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Guthy-Renker Extends Consumer Direct Services Agreement with EDS, an HP Company


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PLANO, Texas, EDS, an HP company, and Guthy-Renker, one of the world’s largest direct response marketers, today announced a four-year, $531 million contract extension and expansion to the companies’ 13-year relationship.

The new agreement for consumer direct business process outsourcing (BPO) services supports Guthy-Renker’s growing customer base in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other international territories.

“EDS remains an important and trusted business partner to Guthy-Renker as we grow our business across new products, channels and markets,” said Kevin Knee, co-president and partner at Guthy-Renker. “As we execute our growth strategy, we rely on EDS’ global reach, industry knowledge and technology expertise to help us deliver an exceptional customer experience.”

Since 1995, EDS has provided Guthy-Renker with consumer direct services that span order and payment processing, warehouse and fulfillment, and call center/customer service to support its global operations and growth. EDS services also help increase revenues through up-selling and customer retention for Guthy-Renker’s products such as Proactiv® Solution and Sheer Cover®.

EDS will also work closely with Guthy-Renker to design, develop, deploy and operate an integrated global order management and customer relationship management (CRM) system. This new system will allow Guthy-Renker to quickly and efficiently add new products and promotions in current and new markets worldwide. EDS’ investment in this new technology platform will also deliver new multi-channel capabilities that enhance EDS’ consumer direct services to other clients.

“EDS’ experience, global footprint and scalability allow us to help Guthy-Renker identify and capture new revenue opportunities, improve customer loyalty and deliver superior customer service,” said Mike Klaus, vice president of Global Consumer Industries and Retail at EDS, an HP company. “As Guthy-Renker’s long-time business ally, the EDS team is committed to delivering world-class direct-to-consumer services that support product launches, sales and overall business performance.”

EDS has more than 30 years of experience in direct marketing, fulfillment and distribution. EDS’ Consumer Direct Services BPO offering allows clients to outsource all of their direct-to-customer interaction activities, from customer service and ordering to product fulfillment and distribution. EDS delivers contact center services in 48 languages from locations in 26 countries.

EDS serves more than 200 consumer and retail industry clients. As a leading provider in the consumer and retail industries, EDS focuses on a variety of market segments including food/beverage, apparel/footwear, consumer products and retail outlets including restaurants, mass/department, grocery, drug, convenience, online/catalog and specialty.

About Guthy-Renker

Established in 1988, Guthy-Renker is one of the world’s largest direct response television companies with annual sales of $1.8 billion dollars. It is known as the leading producer of high-quality infomercials and products designed for direct response television sales. Guthy-Renker has domestic offices in Palm Desert, Calif. and Santa Monica, Calif. and International offices in England, Sweden, Germany, Japan, China, Australia and India. The company also sells Guthy-Renker products through third party distributors based throughout each continent - with new relationships forming each year. Guthy-Renker has a superior track record of customer satisfaction for two decades.

Originally launched as a television direct marketer by Co-CEOs Bill Guthy and Greg Renker, the independently-owned, vertically-integrated company has since broadened its focus into every area of electronic retailing, making quality products available to U.S. and international consumers through broadcast television, cable and satellite, as well as internet, telemarketing, direct mail and retail channels. Learn more at guthy-renker.com.

About EDS

EDS, an HP company, is a leading global technology services provider, delivering business solutions to its customers. EDS founded the information technology outsourcing industry more than 46 years ago. Today, EDS delivers a broad portfolio of information technology, applications and business process outsourcing services to customers in the manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, communications, energy, transportation, and consumer and retail industries, and to governments around the world.

About HP

HP, the world’s largest technology company, provides printing and personal computing products and IT services, software and solutions that simplify the technology experience for consumers and businesses. HP completed its acquisition of EDS on Aug. 26, 2008. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning expected development, performance or market share relating to products and services; anticipated operational and financial results; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the execution and performance of contracts by HP and its customers, suppliers and partners; the achievement of expected results; and other risks that are described in HP’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2008 and HP’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to HP’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2007. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

EDS and the EDS logo are registered trademarks of Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP. HP is an equal opportunity employer and values the diversity of its people. © 2008 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP.



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