Brussels, 1 December 2009 - On the second of June this year Sanoma Magazines Belgium announced a savings plan of €12.5 million of which half should be realised by a reduction in personnel costs. After 27 weeks of negotiations and four days of strikes the union delegations and the management of Sanoma Magazines Belgium have jointly formulated a pre-agreement yesterday afternoon.

This morning the entire staff has been informed and they have agreed upon the pre-agreement. This encompasses a.o. the following measures:

* For 25 functions a solution was already found in the form of mutations to a different function, voluntary departure and stopping temporary contracts

* For 36 functions a solution will be found in the form of pre-pension at the age of 55 years and voluntary departure

* For a limited amount of people in the other functions that have become obsolete, an ‘employment pool’ will be established in which they will be assisted with internal or external reorientation of their career

Additionally, the management of Sanoma Magazines Belgium and the representatives of the employees have committed themselves to work together towards the recovery of the social climate within the company.