Adecco improves gross margin despite weakening markets

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Strong operating cash flow of EUR 1,054 million and net debt reduced
to EUR 617 million
FY 2008 HIGHLIGHTS (2008 versus 2007)

* Revenues of EUR 20.0 billion, down 5% (-5% organically[1])
* Gross margin improvement of 30 bps to 18.1% on an underlying[2]
basis
* EBITA[3] margin down 20 bps to 4.2% on an underlying basis
* Strong operating cash flow of EUR 1,054 million on par with last
year
* Proposed dividend of CHF 1.50 per share, equal to the dividend
paid for 2007

Q4 HIGHLIGHTS (Q4 2008 versus Q4 2007)

* Revenues of EUR 4.6 billion, down 14% (-15% organically)
* Solid gross margin compared to the prior year at 18.2%
* Adjusted[4] EBITA margin at 3.6%, down 120 bps
* Operating income impacted by EUR 116 million impairment charges
on goodwill and intangible assets

+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| | FY 2008 | Q4 2008 | FY 2008 | Q4 2008 |
| | reported | reported | Underlying[2] | adjusted[4] |
| in EUR | | | organic[1] | organic[1] |
| millions | | | growth | growth |
|--------------+----------+----------+---------------+--------------|
| | | | | |
|--------------+----------+----------+---------------+--------------|
| Revenues | 19,965 | 4,633 | -5% | -15% |
|--------------+----------+----------+---------------+--------------|
| Gross profit | 3,673 | 844 | -4% | -15% |
|--------------+----------+----------+---------------+--------------|
| EBITA | 908 | 123 | -11% | -37% |
|--------------+----------+----------+---------------+--------------|
| Operating | 748 | (5) | | |
| income | | | | |
|--------------+----------+----------+---------------+--------------|
| Net income | 495 | (22) | | |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

Zurich, Switzerland, March 4, 2008: Adecco Group, the worldwide
leader in Human Resource services, today announced results for the
full year and the fourth quarter of 2008. Revenues were down 5%
organically to EUR 20.0 billion compared to EUR 21.1 billion in 2007.
The company remained price disciplined and reported a 30 bps higher
underlying gross margin of 18.1%, while the underlying EBITA margin
was down 20 bps to 4.2% compared to 2007.

Dieter Scheiff, CEO of the Adecco Group said: "The industry was
confronted with an exceptionally challenging business environment,
particularly during the fourth quarter. Nevertheless, we have
remained price disciplined and raised the gross margin on an
underlying basis by 30 bps to 18.1% in 2008. We have also acted
quickly to reduce our cost base, and accelerated headcount reductions
throughout the year. These actions together resulted in a good
underlying EBITA margin of 4.2%, only down 20 bps compared to the
prior year. Operating cash flow remains strong at over EUR 1 billion
on par with last year."

FY 2008 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

Revenues
Group revenues for 2008 were EUR 20.0 billion, a decline of 5%
compared to the prior year. In constant currencies, revenues were
down 3%, while on an organic basis, revenues declined by 5%.
Permanent placement revenues were EUR 354 million, a decline of 4% in
constant currency compared to 2007.

Gross Profit
In 2008, the gross margin was 18.4% compared to 18.6% in 2007. When
excluding the impact of the modified calculation of French social
charges, the underlying gross margin improved by 30 bps to 18.1%
compared to 2007. Acquisitions added 10 bps to the Group's gross
margin.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses (SG&A)
SG&A declined by 3% in 2008 compared to the prior year. On an organic
and underlying basis, SG&A declined by 2%, while SG&A as a percentage
of revenues increased by 50 bps to 13.9%, compared to 2007. At year
end 2008 the Adecco Group had over 34,000 FTE employees worldwide,
while operating a network of over 6,600 offices. Compared to year
end 2007, FTE employees were down 7% on an organic basis, while
branches were reduced by 5% organically at year end 2008.

EBITA
In 2008, EBITA amounted to EUR 908 million, a decline of 16% on a
reported basis and down 11% organically and underlying compared to
2007. Excluding the positive impact of the modified calculation of
French social charges in both 2008 and 2007, the EBITA margin was
down 20 bps to 4.2% compared to the prior year.

Amortisation and Impairment of Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Amortisation increased to EUR 44 million from EUR 27 million last
year, mainly due to the acquisition of Tuja, which was consolidated
as of August 2007. In addition the company recorded an impairment of
EUR 116 million on goodwill and intangible assets in Q4 2008. EUR 58
million relates to an impairment of goodwill of the UK & Ireland
operations and EUR 58 million relates to intangible assets mainly for
the Tuja brand name.

