BAlmere, 22 January 2009 - USG People announces an optimization of
its organization in France, Spain and Portugal. Market circumstances
in these regions have declined very quickly. Furthermore, a proactive
optimization is carried out in the Netherlands, aimed at maintaining
the level of profitability.

The network of branch offices will be decreased by a total of 93
branches, and the number of employees will be reduced by 540
full-time positions. The reduction in the number of employees will to
a great extent be achieved through natural attrition. Additionally, a
provision will be made for the total amount of the rental costs for
the remaining contract period of the previous headquarters of Start
People in the Netherlands. This measure is expected to generate
savings in the amount of ? 25 millions on an annual basis. On
balance, one-off expenses amount to ? 12 million (consisting of
one-off expenses of ? 20 million and one-off subsidy gains in France
of ? 8 million), which have been booked in the fourth quarter of
2008.

"The French, Spanish and Portuguese staffing markets are undergoing
an extraordinary downward movement as a consequence of the credit
crisis", says Ron Icke, CEO of USG People. "During normal cyclical
movements, economic growth and decline alternate much more gradually.
With the current optimization of our network we are anticipating
ongoing difficult market circumstances in 2009."

USG People will also write off ? 68 million of goodwill in the fourth
quarter of 2008, primarily on its activities in France, Spain and
Portugal. This depreciation is a consequence of our short-term
expectations, which have been reduced due to the credit crisis. The
long-term outlook remains positive for this region. In Spain, the
penetration rate of flexwork lies far below the European average, and
in the entire region the level of specialization is still low. The
new Agency Work Directive can lead to a further increase in the
penetration rate of flexwork in these countries. This recently
adopted EU directive is aimed at neutralizing the effect of
legislation and regulations that limit temporary employment, and it
must be implemented by the EU member states in the upcoming three
years.


For more information, please contact:
Rob Zandbergen, CFO
Telephone:  +31 (0)36 529 95 20
E-mail:        rzandbergen@usgpeople.com


About USG People
USG People is active with a large number of brands that jointly
provide one-stop solutions in the field of staffing, secondment and
HR and customer care services. With an annual turnover of 3.9 billion
euros in 2007, USG People ranks fourth in Europe in the field of
staffing, secondment and HR services. Headquartered in the Dutch city
of Almere, the group is active in a large number of European
countries including the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany,
Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, France,
Italy, Spain and Portugal.

The brand portfolio of USG People comprises Proflex and Start People
(General Staffing) - Ad Rem Young Professionals, ASA Student,
Content, Creyf's, Express Medical, Geko Zeitarbeit, Receptel,
Secretary Plus, StarJob, SYS, Technicum and Unique
(Specialist Staffing) - Legal Forces, USG Capacity, USG Energy,
USG Financial Forces, USG HR Forces, USG Innotiv, USG Juristen,
USG Multi Compta and USG Restart (Professionals) - Call-IT
(Other Services).

USG People is listed on the NYSE Euronext Amsterdam stock exchange
and is included in the Amsterdam Exchange index (AEX).

For more information on USG People or any of its operating companies,
please visit our website at www.usgpeople.com.


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