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The July 2010 issue includes information about dual reporting and the associated IT challenges, an update on convergence efforts, and an industry update for power and utilities companies.

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Beginning in 2012, the Accounting Standards Board (ASB) proposes to replace Irish GAAP, which would require companies reporting under Irish GAAP to either adopt full IFRS or IFRS for Small and...

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The IRS Announcement 2010-9 proposes a new disclosure regime under which certain large business taxpayers would be required to report their UTPs on their annual business tax returns. Learn about...

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A struggling economy has given private labels a big boost on the store shelf and in consumers’ shopping carts. What should national brands do about this trend?

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Our fourth annual survey finds the recession has eroded trust in the workplace.

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A conversation with Riley Crane of MIT Media Labs around the use of online social networks in enabling business models.

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Paris, August 5, 2010

Capgemini, one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, has been recognized by HP with the Application Implementation Partner of the Year Award at HP Software Universe 2010. Working together for more than 18 years, Capgemini and HP have leveraged their alliance to provide solutions for major financial services clients.

During the awards ceremony at HP Software Universe 2010, Capgemini’s sales and delivery teams were recognized for their application management services that satisfied stakeholders at leading financial services institutions. By leveraging its collaboration with HP, Capgemini has helped one Wall Street firm define a structured, enterprise-wide testing methodology with oversight and governance, allowing the company to better utilize its investment in HP testing products. Capgemini has also helped a major global banking company execute a successful HP Quality Center upgrade for more than 2,000 projects and 10,000 clients and users.

“The combination of Capgemini’s implementation experience and HP’s application testing products and services has offered critical solutions to a number of the world’s largest financial institutions,” said Roy Stansbury, managing director for Capgemini financial services in North America. “Capgemini’s alliance with HP has augmented our clients’ abilities, keeping them armed with the most relevant and cutting-edge application management and testing strategies.”

Other examples of success include Capgemini’s work with a major mutual fund company to configure their HP testing products in order to provide a CIO-level dashboard view of their testing operations, and realize the expected ROI on their tool set. Also, a major custodian bank with worldwide operations was able to define a clear, actionable plan for deploying an enterprise-wide test strategy, using HP testing products and Capgemini’s financial services expertise and strategic approach.

“For well over a decade, we have partnered with Capgemini to respond to client needs, and deliver solutions successfully into the market, resulting in high client satisfaction,” said Scott Strubel, vice president, HP Americas Alliances and Channels. “As HP’s Application Implementation Partner of the Year, Capgemini has effectively demonstrated how they help clients transform their businesses through the innovative use of HP products and services.”

About Capgemini

Capgemini, one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, enables its clients to transform and perform through technologies. Capgemini provides its clients with insights and capabilities that boost their freedom to achieve superior results through a unique way of working, the Collaborative Business ExperienceTM. The Group relies on its global delivery model called Rightshore®, which aims to get the right balance of the best talent from multiple locations, working as one team to create and deliver the optimum solution for clients. Present in more than 30 countries, Capgemini reported 2009 global revenues of EUR 8.4 billion and employs 95,000 people worldwide.

More information is available at www.capgemini.com.

Rightshore® is a trademarks belonging to Capgemini.

About Capgemini Financial Services

Capgemini Financial Services brings deep industry experience, innovative service offerings and next generation global delivery to serve the financial services industry. With a network of 15,000 professionals serving over 900 clients worldwide, Capgemini collaborates with leading banks, insurers and capital market companies to create tangible value.

More information is available at www.capgemini.com/financialservices

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Paris, le 29 juillet 2010 - Cette acquisition vient soutenir l'expansion rapide de l’offre mondiale Smart Energy Services de Capgemini ainsi que le développement de ses activités d'infogérance dans les pays nordiques.

