IBM today announced that it has won four 2009 SAP(R) Pinnacle Awards, provided by one of its global partners, SAP AG. The awards were granted to leading SAP partners that have excelled in providing high-quality products, solutions and services to mutual customers.

  (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090416/IBMLOGO)

  The awards were presented at SAPPHIRE(R) 2009 in Orlando, Florida.

Every year, SAP honors its partners with SAP Pinnacle Awards in different categories that support the mission and strategy of SAP. This year, IBM won the esteemed awards for Upgrade and Ramp-Up, as well as a coveted award in the Customer Satisfaction category. In addition, IBM Managed Business Process Services won in the Business Process Outsourcing category.

"We're proud to be selected for these significant awards and thank SAP for their recognition, particularly in the most important area of customer satisfaction," said John Leffler, SAP Global and Americas Leader, IBM. "These awards demonstrate IBM's strategic partnership with SAP and our commitment to providing our clients with delivery excellence for all our value-driven and innovative solutions."

The SAP Pinnacle Awards recognize IBM for its excellence in delivering world-class solutions to clients and addressing critical issues such as accelerating co-innovation, improving and accelerating time to value and establishing industry best practices. With a record total of 18 awards, IBM has received an SAP Pinnacle Award every year since its inception. Four 2009 SAP Pinnacle Awards represent the most given to any one SAP global business partner this year.

Winners were selected based on over 300 nominations received from partners and SAP employees. This year, 38 award recipients were chosen, and new categories were created to address partner and community successes related to the SAP BusinessObjects(TM) portfolio.

"SAP is committed to fostering an ecosystem that is driven by co-innovation and which uniquely provides solutions and services that help customers meet their most pressing challenges," said Zia Yusuf, executive vice president, Global Ecosystem and Partner Group, SAP. "SAP Pinnacle Awards recognize those partners that have consistently demonstrated excellence in delivering value-focused and cost-effective solutions and services which help customers address their industry and business process needs. We thank IBM for their dedication and passion to teaming with SAP to help extend the value of a customer-focused ecosystem."

  About IBM
  For more information visit www.ibm.com.

SAP, SAPPHIRE and all SAP logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP AG in Germany and in several other countries.

Business Objects, BusinessObjects and the Business Objects logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Business Objects in the United States and/or other countries. Business Objects is an SAP company.

All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.

SAP Forward-looking Statement

Any statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "should" and "will" and similar expressions as they relate to SAP are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. SAP undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations The factors that could affect SAP's future financial results are discussed more fully in SAP's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including SAP's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates.

  Media Contact
  Randy Zane
  IBM Media Relations
  917-472-3589
  rzane@us.ibm.com

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: rzane@us.ibm.com

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090416/IBMLOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

SOURCE: IBM