News Release

For immediate release                                                     August 10, 2001

STREAM TO ESTABLISH 900-JOB CENTRE AT GLACE BAY



GLACE BAY, N.S. -- Stream International Inc. will establish a 900-person Customer Interaction Centre in downtown Glace Bay. The inbound contact centre will be set up in the former General Mining Building with assistance from the Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia. 

The company anticipates the centre will be operating by the end of November 2001. The full complement of 900 employees is expected to be in place within approximately one year, and there is potential for employment to grow to 1,000 persons. The centre will service a number of technology-based companies, and as a result, Stream will provide ongoing specialized training for its workforce. The centre will become Stream's third Canadian site and 22nd overall.

The Cape Breton Growth Fund will provide a contribution of $10,000,000 to the project, conditional upon the creation and maintenance of the 900 jobs. Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) is also contributing an estimated $2,000,000. In addition, the Province of Nova Scotia is providing a $1.5-million loan guarantee to Harbourfront Development Ltd. to help develop the General Mine Building, which Stream has leased for 10 years.

"The creation of 900 jobs in Glace Bay by this strong international company is good news for this community and for all of Cape Breton Island. I know this area can provide Stream with the skilled workforce and related services it needs to serve its growing clientele," said the Honourable Robert G. Thibault, Minister of State for ECBC and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, who was also speaking on behalf of the Honourable Jane Stewart, Minister of Human Resources Development Canada. "The Government of Canada, through the Cape Breton Growth Fund and HRDC's Cape Breton Response Strategy, is pleased to assist this major company establish these employment opportunities on Cape Breton Island.”

“The Province's investment in this project is an investment in our people, and specifically, in the people of Cape Breton," said the Honourable Gordon Balser, Nova Scotia Minister of Economic Development. “Nova Scotia is particularly gratified that this project is the result of the best of partnership practices involving our federal colleagues and the private sector B the type of collaboration that the province's growth strategy recognizes as necessary in building our economy”. 

“Stream has a rigorous site selection process that enables the company to evaluate prospective sites for its growing network of customer service centres. Through this process we have determined that Glace Bay is well suited for our technology service business. The people of this region and the support we’ve received from the Government of Canada, the Province of Nova Scotia, the General Mining Building Limited Partnership, Devco and Harbourfront Development Ltd. were instrumental in our decision to establish this centre in Glace Bay,” said Scott Murray, Stream’s President and Chief Operating Officer.

Stream International is a global provider of CRM support solutions for leading technology companies and e-businesses. Stream’s CRM solutions provide a fully integrated suite of email, live chat, voice and self-help solutions to enhance the customer experience. More than 10,000 employees around the world enhance over 40 million customer experiences a year, including more than 5 million electronic transactions. Stream operates 19 Customer Interaction Centres in 10 countries, including an e-services centre in Mumbai, India, through Stream Tracmail Pvt. Ltd. Stream is also a 40% joint venture partner in CSL-KK, which operates an additional 3 Japanese Interaction Centres near Tokyo. Stream International is a privately held firm, with equity investments from Bain Capital, Genstar Capital and Stream’s management team. For more information visit Stream International's website at www.stream.com.


Funding for this project was provided for in the federal budget of February 2000 and is therefore built into the existing financial framework.

The Cape Breton Growth Fund is responsible for the administration of the economic adjustment fund established by the Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia to assist the Cape Breton Island economy adjust to the closure of the coal industry.

Human Resources Development Canada's Cape Breton Response Strategy provides programs and services in response to the socio-economic and employment challenges in Cape Breton. 


FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jennifer Savoy
Office of the Honourable Robert Thibault
Tel.: (613) 941-7291
Fax.: (613) 941-7844

Doug Arnold
Communications 
Cape Breton Growth Fund
Tel: (902) 564-7331
Fax:(902) 564-3825

Derek Delano or Kathleen Nordgren
Stream International
Tel: (781) 830-2884

Alice Almond 
Manager, Cape Breton Response Strategy
Human Resources Development Canada
(902) 564-3467

Mary Anna Jollymore
Communications Director
Nova Scotia Economic Development
(902) 424-4998