term, predictable revenue for us in this important
market."
AXS-One Enterprise version 8w, the first-to-market financial
management application suite built on a web services architecture,
can automate transactions between and among the organisation and its
customers, partners and suppliers. The web services architecture
allows an organisation to connect internal systems, integrate its
trading partners and customer systems into its processes, easily
describe, store and exchange information, and efficiently manage the
entire supply chain.
Version 8w uses the Internet to network an organisation's
financial value chain, making it easy to manage revenue and
expenses, allocate resources in the face of changing business
requirements, display financial information to those who need it,
and leverage cost positions to improve bottom-line results. It
easily interoperates with existing systems to preserve an
organisation's investment in current technology. AXS-One announced
AXS-One Enterprise version 8w, the Silver Anniversary edition of
AXS-One's financial management solutions, in June 2003.
For further information, please contact Marisa Bennett, AXS-One
(Pty) Ltd, (011) 802-4998, e-mail mbennett@axsone.com or Carrie
Gray, Siemens South Africa, (011) 652-2145, e-mail
carrie.gray@siemens.com.
About AXS-One Inc:
AXS-One (AMEX: AXO - News) is a provider of supply chain
management solutions for service industries that extend the finance
function and allow organizations to work collaboratively with their
partners, suppliers, employees, and customers while preserving
investments in existing systems. AXS-One has implemented
high-volume, interoperable, scalable and secure business solutions
for the global 2000. Its Web Services-based technology has been
critically acclaimed as best of class. AXS-One has approximately 250
employees in offices worldwide, including Australia, Canada,
Singapore, United Kingdom, United States, and South Africa. AXS-One
was founded in 1978, and is based in Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.A.
For further information, visit www.axsone.com.
About Siemens Business Services:
Siemens Business Services is an internationally leading IT
services and solutions provider. This Siemens Group offers services
all along the IT service chain from a single source - from
consulting to systems integration, right through to the management
of IT infrastructures. Thanks to comprehensive know-how and
sector-specific expertise, the company provides measurable added
value for its customers. With regard to outsourcing and IT
maintenance, Siemens Business Services is among the top ten
providers worldwide. Siemens Business Services, Southern Africa,
boast a turnover in excess of ZAR 700 million for fiscal year 2003
(ending 30 September 2003). With a black economic empowerment
shareholding of 37.6%, Siemens Business Services is the only global
IT Company with such credentials. The company currently has
approximately 560 employees in the southern African region. Further
information visit www.siemens.co.za/sbs.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Such
statements are only predictions and actual events or results may
differ materially. All forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties, including, without limitation, the risks detailed in
the company's documents and reports filed from time to time with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
AXS-One, the AXS-One logo, "Access Tomorrow Today," AXSPoint, and
TransAXS are registered trademarks of, and e-Cellerator, AXS Desk,
"AXS-One Collaboration FrameWorks," SMART, and Tivity are trademarks
of, AXS-One Inc., in the U.S. All other company and product names
are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
companies.
CONTACT: AXS-One Inc.
Company Contact:
Bernard Cassidy,
201-372-6231
bcassidy@axsone.com
or
Hayden Communications,
Inc.
Agency Contact:
Matthew Hayden,
760-487-1137
matt@haydenir.com
SOURCE: AXS-One
Inc.