NOVO AND RESCO FORM PARTNERSHIP

Novo has entered into partnership with the Swedish Resco AB in order to perform system purchases for multinationals in Finland, Sweden and Germany. The agreement covers mySAP.com and Microsoft Business Solutions products.

"Through this agreement, Novo aims to obtain customers among Finnish multinational companies in the enterprise resource management area. Novo will seek to provide and implement turnkey solutions for these customers across national borders. The partnership will also support Novo's strategy of internationalising through customer relationships with the help of its partners", says Novo Senior Vice President, Kari Kontula.

"Novo is Finland's second largest IT services company. We have faith in these markets and began operating in Finland ourselves around five years ago. Together with the R3 team we acquired, we will strengthen our business on the basis of this partnership, especially in Finland", comments Resco's CEO, Kjell Jacobsson.

Resco focuses on the provision of customised systems and has locations in Sweden, Germany and Finland. The company was established in 1982 and has around 250 employees. It has been listed on the Stockholm stock exchanges since 1996.

As one of the largest IT service providers in the Nordic countries, Novo has been operating for 30 years. Its net sales totalled EUR 295 million in 2001, and it had a staff of approximately 2,300. Novo provides its customers with IT consulting, software and operating services, and infra solutions. The Group has a nationwide service network in Finland and subsidiaries in the Netherlands, the UK, China, Germany, the USA and Estonia.

More information:

Novo, Senior Vice President Kari Kontula,
tel. +358 20566 6722 or +358 400-320 177

Resco AB, CEO Kjell Jacobsson, tel. +46 708 90 30 50,
kjell.jacobsson@resco.se

Novo's communications, Leena Kauppi-Aalto, tel. 020566 6591,
leena.kauppi-aalto@novogroup.com