Sovion Selects AT&T as Global Network Provider

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Sovion N.V., one of the 20 largest industrial companies in the Netherlands and among the largest food and health companies worldwide, has chosen AT&T Inc. for its global Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network (IP VPN). Contract terms were not disclosed.

The VPN is based on Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) technology and will integrate locations in Europe (Belgium, France, Germany, Luxemburg, the Netherlands and Spain), Latin America (Argentina and Mexico) and North America (Canada and the United States).

Sovion is undertaking a major IT transformation project and sees its new global network as a key element of this worldwide initiative. The AT&T network fits perfectly with Sovion's drive to reduce cost and increase efficiency by modernizing the company's internal technological platform and to provide a high degree of security.

By standardizing its existing companywide technology platform and creating a single and secured network, Sovion aims to future-proof the company's IT infrastructure by making it easy to implement new technological developments.

The network supports a new global ERP system, which is currently being rolled out, and future voice and video applications while providing significant financial savings for the company by reducing the total cost of ownership.

AT&T is also providing advanced network-based security solutions for the company, based on firewalls located within the AT&T network, eliminating the need for physical firewalls at each location. The AT&T solution reduces cost while increasing flexibility and providing enhanced 24-by-7 control and management.

"We have chosen AT&T for its global presence and guaranteed service levels for an end-to-end MPLS network," said Willem Bastmeijer, CIO at Sovion. "AT&T can offer a flexible approach to the growth and change our company is experiencing."

About the New AT&T

AT&T Inc. is one of the world's largest telecommunications holding companies and is the largest in the United States. Operating globally under the AT&T brand, AT&T companies are recognized as the leading worldwide providers of IP-based communications services to business and as leading U.S. providers of high-speed DSL Internet, local and long distance voice, and directory publishing and advertising services. AT&T Inc. holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular Wireless, which is the No. 1 U.S. wireless services provider with more than 52 million wireless customers. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and AT&T products and services is available at http://www.thenewatt.com/ .

About Sovion

Sovion is the holding company of Vion B.V. and Sobel N.V. and has had its roots in the agricultural sector since the 1930s. Sovion N.V. is characterised by its small, professional holding company, which develops strategy and creates the preconditions for optimal management of the operating entities. Synergy within the group is created and stimulated in various ways, such as the exchange of interdisciplinary knowledge and expertise. With a total of 14,000 employees and an anticipated turnover of more than 6.5 billion Euro in 2005, Sovion is one of the twenty largest industrial companies in the Netherlands and at the same time among the largest food and health company worldwide. The Company is not listed on the stock exchange.