Akzo Nobel and Origin reach agreement on sale of Akzo Nobel Information Services

Akzo Nobel and Origin reach agreement on sale of Akzo Nobel Information Services Arnhem, the Netherlands, July 23, 1999. - Akzo Nobel N.V. announced today that it has reached an agreement with Origin B.V., Eindhoven, the Netherlands, on the sale of Akzo Nobel Information Services (AIS). AIS will become part of the Origin global industry sector Process Industries & Life Sciences. The partnership covers all current AIS activities and all its 700 employees in Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific. Dutch trade unions have agreed with the deal and the works councils have advised positively. "Akzo Nobel recognizes the strategic importance of information technology (IT) for its business. We were looking for a partner offering the scale and high-level expertise required to further improve the price/performance ratio of the IT services to our business units," said Paul K. Brons, member of the Board of Management of Akzo Nobel responsible for IT in the release announcing the intention to cooperate. "We are very pleased to welcome AIS as part of our organization. This agreement emphasizes our continuous effort to grow in strategic areas like the process industry. Akzo Nobel made a positive choice by creating the basis for a dynamic and long-lasting relationship built on clear commitments and mutual trust. The agreement with Akzo Nobel is strong evidence of Origin's positioning as a global top supplier of complete IT services," says Robert E. Pickering, CEO of Origin. "The partnership with Origin is our next step on the road of continuous improvement and it underscores our ambition to be a qualified IT service provider to the process industry. As part of Origin we can offer an even stronger proposition," says Sip Reintsema, General Manager of Akzo Nobel Information Services. "In combination with Origin's existing service agreements with major companies in the process industry, we provide significant and unique knowledge and skills. We understand the dynamics of the industry and are deeply involved in the strategic issues IT is enabling." - - - Note for the editor: Origin B.V., headquartered in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, provides a full spectrum of information technology services for global corporations and other complex "extended enterprises" through operations in 32 countries around the world with a staff of over 17,000. Origin's customers include over 100 of the world's Fortune 500 firms. Origin is a member of the Royal Philips Electronics group of companies. Akzo Nobel, based in the Netherlands, serves customers throughout the world with healthcare products, coatings, chemicals and fibers. The fibers business, now known as Acordis, will be demerged. The company currently employs approximately 86,000 people in almost 70 countries. As of 1999 the euro is Akzo Nobel's external reporting currency. Consolidated sales for 1998 totaled EUR 12.5 billion (USD 13.8 billion). Financial results for the second quarter of 1999 will be announced on July 28. - - - Internet: http://www.akzonobel.com http://www.origin-it.com For more information please contact: Akzo Nobel N.V. John de Munnik, Corporate Media Relations, tel. + 31 26 366 3697 Origin B.V. Gerard Schlangen, Corporate Communication, tel. + 31 30 291 1404 ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/07/23/19990723BIT00100/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/07/23/19990723BIT00100/bit0002.pdf