ADECCO NOW HAVING SECURED 34% IN DIS AG ALTOGETHER POST PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL STAKE IN DIS EXCEEDING 5%

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Adecco now having secured 34% in DIS AG altogether post purchase of additional stake in DIS exceeding 5%
Adecco now having secured 34% in DIS AG altogether post purchase of additional stake in DIS exceeding 5%
January 20, 2006
INVESTORS

Adecco now having secured 34% in DIS AG altogether post purchase of additional stake in DIS exceeding 5%


Chéserex, Switzerland - January 20, 2006: Following Adecco's agreement with the Paulmann family to acquire all of their shares - equivalent to approximately 29% - in German listed DIS' share capital at a price of EUR 54.50 per share in cash, and the announcement on January 9, 2006 of its intention to launch a voluntary public tender offer for the remaining shares at the same price, Adecco has in the meantime purchased shares representing more than 5% over the last few days. Accordingly, Adecco has now secured more than 34% of DIS' capital ahead of the formal launch of the public offer. The agreement with the Paulmann family is still subject to regulatory approval.


Adecco has filed the offer document with the Federal Financial Services Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht, 'BaFin') on January 17, 2006. The offer document will include full details of the offer and will be made publicly available post approval by BaFin. The offer is expected to be officially launched post the approval by BaFin at the beginning of February 2006 with the transaction closing expected for March 2006.


About Adecco

Adecco S.A. is a Fortune Global 500 company and the global leader in HR services. The Adecco Group network connects over 700,000 associates with business clients each day through its network of over 33,000 employees and over 6,600 offices in over 70 countries and territories around the world.  Registered in Switzerland, and managed by a multinational team with expertise in markets spanning the globe, the Adecco Group delivers an unparalleled range of flexible staffing and career resources to corporate clients and qualified associates.


Adecco S.A. is registered in Switzerland (ISIN: CH0012138605) and listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange with trading on virt-x (SWX/VIRT-X:ADEN), the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:ADO) and Euronext Paris - Premier Marché (EURONEXT: ADE).


Forward-looking statements

Information in this release may involve guidance, expectations, beliefs, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements included in this release are based on information available to Adecco S.A. (the "company") as of the date of this release, and we assume no duty to update any such forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect the company's forward-looking statements include, among other things: global GDP trends and the demand for temporary work; changes in regulation of temporary work; intense competition in the markets in which the company competes; the succesfull completion of the tender offer for DIS AG shares; changes in the company's ability to attract and retain qualified temporary personnel; the resolution of US state unemployment tax reviews; the resolution of a French anti-trust investigation; the resolution of the US class action litigation; and any adverse developments in existing commercial relationships, disputes or legal proceedings.


The forward-looking statements in this release are not guarantees of future performance and actual results could differ materially from our current expectations. Numerous factors could cause or contribute to such differences. Please refer to the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and other reports filed with or submitted to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, for a further discussion of the factors and risks associated with our business.


This is not an offer to acquire or sell any securities.




Contacts:

Adecco Corporate Investor Relations

Investor.relations@adecco.com or +41 (0) 44 878 8925

Adecco Corporate Press Office       

Press.office@adecco.com or +41 (0) 44 878 8832