Lawson Announces Partnership with ASCENTA for Enterprise Software Sales in Romanian Market
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, June 28, 2007 – Lawson Software today announced a new partnership with ASCENTA, an information technology (IT) business management consultancy and a division of Softwin. Softwin is one of the largest IT companies in Eastern Europe, employing more than 1,000 people. Under the new partnership, ASCENTA will sell and support Lawson enterprise software solutions to companies and organizations in Romania. ASCENTA will support market development and help local businesses comply with new European standards for a number of industries, including manufacturing, distribution and retail, following its admission into the European Union in January 2007.
According to Eurostat, Romania has experienced an annual economic growth rate of 5.8 percent over the past five years, giving it one of the fastest growing economies in Europe. A similar growth rage of 5.5 percent is expected for the coming year. Up until recent years, the main drivers of economic growth were traditionally exports from heavy industries such as steel, but today Romania is benefiting from an increase in domestic demand and the manufacturing of goods such as automotive parts.
Working with Lawson, ASCENTA offers enterprise software solutions for these growing market sectors. Lawson solutions help optimize business processes to maintain competitiveness, boost employee productivity and achieve a lower total cost of ownership, while helping to minimize disruption during software migrations or upgrade projects.
“With this new partnership and looking at the IT software and services landscape, we see the potential for opening new markets in working with Lawson,” said Horatiu Berdila, commercial director, ASCENTA. “Our partnership with Lawson reflects years of experience within both the Romanian and international IT market and is a good fit in terms of product, experience and expertise to help our customers achieve the best business potential.”
“Romania is an interesting market. Following its official entrance into the EU, the country has become a focal point for domestic growth and foreign investment,” said Fady Sfeir, vice president of channel development at Lawson in EMEA. “With this boom, it is crucial for Romanian businesses to invest in the right IT solutions to meet new European standards and to optimize business processes and employee productivity to remain competitive. We already have several customers live in Romania, using fully localized versions of Lawson solutions.”
ASCENTA provides Lawson customers in Romania local support for software localization, implementation, training, maintenance, and IT and business consulting.
For more information please contact:
Lut Verschueren
Lawson Software
Europe Media
+ 32 (0)9 236 16 36
lut.verschueren@be.lawson.com
Beverly Alton
Firefly Communications
+ 44 (0) 20 7386 1479
Beverly.Alton@fireflycomms.com
About ASCENTA
ASCENTA became the IT consultancy and software solutions division of Softwin Group in November 2006. ASCENTA’s mission is to offer IT consultancy in business-process and integrated solutions to companies and institutions active in public administration, insurance, finance and banking, logistics and distribution, manufacturing, retail, communications, and utilities. ASCENTA is a division of over 100 top specialists: consultants, developers, project managers and quality managers. ASCENTA continues to build on Softwin’s 16 years’ experience in the field and intends to become an important provider for complex IT business solutions in the regional market.
About Lawson
Lawson provides software and service solutions to 4,000 customers in the manufacturing, distribution, maintenance and service sector industries across 40 countries. Lawson solutions include enterprise performance management, supply chain management, enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management, manufacturing resource planning, enterprise asset management and industry-tailored applications. Lawson solutions help customers simplify their businesses or organizations by streamlining processes, reducing costs and enhancing business or operational performance. Lawson is headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., U.S., and has offices around the world. Visit Lawson online at www.lawson.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that contain risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements contain statements of intent, belief or current expectations of Lawson Software and its management. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the potential results discussed in the forward-looking statements. The company is not obligated to update forward-looking statements based on circumstances or events that occur in the future. Risks and uncertainties that may cause such differences include but are not limited to: uncertainties in Lawson’s ability to realize synergies and revenue opportunities anticipated from the Intentia International acquisition; uncertainties in the software industry; uncertainties as to when and whether the conditions for the recognition of deferred revenue will be satisfied; global military conflicts; terrorist attacks; pandemics, and any future events in response to these developments; changes in conditions in the company's targeted industries; increased competition and other risk factors listed in the company's most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Lawson assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release.
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