COMPANIES FORM ALLIANCE TO HELP SOLVE YEAR 2000 COMPUTER CHALLENGE.

TROY, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 8, 1995--Syntel, Inc., a global software services company based in Troy, Mich., and PKS Information Services, Inc. (PKS), a computer outsourcing and systems integration firm based in Omaha, Neb., have formed an alliance to help solve the year 2000 challenge currently faced by numerous Fortune 1000 companies. A challenge that experts fear may become a crisis very soon.

The year 2000 affects all computer systems whose databases use a 2-digit field for the year; and therefore, will falsely read the year 2000 as 1900. On or before Jan. 1, 2000, most corporate computer applications will cease to function properly because their systems cannot handle the century rollover.

"Most companies and MIS department heads have been well aware of this problem for years," Bharat Desai, president of Syntel, said. "However, it's a situation that many companies have put off because of budget limitations and the lack of proper computing resources. The question is no longer 'when are we going to tackle this problem,' but 'how?' That's why we have formed an alliance with PKS. We now have the computing resources, software tools and expertise to provide a total solution for major corporations worldwide."

The services offered by Syntel and PKS will allow organizations to tackle the year 2000 compliance task without halting other software development and maintenance work, or acquiring additional staff and computing resources. The service consists of a proprietary ensemble of software tools, structured analytical methodologies, quality assurance safeguards and technical project management. The project methodology involves multiple phases with a diagnostic, first phase that provides the basis for a hard-hitting assessment on the scope of an organization's date conversion project needs; and proceeds through subsequent conversion, testing, quality assurance and implementation phases in a disciplined, step-by-step approach.

According to industry experts, approximately 20 percent of computer applications currently running in American businesses are failing today because of invalid date computations associated with the year 2000 conflict. This figure will reach 90 percent by 1999.

PKS Information Services, Inc., is headquartered in Omaha, Neb., and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Peter Kiewit Sons', Inc., a diversified $3 billion sales revenue company. In addition to running one of the most sophisticated computer super centers in the country, PKS operates an extensive telecommunications network to enhance end-user connectivity by offering customers a number of voice and data services.

Syntel, Inc., is headquartered in Troy, Mich., and has TQM-based software development centers worldwide. The company provides high- quality, cost-effective software solutions to Fortune 1000 corporations, government agencies and privately-held companies on five continents. Syntel's systems development and maintenance expertise incorporates all major computer processing environments including mainframe, mid-range, client/server, LAN/WAN systems, multimedia and worldwide communications systems.

CONTACT: Syntel, Inc.

Jeff Ray, 810/828-0431

or

Anderson Fischel Thompson

Karen Eldred, 713/952-4290