Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken NV plans to spin off part of its worldwide professional information services operations into a new joint venture with Dutch software company BSO/Beheer BV in an effort to expand more effectively into external markets for systems integration and software services. BSO, which already does 80% of its business with Philips, is 25% owned by Oce van der Grinten NV. Under the plan, Philips would take a 15% stake in the company, and form a 50-50 systems integration joint venture with it to market systems and skills developed for Philips. BSO employs about 1,300 people and its annual turnover is running at $100m.
