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 April, 2006
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: April 10, 2006
EXHIBIT INDEX
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EXHIBIT NUMBER EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
99 Notice to London Stock Exchange dated
10 April 2006, Contract with Accenture
Exhibit 99
UNILEVER AWARDS OUTSOURCING CONTRACT
TO ACCENTURE
Unilever today announced that it has awarded an outsourcing contract to
Accenture to manage parts of its European IT operation. This follows the
announcement in December on outsourcing its financial transactional services to
IBM.
The outsourcing programme is part of the company's "One Unilever" initiatives to
increase leverage of its scale, improve its marketplace competitiveness, deliver
functional excellence, and create a more competitive cost-structure allowing it
to focus on its consumers and customers.
Under the IT contract, Unilever will outsource to Accenture, the development,
implementation and support of its European regional applications. The intention
is to start the programme from 1st July 2006.
Unilever intends to minimise the impact of people by transferring staff to
Accenture, early retirement, re-training through the Accenture Academy,
exploring alternatives roles, natural attrition and through voluntary
programmes.
Unilever has a great deal of experience of managing change issues and, as well
as dealing with people issues sensitively and professionally, it is committed to
working closely with the relevant employee representatives and works councils.
Neil Cameron, Unilever's chief information officer, said: "This outsourcing deal
represents a major strategic choice for Unilever. With a significant business
change agenda ahead of us, we believe that partnering with a world class
provider such as Accenture gives us greater flexibility and more certainty on
delivery of the key enabling IT system platforms.
"This deal allows us to create a simpler, more agile European IT function to
better support Unilever's growth agenda."
"This contract should help provide Unilever with a higher degree of certainty
around the cost and timing necessary to create its new European business IT
platform, which is expected to drive improved business results including
increased efficiencies, reduced costs and greater standardization," said John
Zealley, managing partner of Accenture's Consumer Goods & Services Practice in
Europe.
"Accenture's experience in delivering cross border IT programs should enable us
to deliver consistently in Unilever's key markets, providing Unilever with the
flexibility it needs to meet its goal of becoming ever more competitive and
high-performing."
Contacts:
Tim Johns, Vice President, Global Media Relations
Unilever, Tel: +44 20 7822 6805
Tanno Massar, Head of NV and Europe Media Relations
Unilever, Tel: +31 10 217 4844
Trevor Gorin, Head of PLC and UK Media Relations
Unilever, Tel: +44 20 7822 6010
Peter Thomas, Media and Analyst Relations
Accenture, Tel: +44 20 7844 8645