Operating Income
Operating income in 2008 was EUR 748 million, down 29% compared to
2007, impacted by the impairment charges on goodwill and intangible
assets. Additionally, the benefit of the modified calculation of
French social charges had a significantly higher impact on the
operating income in 2007.

Interest Expense and Other Income / (Expenses), net
Interest expense was EUR 58 million in the period under review, which
compares to EUR 56 million in 2007. Other income / (expenses), net
was EUR 19 million compared to EUR 30 million in 2007 mainly due to
lower interest income.

Provision for Income Taxes
The effective tax rate for 2008 was 30% compared to 28% in 2007. For
2009, the company expects an effective tax rate of approximately 30%.

Net Income and EPS
In 2008, net income was down 33% to EUR 495 million (2007: EUR 735
million), corresponding to a net income margin of 2.5%. Basic EPS was
EUR 2.82 (EUR 3.97 in 2007).

Balance Sheet, Cash-flow, and Net Debt[5]
The Group generated EUR 1,054 million of operating cash flow in 2008
and invested EUR 160 million in various acquisitions. Additionally
the Group spent EUR 105 million in capex, paid dividends of EUR 163
million and purchased treasury shares for EUR 279 million. The net
debt position declined to EUR 617 million at the end of December 2008
compared to EUR 866 million at the year end of 2007. In 2008 DSO
improved 1 day to 57 days compared with 2007.

Currency Impact
Currency fluctuations had a negative impact of approximately 2% on
revenues and 1% on operating income in 2008, mainly due to the
weakness of the US dollar and the British pound, partly compensated
by the stronger Japanese yen.

Q4 2008 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

Revenues
Group revenues in Q4 2008 were down 14% to EUR 4.6 billion compared
to Q4 2007. On a constant currency basis and organically, revenues
declined by 15%. In the fourth quarter of 2008, permanent placement
revenues declined by 24% in constant currency to EUR 70 million.

Gross Profit
In Q4 2008, the gross margin was 18.2% (adjusted 18.0%), compared to
17.8% reported in the same period last year. The gross margin in the
temporary staffing business was 10 bps lower in Q4 2008 compared to
Q4 2007. The decline of the permanent placement business had a
negative impact on gross margin, but was more than compensated by the
growing contribution of the outplacement business.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses (SG&A)
SG&A in Q4 2008 was up 3% compared to the same period last year.
Organically and adjusted SG&A declined by 6%. As a percentage of
revenues, adjusted SG&A increased by 140 bps to 14.4% compared to Q4
2007. FTE employees, on an organic basis, declined by 6% (-2,300)
when comparing to the same quarter last year, while the branch
network was reduced by 3% (-240 branches). The impact of the
restructuring costs affecting the quarter under review, will be
evident in an even more pronounced reduction of FTE employees in H1
2009.

EBITA
In the period under review, EBITA was EUR 123 million, a decrease of
52% or 37% organically and adjusted. The resulting adjusted EBITA
margin was 3.6% in Q4 2008. This compares to an EBITA margin of 4.8%
in the prior year.

Amortisation and Impairment of Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Amortisation in Q4 2008 was EUR 12 million compared to EUR 11 million
in the same quarter last year. In Q4 2008, the company recorded an
impairment charge on certain goodwill and intangible assets of EUR
116 million. EUR 58 million relates to an impairment of goodwill of
the UK & Ireland operations and EUR 58 million relates to intangible
assets mainly for the Tuja brand name.

Operating Income
Primarily as a result of the impairment charges to goodwill and
intangible assets of EUR 116 million, the company recorded an
operating loss of EUR 5 million in Q4 2008. This compares to an
operating income of EUR 246 million in the same quarter last year.

Interest Expense and Other Income / (Expenses), net
The interest expense amounted to EUR 13 million in the period under
review, EUR 2 million less than in Q4 2007. For the full year 2009,
the interest expense is expected to amount to approximately EUR 40
million. Other income / (expenses), net was EUR 8 million in Q4 2008
compared to EUR 7 million in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Net Income and EPS
Primarily due to the impairment charges, the company posted a net
loss in the fourth quarter of 2008 of EUR 22 million which compares
to a net income of EUR 150 million in the prior year. The basic loss
per share was EUR 0.12 (EUR 0.81 basic EPS per share in Q4 2007).

Currency Impact
In Q4 2008, currency fluctuations had a positive impact of
approximately 1% on revenues and 0% on operating income.

GEOGRAPHICAL PERFORMANCE

(The pie charts are visable in the PDF version of the report)

Compared to Q4 2007, revenues in France declined by 17% to EUR 1.4
billion in Q4 2008. Adecco remained price disciplined and focused on
adapting costs to trading conditions. EBITA, declined by 70% to EUR
22 million compared to Q4 2007. When adjusting for the French social
charges benefit, the legal provision associated with the French
antitrust procedure and costs linked to headcount reductions and
branch optimization, the EBITA margin declined by 70 bps to 3.4%,
compared to 4.1% a year ago.

