Outsourcing - PwC strikes $200m deal.

PricewaterhouseCoopers and BP Amoco have announced a $200m, ten-year agreement to expand their global business process outsourcing agreement to include Canada, writes Damian Wild. The agreement follows the signing of a $1.1bn outsourcing contract between BP Amoco and PwC for the USA, announced in November 1999. The company has expanded its outsourcing under chief executive Sir John Browne and the two organisations already have reached similar agreements in Europe and South America. The new deal is believed to be the largest contract for finance and accounting services in Canada and the first agreement of its kind in the Canadian energy industry. Under the contract, BP Amoco will outsource BPO Canada its accounting services and associated information technology groups in Calgary. Approximately 300 BP Amoco employees based in Calgary will join PwC to form a new service unit that will manage various business operations including finance, administration and information technology. Joe Bryant, President of BP Amoco Canada, said: ‘For employees joining PwC, it provides an exciting career opportunity where they will become part of the core business of a global leader.’ John Haslett, PwC partner in charge of the new service unit, said: ‘This deal provides us with a group of skilled and experienced professionals who will be instrumental in helping us grow our practice in Canada.’