KPN announces that Getronics and Total Specific Solutions have reached an agreement in principle on the sale of Getronics’ Business Solutions activities for local governments and healthcare in the Netherlands. All activities and approximately 800 employees will be taken over by Total Specific Solutions. Financial details have not been disclosed.

Total Specific Solutions is a focused ICT company with a decentralized structure. Its individual and independent operating companies deliver specific solutions to Top-500 companies, national governments and local governments, focusing on software, business consultancy and ICT services.

The proposed sale of the Business Solutions activities is fully in line with the Getronics strategy that was announced in February 2008. Getronics focuses on providing standardized ICT services in a world where telecommunications and IT merge. Getronics provides workspace management, data centers & hosting services and consulting services.

Erik van der Meijden, CEO at Getronics said, “We are happy to have reached an agreement in principle with Total Specific Solutions. Following this transaction, our customers at local governments and in the healthcare sector are in capable hands, because one of Total Specific Solutions’ core activities focuses on application software. The transaction will also provide our Business Solutions employees with enhanced opportunities for personal development."

Matthieu van Amerongen of Total Specific Solutions: “Local Government and Healthcare provide specific solutions of high quality to its clients’ core activities. Therefore, they are a valuable asset for Total Specific Solutions. Both entities will prosper within Total Specific Solutions, because they will be able to shape their own profiles. We will continue to invest in products and additional services, for which we do not rule out potential add-on acquisitions. In this way, we offer long-term stability for both customers and employees of Local Government and Healthcare."

The transaction is expected to close early 2009 and is subject to approval from the Dutch competition authority (NMa). Furthermore, the Getronics Central Works Council will be asked for advice.