In the USA & Canada, Adecco's revenues declined by 16% in constant
currency to EUR 678 million in Q4 2008. Organically, revenues were
down 15%. In the Office and Industrial businesses, the decline in
revenues was most pronounced, while revenues in Human Capital
Solutions continued to grow strongly. EBITA declined by 36% in
constant currency, while the EBITA margin was lower by 120 bps to
3.8%. Investments to structurally improve customer mix and efficiency
amounted to EUR 3 million in the quarter.

In Japan, fourth quarter revenues declined by 6% in constant currency
to EUR 414 million. Excellent cost management resulted in an EBITA
margin of 7.1%, down 10 bps compared to the prior year.

In Germany, revenues were down 13%, to EUR 342 million in the period
under review. EBITA, in Germany, declined by 39% compared to Q4 2007,
corresponding to an EBITA margin of 6.5% (Q4 2007: 9.2%). The
decline in the profitability is a combination of a lower utilisation
and negative operating leverage.

In the UK & Ireland, revenues in Q4 2008 declined by 19% in constant
currency. At the EBITA level the region reported a loss of EUR 8
million. The unsatisfactory results are partly caused by weak
permanent placement business.

In Italy, revenues declined by 25% in Q4 2008, and in the Benelux by
6% (-9% organically). In the Nordics, revenues were down by 19% in
constant currency, while in Iberia revenues declined by 30%.

Emerging Markets revenues continued to show healthy growth of 12% in
constant currency and 11% organically, mainly driven by Latin &
Central America. The corresponding EBITA margin was 4.0% in the
period under review.

BUSINESS LINE PERFORMANCE

(The pie charts are visable in the PDF version of the report)

In Q4 2008, Adecco's revenues in the Office and Industrial businesses
declined by 18% in constant currency and organically to EUR 3.4
billion. In the Industrial business, revenues declined by 21% in
constant currency and on an organic basis. The decline was mostly
driven by France where revenues were down 19%, Germany which declined
by 18%, Italy by 29%, Iberia by 37% and by the USA & Canada where
revenues decreased 20% in constant currency. Revenues in the Office
business declined by 13% in constant currency and organically. While
Japan was down 6% in constant currency and France by 5%, the revenue
decline was more pronounced in the USA & Canada, with a decline of
22%, in the UK & Ireland where revenues were down 20% and in the
Nordics by 21%, all in constant currency.

The Professional Business[6] revenues in the fourth quarter of 2008,
declined by 6% in constant currency and by 7% on an organic basis.
The gross margin improved by 90 bps to 27.4%, which was mainly driven
by Human Capital Solutions and the Engineering & Technical business.

In Information Technology (IT), Adecco's revenues decreased 9% in
constant currency and by 10% organically. Weak developments in the
USA & Canada led to a revenue decline in constant currency of 14%,
whereas revenues in the UK & Ireland declined by 5% in constant
currency compared to Q4 2007.

Adecco's Engineering & Technical (E&T) business was down 10% in
constant currency. In Germany revenues were up by 2% compared to Q4
2007. France declined by 6%, while the USA & Canada, faced a revenue
decline of 7% and UK & Ireland declined by 42%, both in constant
currency.

In Finance & Legal (F&L), revenues declined by 12% in constant
currency and were down 14% organically. Weak demand in USA & Canada
was only partially offset by better demand in Continental Europe.

In Q4 2008 revenues in Sales, Marketing & Events (SM&E) were down by
1%, whereas revenues in Human Capital Solutions (HCS) were up 13% and
Medical & Science grew 2%, all in constant currency.

MANAGEMENT OUTLOOK
In today's exceptionally difficult business environment, resulting in
pronounced pressure on revenues, protecting margins through
disciplined pricing and cost reductions is a key priority for the
management of the Adecco Group. The commitment to value based
management is even more important under the current circumstances,
and the company is well positioned to seize opportunities in this
downturn.

Looking into the near future, management currently sees no signs of
improvement. In January, Adecco Group revenues were down 25% on an
organic basis and adjusted for trading days compared to the prior
year. Adapting the cost base remains at the forefront of
management's priorities, and initiated actions in the second half of
2008 are well underway.

Given the sharp deceleration experienced in Q4 2008 and the weak
start in 2009, Adecco Group plans to spend EUR 50 million in H1 2009
in order to reduce costs with the aim to defend margins and to
structurally improve the business. Investments to structurally
improve the organization, with strict financial discipline and with
the focus on professional and specialized business fields, aim to
optimally position the Adecco group for the next economic upswing.