Capgemini, l’un des leaders mondiaux du conseil, des services informatiques et de l’infogérance, fait l’acquisition de Skvader Systems AB (Skvader), un fournisseur de services informatiques et BPO (Business Process Outsourcing, externalisation des processus métier) suédois spécialisé dans le déploiement de compteurs intelligents et la fourniture de solutions innovantes selon un modèle de tarification à la consommation (Managed Business Services). Skvader est l’un des partenaires de Landis+Gyr - l’un des leaders en matière de solutions intégrées de gestion de l’énergie – pour l’installation et la gestion d’un parc de 400 000 compteurs en Suède pour le compte d’E.ON - l’un des premiers fournisseurs mondiaux de gaz et d’électricité. Ce contrat s’inscrit dans le cadre de l’activité Smart Energy Services de Capgemini, accroissant ainsi sa part de marché dans l’énergie intelligente en Suède et plus largement en Europe. Cette acquisition est d’autant plus stratégique que Capgemini estime à plus de 300 millions d’euros la taille du marché des Smart Energy Services dans les pays nordiques au cours des trois prochaines années.

« Après avoir remporté il y a quelques mois un contrat de 94 millions d’euros avec Fortum pour gérer le parc de 860 000 compteurs intelligents de la société en Suède, cette nouvelle acquisition permet à Capgemini de prendre en charge 400 000 compteurs supplémentaires, portant ainsi à 25% notre part de marché dans ce pays,» explique Peter Harris, directeur associé, en charge de la ligne de services Smart Energy Services en Europe. « Skvader a su s’imposer sur le marché des Smart Energy Services dans les pays nordiques, une région qui fait figure de fer de lance dans le domaine de l’énergie intelligente. L’expertise des professionnels de Skvader va nous aider à développer davantage nos activités d’infogérance dans les pays nordiques et à renforcer encore notre offre Smart Energy Services en Europe. »

Avec cette acquisition, Capgemini s’impose comme un acteur puissant sur le marché européen de l’énergie intelligente, en mesure de proposer un large éventail d’expertises et de solutions. Capgemini devient notamment propriétaire d’une solution logicielle développée par Skvader pour gérer des contrats basés sur un modèle de tarification à la consommation. Le fournisseur suédois vend ce logiciel à des Utilities1 et autres fournisseurs de services publics qui permet de gérer - cette fois-ci en mode SaaS2 - 1 million de compteurs intelligents. Ce logiciel complètera les solutions que Capgemini déploie actuellement pour ses contrats de Smart Energy Services en Europe et en Amérique du Nord. Fort de 40 salariés et d’une solide réputation sur le marché scandinave, Skvader dispose d’un portefeuille de contrats de gestion de compteurs intelligents courant sur les 3 prochaines années. Détenue par cinq actionnaires travaillant en son sein, la société dégage une solide performance et rentabilité depuis sa création en 2000.

Pour Gunnar Hedbris, l’un des fondateurs de Skvader : « Le marché de l’énergie intelligente ne va cesser de croître en Europe au cours de la prochaine décennie. Nous sommes ravis de rejoindre un groupe aux ambitions mondiales, disposant d’une expertise reconnue dans le domaine des « Smart Energy », une technologie-clé pour l’avenir du secteur de l’énergie.»

Smart Energy Services fait partie des cinq offres lancées dans le cadre du programme Business as Unusual de Capgemini. Grâce à cette ligne mondiale de services, Capgemini fournit aux Utilities une gamme complète de solutions intelligentes autour des compteurs (smart metering), des réseaux (smart grid) et des foyers (smart home) ainsi que des outils analytiques (smart analytics)*. Cette offre s’appuie sur la solide expérience acquise par Capgemini depuis 2004 au fil des projets menés pour plus de 20 Utilities en Amérique du Nord et en Europe. « Smart Energy Services » repose sur un modèle de tarification basé sur la consommation (Managed Business Services), qui offre aux Utilities une plus grande flexibilité tout en permettant de limiter leur investissement de départ.

Pour plus d’informations sur l’offre Smart Energy Services de Capgemini, rendez-vous sur :
www.capgemini.com/smartenergy.

