Sandvik concludes agreement with Accenture on outsourcing of HR services

Sandvik has concluded an agreement with Accenture covering outsourcing of parts of human resources (HR) administration. The agreement is for ten years and in a first phase includes the US, Finland and Sweden. It is the partners’ intention to also include France, Germany, the UK, South Africa, India and Australia in a later phase of the process. Pursuant to the agreement, some of the duties that are currently carried out by Sandvik’s HR staff will be handled by Accenture through so-called Shared Service Centers. Examples of services that Accenture will supply are telephone support, certain recruitment activities, training administration and personnel administration routines. One purpose with the change is to facilitate a focus of the human resources work within Sandvik on strategically important HR issues, such as leadership and resourcing as well as competence development. Those personnel affected by the change within the personnel administration areas will be offered employment at Accenture. Sandviken, 16 November 2004 Sandvik AB; (publ) For additional information please contact Carina Malmgren Heander, Group Vice President Human Resources Sandvik AB, +46 26 26 10 44. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------