Bochum/Berlin, December 12, 2002 - The German company Klaus Steilmann GmbH & Co. KG located in Bochum and Cap Gemini Ernst & Young Deutschland GmbH have signed an agreement for ten years pursuant to which Steilmann is outsourcing its IT department.

"With our new company strategy we address the challenges of the market and focus on our own new lines. The changes related to the internal and external business processes have to be implemented in a fast and professional way. A relationship with a consultant like Cap Gemini Ernst & Young enhances our competitiveness, and strengthens our position as one of the leading clothing manufacturing companies in Europe", states Britta Steilmann, CEO of the Steilmann Group.

In the outsourcing agreement Cap Gemini Ernst & Young will provide the IT services for the Klaus Steilmann GmbH & Co. KG and its German subsidiaries. The outsourcing agreement covers the following services:

• Developing and continuing the IT strategy of the Steilmann Group: Updating and reorganization of the IT structure to create an environment reflecting the business strategy.
• Taking over and operation of the applications management: Out-of-the-box systems like SAP, Paisy and individual solutions in the logistics area, further enhancement and implementation of new features of the enterprise resource planning system as well as the redesign of its technical foundation.
• Taking over and operation of the overall IT infrastructure: computer center, local wide area network, desktop management for 1,300 workstations, replacement of the legacy mainframe solution, merchandising and consolidation of the IT infrastructure at every German site.

"With the Steilmann Group we were able to win one of the most important companies in the European clothing sector. The agreement enables us to further extend our market position in the outsourcing business in Central Europe," states Raimund Hörmann, CEO of the outsourcing business of Cap Gemini Ernst & Young in Central Europe. In addition both companies will carry out further common projects.

The Steilmann Group is a one of the largest European clothing companies with more than 12,000 employees worldwide. After Britta Steilmann became CEO in August 2001, the group of companies was realigned from a product oriented manufacturer to a marketing oriented partner for procurement and services. In its more than forty years of company history the Steilmann Group has been acting as a pace setter in various segments like the environmental commitment. By outsourcing the IT sector Steilman again proves foresight, after the group was one of the first companies which introduced an own IT department.

Cap Gemini Ernst & Young is one of the largest companies for management and IT consulting world-wide and the largest Europe-based consulting company. In Germany, the organisation is ranked second. Cap Gemini Ernst & Young offers strategy, management and IT consulting, system integration and outsourcing on a global scale. In addition, we help companies develop and implement growth strategies in the New Economy. Around 55,000 work with the organization, realising revenues of more than 8.4 bn. Euro in 2001. If you wish more information on Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, its services and press releases, please visit us under www.de.cgey.com.

For queries:

Cap Gemini Ernst & Young PR-Director: Thomas Becker

Kurfürstendamm 21 Fax: +49/30/88703-739

10719 Berlin