TSYS Builds European Data  Center

Customized World-class Center to Complement World-class Payments Systems

new_europe_datacenterKillarney, Ire., July 30, 2003 - At its European Client Forum in Killarney, Ireland, TSYS announced plans to build a state-of-the-art European data center to accommodate clients' growth and its corporate expansion throughout the continent. Site preparation for the data center has begun, and the center is scheduled to be completed and operational by fourth quarter 2004.

"Our success in the United Kingdom, Ireland and continental Europe depends on our ability to deliver exceptional service and products that meet the needs of the markets we serve. Building a customized data center from the ground up demonstrates our commitment to those markets, and will help us achieve our objective of becoming the leading transaction processor in Europe," said Bruce Bacon, Group Executive, International Services, TSYS. "This data center positions us to offer added value to European financial institutions."

To be built in Knaresborough, U.K., the purpose-built 53,000 square-foot data center will replace the existing data center in Harrogate which TSYS currently leases. The data center will be built on 3 acres and will contain 15,000 square feet for offices. Additional features include separate machine room, plant block, N+N generator and UPS back-up systems. Additional acreage is available to accommodate future expansion.

"We firmly believe the design of the new TSYS European Data Center is in a class of its own. A world-class facility is being assembled using a world-class team that will deliver outstanding service to our existing and future clients for years to come," said Ken Tye, Chief Information Officer, TSYS.

"Our clients will enjoy uninterrupted customer service with increased resilience. As they transition to the new data center, their processing business will continue to be handled with the same high-quality, exceptional service they've become accustomed to from TSYS," said Lester Pulsford, European Project Leader, TSYS Europe.

TSYS has hired an impressive group of partners to ensure the project's success. The team represents designers, contractors, consultants and support personnel. "Each member of the project team is well known and highly regarded for their experience and expertise," said Pulsford.

Strategic Partners:

Design:

  • Hanline Associates (Project Management)
  • Carey Jones Architects (Architect)
  • Silcock Dawson & Partners (Mechanical & Electrical Engineers)
  • CODA (Structural Engineer)
  • Smeeden Foreman (Landscape Architect)
  • Rex Proctor & Partners (Quantity Surveyor)

Contractors:

  • Quarmby Construction (Main Contractor)
  • Emcor Drake & Scull (Mechanical & Electrical)
  • Piller LTD (UPS Vendor)

Consultants / Support:

  • Brumie Stokes (Security Consultant)
  • Walker Morris (Solicitor)
  • NBW Crosher & James (Capital Allowance Consultant)

"TSYS has successfully processed our clients' data from Harrogate for more than two years; however, with our continued success, growth, and expansion, we are building a customized data center which will meet or exceed all modern data center standards," said Pulsford.

Today TSYS serves more than 12 million consumer and commercial credit accounts in Europe, a market with 495 million credit and debit cards issued in 2002. European cards in service increased 13 percent last year. European schemes reported a combined total of 14 billion credit and debit transactions in 2002, a 17 percent increase.

TSYS Europe has offices in London, York and Harrogate in the U.K., as well as a sales office in The Netherlands serving northern Europe. TSYS' flagship system, TS2, processes payments in multiple countries, currencies and languages. With more than 262 million accounts on file, TSYS serves clients in 16 currencies and seven languages on three continents. In 2002, TSYS processed 6.98 billion transactions globally.

About TSYS
TSYS (NYSE: TSS) (www.tsys.com) brings integrity and innovation to the world of electronic payment services as the integral link between buyers and sellers in this rapidly evolving universe. TSYS is an 81.2-percent owned subsidiary of Synovus (NYSE: "SNV") (www.synovus.com). For more information, contact news@tsys.com.

Contacts
Lester Pulsford
Senior Director, TSYS Europe
+ 44 1904 562039
+44 788 411 3333 (mobile)
lpulsford@tsys.com

Danita Gibson-Lloyd
TSYS Media Relations
+1.706.649.5578
dglloyd@tsys.com

Eric S. Bruner
TSYS Media Relations
+1.706.644.8457
+1.706.332.3817 (mobile)
ebruner@tsys.com