FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of December, 2005
UNILEVER PLC
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
UNILEVER HOUSE, BLACKFRIARS, LONDON, ENGLAND
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F.....
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):_____
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):_____
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ..... No .X..
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- _______
Exhibit 99 attached hereto is incorporated herein by reference.
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
UNILEVER PLC
/S/ S G WILLIAMS
By S G WILLIAMS
SECRETARY
Date: December 23, 2005
EXHIBIT INDEX
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EXHIBIT NUMBER EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
99 Notice to London Stock Exchange dated
23 December, 2005, Unilever contract with IBM
Exhibit 99
Unilever NV and Unilever PLC
23 December 2005
UNILEVER SIGNS 7 YEAR CONTRACT WITH IBM FOR FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONAL SERVICES
OUTSOURCING
Unilever today announced it has signed a contract to outsource significant parts
of its financial transactional services to IBM. This agreement covers more than
20 European countries and is part of the One Unilever programme, which aims to
streamline the organisation in order to increase competitiveness in the
marketplace and step up growth.
IBM will provide financial services including Purchase to Pay, General
Accounting and Bill to Cash and will be delivered from IBM centres in Portugal,
Poland and India. The deal is expected to deliver significant cost savings to
Unilever throughout the seven years of the contract. These anticipated cost
savings will contribute to the overall targeted EUR700 million annual savings of
the One Unilever programme.
"IBM brings strong business process knowledge, deep technical expertise and a
flexible, responsive business model to finance shared services. As a specialist
in this area, IBM will be able to help us optimise our business process
performance, and deliver additional savings in support of our core business;
offering consumers excellent brands and products", says Kees van der Graaf,
president Unilever Europe.
Van der Graaf added: "This change will affect quite a number of our employees in
Europe. We are committed to treat all of them responsibly and will follow all
appropriate consultation processes. When jobs are affected we will do our best
to find alternative employment".
"IBM will apply business insight within our global network of operations to
optimise business performance. The agreement will create long-term economic
benefits for Unilever," said Tony Cronin, general manager, business
transformation outsourcing, IBM. "This relationship is a strong example of the
new on-demand business IBM is targeting in the marketplace for Business
Performance Transformation Services."
Unilever will follow a phased approach in implementation over approximately two
years, starting in the first quarter of 2006. Approximately 750 people are
affected by this change.
For further information:
Tanno Massar
Corporate Media Relations Director
Tel +31 10 217 4844
tanno.massar@unilever.com
OR
Richard Janes
IBM Business Consulting Services
Tel. +44 207 021 9370
Richard.janes@uk.ibm.com
SAFE HARBOUR STATEMENT: This announcement may contain forward-looking
statements, including 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the
United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as '
expects', 'anticipates', 'intends' or the negative of these terms and other
similar expressions of future performance or results and their negatives are
intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements are based upon current expectations and assumptions regarding
anticipated developments and other factors affecting the Group. They are not
historical facts, nor are they guarantees of future performance. Because these
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including, among
others, competitive pricing and activities, consumption levels, costs, the
ability to maintain and manage key customer relationships and supply chain
sources, currency values, interest rates, the ability to integrate acquisitions
and complete planned divestitures, physical risks, environmental risks, the
ability to manage regulatory, tax and legal matters and resolve pending matters
within current estimates, legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments,
political, economic and social conditions in the geographic markets where the
Group operates and new or changed priorities of the Boards. Further details of
potential risks and uncertainties affecting the Group are described in the
Group's filings with the London Stock Exchange, Euronext Amsterdam and the US
Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report and Accounts on
Form 20-F. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this
document. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, the Group
expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any
updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to
reflect any change in the Group's expectations with regard thereto or any change
in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.