Nielsen and Tata Consultancy Services Reach Agreement in Principle for IT & Operations Support Services Worldwide

Nielsen and Tata Consultancy Services Reach Agreement in Principle for IT & Operations Support Services Worldwide

October 22, 2007

Deal Worth US$1.2 Billion Over Ten Years

    NEW YORK and MUMBAI, India, Oct. 22 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/
-- The Nielsen Company, the world's leading provider of
consumer and media information services, and Tata
Consultancy Services (TCS), a leading IT services, business
solutions and outsourcing organization, announced today they
have reached an agreement in principle for outsourcing a
portion of Nielsen's Information Technology (IT) and
Operations functions worldwide.  Nielsen and TCS are in
negotiations on a definitive agreement which they expect to
execute in the near future.  

    Under the proposed ten-year agreement, valued at
approximately $US1.2 billion, TCS will assume
responsibility for important IT and Operational processes
and help Nielsen integrate and centralize multiple systems,
technologies and processes on a global scale.  TCS also will
assume responsibility for certain Finance and Human Resource
business processes, which will be executed on new BPO
platforms built by TCS.  

    The Nielsen Company provides a wide range of global
services, including television and Internet audience
measurement, insight and analysis of consumer behavior for
the packaged goods and retail industries, services to
clients in print, online and mobile media services,
entertainment, books, video and the music industries, and
is a major provider of business publications and trade
shows.  

    "Nielsen is moving quickly to transform an
outstanding group of operating businesses into an
integrated, market-focused organization that delivers
high-value information services to our clients," said
Mitchell Habib, executive vice president in charge of
Nielsen Global Business Services.  "This arrangement
with TCS will help us streamline and simplify our IT
infrastructure and application platforms and operational
practices across our businesses, support the development of
integrated solutions and give us much greater flexibility to
respond quickly to changes in the marketplace," added
Habib.  "We are delighted to be working with the TCS
team and look forward to a long and productive
relationship."

    TCS' Full Service Capabilities

    TCS said it will provide this service to Nielsen
through its full-service model, leveraging consulting, IT,
infrastructure and Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO)
services delivered through its Network Delivery Model
(GNDMTM).  The global model will help Nielsen align complex
global IT and operational processes, deliver high quality
services to its clients and create cost efficiencies.  

    "The Nielsen engagement showcases our domain
knowledge and our ability to manage and execute complex
transformation engagements across the globe. It highlights
the level of strategic engagement that TCS enjoys with
global customers like The Nielsen Company," said S.
Ramadorai, Chief Executive Officer and MD, Tata Consultancy
Services.

    N. Chandrasekaran, Chief Operating Officer and
Executive Director, TCS said, "This landmark agreement
with Nielsen combines our traditional strength in IT
services with our growing prowess in areas like
infrastructure and enterprise transformation, consulting,
and platform-based BPO.  The engagement underlines not only
our ability to efficiently run the business but also help
transform it.  We continue to deliver sustained business
value to our customers and help them experience
certainty."

    The implementation of next generation technology
platforms and processes will enable faster and enriched
information service delivery for Nielsen.  TCS will also
set up an Innovation Lab with Nielsen to help the customer
conceptualize the next generation of business solutions for
its end-clients globally.  

    The BPO platforms will help Nielsen consolidate and
transform its processes and systems into a single platform,
thereby providing real-time access to organization
performance and reporting.  The BPO services cover
end-to-end financial services in such processes as accounts
receivable and payable, billing, credit & collections
and general accounting, and HR processes, including
workforce administration, global reporting and payroll
services.

    As part of the agreement, TCS said it will take direct
responsibility for a Nielsen team based in Baroda, Gujarat,
that has developed significant expertise in key
information-management processes for Nielsen's Retail
Measurement Services, one of Nielsen's core products for
packaged goods manufacturers and retailers.  The addition
of this team will complement TCS' established Knowledge
Process Outsourcing (KPO) team and help to accelerate
development of TCS' KPO service delivery platform.  This
development will enhance TCS' domain expertise and make it
one of the largest KPO providers in India, working in such
areas as analytics and reporting and reference data
management.

    About The Nielsen Company 

    The Nielsen Company is a global information and media
company with leading market positions and recognized brands
in marketing information (ACNielsen), media information
(Nielsen Media Research), online intelligence (NetRatings
and BuzzMetrics), trade shows and business publications
(Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Adweek). The privately
held company is active in more than 100 countries, with
headquarters in Haarlem, the Netherlands, and New York,
USA.  For more information, please visit
http://www.nielsen.com .

    About Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS)

    Tata Consultancy Services is an IT services, business
solutions and outsourcing organization that delivers real
results to global businesses, ensuring a level of certainty
no other firm can match.  TCS offers a consulting-led,
integrated portfolio of IT and IT-enabled services
delivered through its unique Global Network Delivery Model,
recognized as the benchmark of excellence in software
development.  
	
    A part of the Tata Group, India's largest industrial
conglomerate, TCS has over 94,000 of the world's best
trained IT consultants in 47 countries.  The Company
generated consolidated revenues of US $4.3 billion for
fiscal year ended 31 March, 2007, and is listed on the
National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange in India.
For more information, visit TCS at http://www.tcs.com . 

    All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are
protected by law.



    For more information, please contact:

     Adrian Lee
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]