TEANECK, N.J., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH), a leading provider of consulting, technology, and business process outsourcing (BPO) services, has announced the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Pepperweed Advisors, the IT consulting services division of Pepperweed Consulting. Pepperweed Advisors uses its proprietary best practice process models and software to act as a trusted advisor to IT leaders requiring vendor-neutral advice regarding optimal alignment of IT and business process flows. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The acquisition brings to Cognizant's IT Infrastructure Services (IT IS) practice a strategic consulting capability in two areas - IT Service Management (ITSM) and IT Asset Management (ITAM) - along with seasoned consulting talent and significant intellectual property, including well defined ITIL-based processes, tools, and frameworks. Cognizant clients will benefit from a complete and mature IT infrastructure process consulting offering that complements Cognizant's Operations Maturity Model.

"We welcome Pepperweed Advisors to the Cognizant fold as we strengthen our Cognizant Business Consulting offerings," said Francisco D'Souza, President and CEO, Cognizant. "Our consulting breadth and depth have been a significant differentiator for our growing IT IS practice. Pepperweed helps to round out our IT IS consulting portfolio while enhancing our ability to serve as trusted advisors to our clients."

The ITIL (IT Infrastructure Library), an internationally recognized standard, defines IT Service Management as the delivery and support of IT services that are appropriate to the business requirements of an organization. ITSM helps transform the IT organization from a support group to a service group in which ITIL processes and best practices are introduced.

"Process improvement is a top priority for IT infrastructure and operations leaders in 2009. Pepperweed Advisors brings us intellectual property, IT process models, and detailed delivery kits that deepen our domain expertise and enable hands-on implementation of ITSM for our clients, leveraging our ITIL-based global service delivery framework," said Robert Boles, Vice President, IT IS, at Cognizant. "Pepperweed Advisors' mature, experienced consultants will lead our transformational process efforts with both our consulting and managed services client engagements."

Pepperweed Advisors has developed substantial intellectual property and IT process models, including the Pepperweed Process Model, an "ERP for IT" reference model containing more than 20 processes, which has been downloaded by more than 2,000 IT professionals in 80 countries. In addition, Pepperweed has created PathFinder 2.0, a process-to-technology enablement software system that provides clients access to, and ongoing management of, their IT process and best practices content in a full-featured, easy-to-use Web application.

In an independent April 2009 report by Forrester Research, Inc., "The Forrester Wave™: Global IT Infrastructure Outsourcing, Q1 2009," Cognizant was named a leader.

About Cognizant's IT Infrastructure Services

Cognizant's IT Infrastructure Services (IT IS) practice offers a comprehensive portfolio of managed services and consulting offerings that span enterprise computing, end-user computing, infrastructure security, and network and convergence services. With extensive industry domain expertise and next-generation RIM 2.0 services, which include Cognizant's industry-leading OnTarget™ ITIL-based platform and unique Operations Maturity Model, Cognizant IT IS helps clients reduce infrastructure management costs, mitigate risk, and improve business performance.

About Cognizant

Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) is a leading provider of information technology, consulting, and business process outsourcing services. Cognizant's single-minded passion is to dedicate our global technology and innovation know-how, our industry expertise and worldwide resources to working together with clients to make their businesses stronger. With over 50 global delivery centers and more than 64,000 employees as of June 30, 2009, we combine a unique onsite/offshore delivery model infused by a distinct culture of customer satisfaction. A member of the NASDAQ-100 Index and S&P 500 Index, Cognizant is a Forbes Global 2000 company and a member of the Fortune 1000 and is ranked among the top information technology companies in BusinessWeek's Hot Growth and Top 50 Performers listings. Visit us online at www.cognizant.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes statements which may constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the accuracy of which are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied include general economic conditions and the factors discussed in our most recent Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Cognizant undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE Cognizant

SOURCE: Cognizant

Web site: http://www.cognizant.com/