EDS lands marathon deal with Marathon

Electronic Data Systems said on Thursday that it has signed an eight-year, $63 million contract with Marathon Oil for providing information technology services. Under the agreement, EDS will help the energy company improve its computing capabilities and consolidate its computer servers. EDS said the deal will allow Marathon to focus on its core business and to cut overall IT costs.

Plano, Texas-based EDS is trying to overcome a rough nine months. The computer services giant has weathered a drastic earnings shortfall, a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission probe and a management shakeup. In May, EDS reported a first-quarter net loss of $126 million, or 26 cents per share.