The Brazilian holding company EBX Group, owned by Brazil’s richest man Eike Batista, and IBM (NYSE: IBM) have reached an agreement under which IBM will acquire a 20% stake in SIX Automação SA, an EBX Group subsidiary focused on industrial automation. IBM will also take over all IT operations for the EBX Group under an outsourcing contract worth an estimated U.S.$1 billion over the next ten years.
Last November, both companies announced they had signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a partnership supporting the growth strategies of the two corporations, without unveiling further details.
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In a statement released April 4, the EBX Group and IBM said the latest strategic agreement involves three main points: IBM’s investment in SIX Automação; the outsourcing of all EBX Group’s IT activities to IBM; and the creation of a center at SIX Automação for the joint development of technology solutions and research and development (R&D) focused primarily the natural resources and infrastructure sectors.
Eike Batista, the CEO of the EBX Group, noted in the statement that the partnership with IBM offers his company a broad portfolio of modern technological solutions. Ricardo Pelegrini, IBM Brazil’s general manager, said the partnership demonstrates IBM’s strength in generating high-value business.
SIX Automação was established in October 2011 after the EBX Group purchased AC Engenharia, and it focuses on providing technology services to industries such as oil and gas, mining, naval construction, and naval ports among others. According to the EBX Group and IBM, the partnership will allow SIX to move into the industrial technology solutions market and establish joint research and development capabilities for the EBX Group.
The partnership also covers the implementation of collaborative research, ensuring a synergy between the EBX Group and IBM Research. In the statement, the companies noted the creation of a joint center for industrial solutions to conduct tests, proofs of concept and customize technologies to the specific needs of customers in the Latin American countries of Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru.
As part of the outsourcing agreement, IBM will be responsible for the EBX Group’s IT operational activities, including investments in IT infrastructure, support services and the development of new technology projects.