Update on the French antitrust procedure
On February 2, 2009, the Adecco Group received the decision of the
French Competition Council (Conseil de la Concurrence) on the
antitrust procedure involving Adecco and Adia France and its main
competitors in France. The decision imposed a fine of EUR 34
million. The Company, having carefully analyzed the judgement,
decided that it will appeal against certain aspects of the decision
relating to the calculation of the fine before the Paris Court of
Appeal, since it considers the level of fine as too high.
Irrespective of the outcome of the appeal, the Adecco Group is
committed to the highest standards of business integrity and
compliance. In particular, the Adecco Group unconditionally respects
and supports the legal and regulatory framework in relation to fair
competition and antitrust.

Management changes
Jeff Doyle (42), the current Chief Operating Officer of the Adecco
Office and Industrial business in Australia will replace Ray Roe as
Country Manager, Australia and New Zealand as of August, 2009. Ray
Roe will retire at the end of July 2009 after 16 successful years
within the Adecco Group.

Update on the share buyback
In August 2008, Adecco's Board of Directors decided to repurchase up
to an additional 2% of the Company's issued shares. Since the
announcement, Adecco has purchased 280,878 shares for a total
consideration of EUR 6.5 million. Currently Adecco holds 15.1 million
treasury shares, which are intended to be used for future
acquisitions and to minimize potential dilution related to the
outstanding convertible bond.

PROPOSAL TO SHAREHOLDERS

Dividend payout
At the Annual General Meeting, the Board of Directors will propose a
dividend of CHF 1.50 per share for 2008, for approval by
shareholders. This represents a dividend payment per share equal to
2007. The dividend payment to shareholders is planned on May 27,
2009.

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. as of the date of this release,
and we assume no duty to update any such forward-looking statements.
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. 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; changes in the Company's ability to attract and
retain qualified temporary personnel; the resolution of the French
anti-trust procedure and any adverse developments in existing
commercial relationships, disputes or legal and tax proceedings.

About Adecco
Adecco S.A. is a Fortune Global 500 company and the global leader in
HR services. The Adecco Group network connects over 500,000
associates with clients each day through its network of over 34,000
FTE employees and over 6,600 offices in over 60 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 clients and associates.

Adecco S.A. is registered in Switzerland (ISIN: CH0012138605) and
listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange with trading on SWX Europe (SIX:
ADEN) and the Euronext in Paris (EURONEXT: ADE).

Adecco Corporate Investor Relations
Investor.relations@adecco.com or +41 (0) 44 878 89 89

Adecco Corporate Press Office
Press.office@adecco.com or +41 (0) 44 878 87 87

There will be a media conference call at 9 am CET as well as an
analyst conference call at 11 am CET, details of which can be found
on our website in the Investor Relations section at
http://webcast.adecco.com.

Financial Agenda 2009

* Q1 2009 results May 6, 2009
* Annual General Meeting May 13, 2009
* Q2 2009 results August 11, 2009
* Q3 2009 results November 5, 2009

[1] Organic growth is a non US GAAP measure and excludes the impact
of currency, acquisitions and divestitures.
[2] Underlying is a non US GAAP measure and excludes the impact of
the modified calculation of French social charges which positively
impacted FY 2008 by EUR 62 million on gross profit, EUR 62 million on
operating income and EUR 41 million on net income and for FY 2007
positively impacted gross profit with EUR 172 million, operating
income with EUR 156 million and EUR 102 million on net income.
[3] EBITA is a non US GAAP measure and refers to operating income
before amortization and impairment of goodwill and intangible assets.
[4] Adjusted is a non US GAAP measure excluding in 2008 the positive
impact of the French social charges of EUR 8 million and the
provision for the antitrust procedure of EUR 19 million in 2008. It
also excludes the negative impact associated with headcount
reductions and branch optimization in France and other European
countries of EUR 32 million in 2008. The total negative impact on
EBITA is EUR 43 million, EUR 9 million positively impacts the gross
profit and EUR 52 million negatively impacts SG&A.
[5] Net debt is a non US GAAP measure and comprises short-term and
long-term debt less cash and cash equivalents and short-term
investments.
[6] Professional business refers to Adecco's Information Technology,
Engineering & Technical, Finance & Legal, Medical & Science, Sales,
Marketing & Events and Human Capital Solutions business.

The full report (in English) including tables can be downloaded from
the following link:

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Adecco SA
Sagereistrasse 10 Glattbrugg Switzerland

WKN: 922031;
ISIN: CH0012138605; Index: SLCI, SMI, SPI, SMIEXP;
Listed: Main Market in SIX Swiss Exchange;
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