Allstate Unit To Open Software Development Center In Northern Ireland

A subsidiary of the Allstate Corporation today announced it will open an information technology center in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The center, which will initially provide programming support to meet Allstate's internal software development needs, will begin operations by the beginning of 1999 and eventually employ 250 software programmers. Capital expenditure and start-up costs for the center will total $6 million.

The center will operate under the name of Northbrook Technology of Northern Ireland, Ltd. (NTNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Northbrook Services, which is a subsidiary of Allstate Corp.

The Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland (IDB) has pledged grants of $4 million for the entire project, as well as recruitment and work force training assistance. In addition, NTNI plans further expenditure of $2.2 million on capital equipment over the next five years. Dr. Marjorie Mowlam, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, made the announcement for Northern Ireland during an address to the Economic Club of Chicago. Dr. Mowlam revealed details of the investment during the latest leg of the Industrial Development Board's 11-city North American Tour.

"Due to the high demand and low supply of software programmers in the U.S., we felt the need to find new resources for talent. We found it in Northern Ireland. The Belfast Center will allow us to greatly expand our offerings and seek opportunities in international markets," said Ed Liddy, Allstate president and COO.

"Software programming is one of the fastest growing industries in Northern Ireland," said Dr. Mowlam. "We can offer North American companies available and well educated technology graduates at half the cost of hiring outside consultants. This major investment from Northbrook Technology, as well as other recent software investments from Liberty Mutual, STB, Webforia, TMR and Celeritek put Northern Ireland on the map of the software industry."