The FINANCIAL -- COSAN, one of the biggest sugar-energy groups in the world, has just signed an agreement in the amount of R$4.5 million with IBM (NYSE: IBM) to update its IT infrastructure.

Under the contract, IBM will be responsible for building a new and modern data center with 230 square meters, including two consolidated IBM Power System 570 servers, with virtualization and optimization resources. With the new solutions, Cosan will gain a dynamic infrastructure with high availability and scalability, capable of sustaining the company's expansion plan.

The design of the new data center is being developed under IBM's full responsibility and according to best practices for energy efficiency. Systems for electricity, cooling, access control and fire prevention and fighting will be deployed in order to provide an efficient and safe environment. With a centralized, monitored and resilient infrastructure, Cosan gains better readiness to compete in the tough sugar-alcohol market and participate in the strategic acquisition processes that are common in the energy sector.

The previous IT environment consisted of distributed servers, replaced by the consolidated solution of IBM Power servers, providing better performance to the corporate system and a significant reduction in response time for the company's users. Today, the COSAN group is active in all links of the value chain of the sugar-energy sector, with 23 production units, four refineries and two port terminals. The company is also active in retail with the Da Barra brand, in the fuel distribution segment under the Esso brand and in the production and distribution of automobile and industrial lubricants under the Mobil brand.

The deal was closed in September 2009.

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