A propos de Capgemini
Capgemini, un des leaders mondiaux du conseil, des services informatiques et de l’infogérance, aide ses clients à se transformer et à améliorer leurs performances en leur conseillant les technologies les plus adaptées. Capgemini s’engage ainsi à favoriser la liberté d’action de ses clients et à accroître leurs résultats, en s’appuyant sur une méthode de travail unique - la « Collaborative Business ExperienceTM ». Pour fournir à ses clients une solution optimale, le Groupe a organisé un modèle de production mondialisé baptisé Rightshore®, qui réunit les meilleurs talents dans le monde pour les faire travailler comme une seule équipe sur un projet. Présent dans plus de 30 pays, Capgemini a réalisé en 2009 un chiffre d’affaires de 8,4 milliards d’euros et emploie 90 000 personnes dans le monde.

Rightshore® est une marque du Groupe Capgemini

Définitions :

Compteur intelligent (Smart Metering) :
Compteur disposant de technologies avancées qui identifient de manière plus détaillée et précise, et éventuellement en temps réel, la consommation énergétique d’un foyer, d’un bâtiment ou d’une entreprise, et la transmettent, au gestionnaire des données de comptage. Ses avantages :

• mise en place d’un modèle de tarification permettant aux consommateurs de gagner en flexibilité et de réduire leur  consommation

• réduction des coûts d’exploitation liés à la relève et à l’entretien des compteurs
• processus de surveillance et de contrôle des réseaux de distribution d’électricité, visant à améliorer la fiabilité, la qualité et de la sécurité

Réseau intelligent (Smart Grid) :
Réseau de distribution d’électricité intelligent qui utilise des technologies informatiques de manière à optimiser la production et la distribution et mieux mettre en relation l’offre et la demande entre les producteurs et les consommateurs d’électricité. Ses avantages :

• optimisation des ressources avec communication bidirectionnelle et gestion avancée des applications
• amélioration de l’efficacité énergétique et réduction des émissions de CO2 grâce à la réduction des pertes en ligne
• amélioration de la fiabilité grâce à une meilleure connaissance de l’état du réseau vigilance et une meilleure gestion des incidents

Foyer intelligent (Smart Home) :
Système donnant à chaque utilisateur la possibilité de contrôler son propre usage énergétique. Ses avantages :
gestion des appareils électriques et de la consommation énergétique au niveau du client
mise en place par les Utilities de programmes de maitrise de la demande flexibles, efficaces et rentables
programmes de gestion de la production distribuée et alternative
Outils d’analyse intelligente (Smart Analytics for Utilities) :

Solution de business intelligence qui permet aux Utilities d’exploiter la valeur des données complexes générées au sein de leur propre organisation et par le déploiement d’un réseau et de compteurs intelligents AMI (Automated Metering Infrastructure). Cette solution s’appuie sur TeradataTM Databaseet et Teradata Utilities Logical Data Model (uLDM), permettant d’accélérer la mise en oeuvre des fonctionnalités requises et la création de valeur pour les clients.

1. Utilities : sociétés de services publics opérant dans les secteurs de l’eau, de l’énergie, des transports et de la propreté.
2. SaaS (Sofware as a Service) est un modèle de livraison de solution où l’éditeur/constructeur fournit des moyens et où le fournisseur de service propose (généralement dans le cadre d’un abonnement récurrent) la fonctionnalité intégrée et gérée aux clients qui l’utiliseront. Ces derniers ne paient pas pour posséder le logiciel en lui-même mais plutôt pour l’utiliser.

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Paris, July 29, 2010 – Deal adds further fuel to rapid growth of Capgemini’s global Smart Energy Services Practice and to outsourcing business in the Nordics.

Capgemini Group, one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, has today announced its acquisition of Skvader Systems AB (Skvader), an IT and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) service provider based in Sweden and specialising in the provision of smart meter deployment services and smart meter managed business services. Skvader is one of the delivery partners of Landis+Gyr, a leading provider of integrated energy management solutions, in Landis+Gyr’s contract for the installation and management of 400 000 meters in Sweden at E.ON, one of the world’s largest power and gas companies. This will now be a part of Capgemini’s Smart Energy Services business, further extending the company’s share of both the Swedish and European smart energy market. Capgemini estimates that over €300m of smart energy service contracts will come to the Nordics over the next three years, underlining the strategic significance of this acquisition.

