Ascendant Technology to Acquire cognence
Recognized Leading IBM Rational Business Partners To Join Forces

10th, 2011 – Austin, TX 78730. – Austin, TX. –Ascendant Technology (Atech) today announces it has reached an agreement to acquire cognence, inc., an SEI Partner (Software Engineering Institute) and IBM Business Partner focused on improving IT and software development processes, increasing the productivity of its clients by 50% or more. The acquisition combines cognence's proven software delivery methods with Atech's world class ability to deliver strategic digital solutions.

With cognence, Atech expands its portfolio of techniques that reduce the costs of development while increasing discipline and predictability through the adoption of industry best practices like Agile and CMMI. cognence customers will benefit from Atech's well established ability to understand and translate business insights into digital solutions across a variety of web and mobile channels. cognence will now have access to the whole of Atech's world-class global delivery and managed services teams, including Atech-trained personnel in Eastern Europe, India and Brazil.

"Implementing standardized, scalable, and automated software development capabilities are proven ways to increase innovation and quality while reducing time to market," says Rolf Reitzig, President of cognence, inc. "cognence is pleased to be joining forces with Ascendant to bring our offerings to a much larger and global audience. Our customers will also now be able to take advantage of Atech's broader digital product and services solutions."

Matt Pomroy, Atech VP Software Engineering, commented "Atech has helped many companies to realize the benefits of Agile development and the cognence team will bring proven processes, tools and training assets to improve adoption. Our IDEA (Insight Driven Engineering Approach) methodology uses a practical blend of Agile RUP and complementary best practices in visualization, design and test management – cognence will help us increase consistency in applying IDEA to deliver innovative solutions." Sam Fatigato, Chief Executive Officer, Ascendant Technology added , "We are excited to add Rolf and the cognence team to Atech; while partnering in recent years, we have witnessed the value clients gain from their experience and assets in world class software development."

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• Best practices such as Agile, RUP, CMMI, and Enterprise Architecture leading to an engineering system that scales success.
• Automation tools like those from IBM Rational that automate and enforce processes, freeing up time for businesses to differentiate.
• Customized training that help teams effectively apply new processes and tools.

About Ascendant Technology

Ascendant Technology (Atech) is a leading provider of end-to-end, web-based solutions to enterprises worldwide. Atech works comprehensively across all five IBM software brands—Lotus, WebSphere, Tivoli, Rational and Information Management—to create elegant portal, e-Commerce, and rich Internet applications. Atech combines deep technical expertise with top-notch business services including Strategy Definition and Value Measurement, Digital Marketing, Requirements and Process Engineering, and User Experience Research and Design. With local offices across the U.S. and in Europe, Brazil, and India, Atech is a recognized Premier IBM business partner and has garnered numerous IBM awards, including the Beacon for Best Rational Solution, and IBM Rational's Top Partner award for Outstanding Software Delivery.

Further information

	“Over the course of one year, cognence was able to unlock millions of dollars of productivity by helping us improve our software engineering capabilities.” - Russ Kennedy, StorageTek

	Upcomping Events: SEPG North America March 21 - 24, 2011 Portland, OR

cognence Services:

• Strategy
• Appraisals
• Training
• Consulting
• Automation