Deutsche Post World Net AG has inked a letter of intent to enter into an outsourcing agreement with HP Services.

Under the deal, Deutsche Post plans to outsource part of its global IT activities to HP. The Germany-based firm forecast IT cost savings of at least €1bn over the next seven years.

If the agreement is finalised – expected mid-2008 – HP will scoop up about 2,500 Deutsche Post employees who provide data centre services including network, application and infrastructure management at offices in the Czech Republic, Arizona and Malaysia.

HP senior EMEA vice president and managing director Francesco Serafini said in a statement that the firm would build on its 15-year relationship with Deutsche Post.

"With our highly experienced services professionals and global capabilities, we propose to deliver a more simplified and flexible IT infrastructure that would deliver true business value and effectiveness, a better return on IT and reduced operational costs," he added. ®