IBM has announced that they have extended their information technology services agreement with ACE Group. Through the new $97 million agreement, IBM will provide support to ACE Group's infrastructure, application management and user support for North America and will upgrade their data centers.

ACE Group's diverse IT infrastructure includes mainframe, mid-range servers, storage, network and disaster recovery services. IBM will provide support to user services such as workstations, mobile devices and application support. Also IBM will upgrade ACE Group's data centers by consolidation, virtualization and standard tools and process that are expected to lower cost while improving services.

ACE Group Chief Information Officer Kevin Shearan stated, "We are pleased to continue our long-term IT services relationship with IBM and look forward to further service enhancements and cost efficiencies throughout our North American operations."

"This contract further demonstrates IBM's commitment to providing ACE with world-class, high-value services," added William Smith, IBM Global Technology Services, general manager for Financial Services Sector. "By partnering with IBM, ACE will have access to the world's leading services technology and research, allowing ACE to significantly reduce overall IT operation costs and increase productivity while focusing on their core business and clients."