Protiviti and diCarta Form Strategic Alliance to Provide Contract Management Compliance Solution

MENLO PARK, Calif., March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Protiviti Inc., a leading provider of risk consulting and internal audit services, and diCarta Inc., a leading provider of enterprise contract management software, today announced a strategic alliance to help companies manage their contracting risks through capabilities assessment, process design and implementation of the diCarta Contracts solution. This will enable companies to potentially increase revenue, reduce legal and financial risk and lower procurement costs.

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"We have worked with many clients to help them better understand the significance of contracting risks," said Scott Vanlandingham, managing director of Protiviti's Supply Chain Risk Management practice. "Companies can inadvertently be exposed to significant financial, legal and operational risks if they don't manage their contracts proactively. Our expertise in corporate governance, internal controls and supply chain, together with diCarta's contract management solution, can provide sustainable improvements to the control environment."

"Our Fortune 500 customers benefit from the enhanced control and visibility that diCarta Contracts provides. The solution is an integral part of their risk management and corporate governance programs," said Mike Kaul, president and CEO of diCarta. "Protiviti has demonstrated its thought leadership across many different industries in assisting clients with their Sarbanes-Oxley compliance management activities and resolving related compliance issues. This alliance builds upon the successful track records that both firms have established in working with clients to provide comprehensive risk management solutions."

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires that companies demonstrate solid controls over financial reporting. Many companies are coming to the realization that controls in their contracting processes are often inadequate, increasing the need for software solutions such as diCarta Contracts.

diCarta Contracts allows companies to gain greater control over contracts and contracting operations, increase visibility into contractual obligations and more effectively manage compliance with agreement terms. diCarta's contract management software provides added visibility and control at every stage of the contract lifecycle, from contract creation and negotiation, to obligations management and compliance enforcement, through ongoing analysis and improvement.

About Protiviti Inc.

Protiviti (http://www.protiviti.com/) is a leading provider of independent risk consulting and internal audit services. The firm provides consulting and advisory services to help clients identify, assess, measure and manage financial, operational and technology-related risks encountered in their industries, and assists in the implementation of the processes and controls to enable their continued monitoring. Protiviti also offers a full spectrum of internal audit services to assist management and directors with their internal audit functions, including full outsourcing, co-sourcing, technology and tool implementation, and quality assessment and readiness reviews.

Protiviti, which has 50 locations in North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Australia, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Half International Inc. . Founded in 1948, Robert Half International is a member of the S&P 500 index.

For more information on the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other corporate governance-related topics, visit KnowledgeLeader (http://www.knowledgeleader.com/) a subscription-based online repository providing in-depth articles, tools, templates, best practices and other resources to help organizations keep apprised of these issues.

About diCarta

diCarta, Inc. provides contract management software that delivers greater control and more profitable contracts for some of the world's largest, most contract-intensive enterprises. With diCarta's solutions, organizations are able to reduce procurement spending, improve sales effectiveness, and increase supplier compliance by allowing actual contracts to drive day-to-day operations. diCarta Contracts also plays an integral role in companies' risk management and corporate governance programs. Fortune 1000 companies such as United Healthcare, ConocoPhillips, Kohler and Kraft, depend on diCarta Contracts. For more information about diCarta solutions, visit http://www.dicarta.com/ or call 888-496-2600.

Protiviti is not licensed or registered as a public accounting firm and does not issue opinions on financial statements or offer attestation services.