“After winning a €94m contract with Fortum to manage the company’s portfolio of 860,000 smart meters in Sweden earlier this year, this latest acquisition sees our Smart Energy Services practice secure a further 400,000 meters and consequently a market share of 25% in Sweden.” said Peter Harris, Vice President and European leader of Capgemini’s Smart Energy Services. “Skvader has built a strong and successful Smart Energy Services business in the Nordics, a region that is leading the charge in the deployment of Smart Energy technologies. Leveraging the specialist skills of Skvader’s employee base will contribute to expanding our Outsourcing Services business across the Nordic region, and building our Smart Energy Services practice across Europe.”

By integrating Skvader into its business Capgemini will create a powerful force in the European smart energy market with proven depth and scale of capabilities and solutions. As a part of the deal Capgemini will acquire a software solution developed by Skvader to support its managed business services contracts. The software is sold to other Utilities and Utility service providers through SaaS contracts to support a 1 million smart meter deployments. This software will enhance the solutions that Capgemini currently deploys in support of Smart Energy Services contracts in Europe and North America.

With 40 employees and a strong reputation in the Scandinavian market, Skvader has committed smart metering contracts for the next 3 years. Owned by five shareholders all currently  working within the business, the company has been profitable and successful since its inception in 2000.

Gunnar Hedbris, one of the founders of Skvader comments: “As the smart energy market grows across Europe over the next decade, we are excited to be a part of an organisation that has global ambition, proven expertise and a passion for the potential that this technology represents for the energy industry. We look forward to being a part of that.”

Smart Energy Services is part of the 5 offerings launched by Capgemini group in its Business as Unusual’ program.This global service line is providing the full spectrum of smart metering, smart grid, smart home solutions and smart analytics* to utilities across the globe. The offering leverages a range of proven services and best practices successfully developed by Capgemini since 2004 working with more than 20 North American and European utilities. Also central to the Smart Energy Services offering is the company’s proprietary Managed Business Services, a usage-based pricing model designed to offer greater flexibility for the utility, which reduces risk by minimizing large upfront capital expenditure.

For more information about Capgemini’s Smart Energy Services offering, please visit www.capgemini.com/smartenergy.

About Capgemini
Capgemini, one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, enables its clients to transform and perform through technologies. Capgemini provides its clients with insights and capabilities that boost their freedom to achieve superior results through a unique way of working, the Collaborative Business ExperienceTM. The Group relies on its global delivery model called Rightshore®, which aims to get the right balance of the best talent from multiple locations, working as one team to create and deliver the optimum solution for clients. Present in more than 30 countries, Capgemini reported 2009 global revenues of EUR 8.4 billion and employs 90,000 people worldwide.
Rightshore® is a trademark belonging to Capgemini

Note to Editor:
Smart Metering:
Smart Metering is the foundation of Smart Grid and provides:

• Enhanced Tariff capabilities enabling consumers to make choices, change behavior and lower consumption
• Reduced operational costs associated with meter reading and maintenance
• Enablement of grid monitoring and control processes to improve reliability, power quality and security

Smart Grid:
Smart Grid enables operational efficiency and distributed generation. It provides:

• Asset optimization with two-way communications and advanced applications management
• Energy efficiency and CO2 reduction with line loss reduction
• Improved reliability with enhanced situational awareness and outage management services

Smart Home:
Smart Home gives the customers the ability to monitor and control energy usage and provides:

• Customer controlled appliance and energy management
• Flexible, efficient and cost effective utility demand response programs
• Distributed and alternative generation management and dispatching programs

Smart Analytics for Utilities:
A business intelligence solution which helps Utilities to realize value from the complex data generated in their organization and by smart grid and AMI (Automated Metering Infrastructure) deployments. It is architected on the industry leading TeradataTM Database and Teradata Utilities Logical Data Model (uLDM) to accelerate the time to deliver required functionality and value to clients.

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