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TELECOM

Ericsson buys French IT consultancy unit

Swedish telecommunications equipment maker Ericsson said on Monday it would buy the telecom and media unit of French technology consultant Devoteam.

Ericsson buys French IT consultancy unit

Around 400 France-based IT services professionals will join the company under a deal the company said would strengthen its consulting capabilities.

“Acquiring activities of Devoteam adds unique expertise in complex, strategic and technical consulting engagements that will enable us to immediately enhance the value that we bring to our customers,” said Magnus Mandersson, an Ericsson executive vice president.

Ericsson would also acquire Devoteam’s TV SmartVision operations.

The value of the transaction, which is expected to take place in the second quarter of 2013, was not disclosed.

SEE ALSO: Swedish techies hail 30 years of mobile phones

“Ericsson is a key business partner of Devoteam – notably in UK and Mediterranean countries – and we hope that this transaction will further strengthen our relationship,” said Derek Nutley, telecoms director at Devoteam.

Ericsson said Devoteam has 5,000 employees in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

AFP/The Local/dl

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SWEDEN AND UKRAINE

Ericsson suspends all Russia operations indefinitely

Swedish network equipment maker Ericsson said Monday that it was suspending all of its Russian operations over the war in Ukraine for the foreseeable future.

Ericsson suspends all Russia operations indefinitely

The telecom giant already announced in late February that it would stop all deliveries to Russia following Moscow’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine.

“In the light of recent events and of European Union sanctions, the company will now suspend its affected business with customers in Russia indefinitely,” Ericsson said in a statement.

The company added that it was “engaging with customers and partners regarding the indefinite suspension of the affected business.”

“The priority is to focus on the safety and well-being of Ericsson employees in Russia and they will be placed on paid leave,” it said.

READ ALSO: How has Sweden responded to Putin’s war in Ukraine so far?

Hundreds of Western firms ranging from Ikea to Coca-Cola, Goldman Sachs and McDonald’s have stopped operations in the country since the invasion, with French banking group Societe Generale announcing Monday it was selling its stake in Russia’s Rosbank.

Ericsson has around 600 employees in Russia, and is a “major supplier to the largest operator MTS and the fourth largest operator Tele2,” a company spokeswoman told AFP, adding that together with Ukraine, Russia accounts for less than two percent of revenue.

As a result, the equipment maker said it would record a provision for 900 million Swedish kronor ($95 million, 87 million euros) for the first quarter of 2022 for “impairment of assets and other exceptional costs,” though no staff redundancy costs were included.
Ericsson is due to publish its first quarter earnings on April 14.

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