GROUPE BULL UNIT TO PURCHASE HONEYWELL FEDERAL SYSTEMS

Bull HN Information Systems Inc. said Wednesday it has reached a preliminary agreement for the purchase of Honeywell Federal Systems Inc. from Honeywell Inc. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed and are subject to final negotiation. Bull HN said the purchase is further demonstration of its commitment to the US market. In March 1987, Honeywell sold a majority interest in its computer business to Compagnie des Machines Bull and NEC Corporation while it retained HFSI to market computers to the US government.

Bull HN said that together with Honeywell it is seeking all necessary US government approvals for the transaction.

HFSI, headquartered in McLean, Va., will be operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Bull HN. HFSI provides systems integration, computer products and technical services to the US government, prime contractors, and NATO. The unit employs approximately 1,600 people. Its 1989 sales were $274 million.

Honeywell is a global controls company that provides products, systems, and services for homes and buildings, industry, and aviation and space. The company had 1989 sales of $6.1 billion.

Bull HN Information Systems Inc. provides proprietary and open information systems, software and services to customers in 28 countries. With over 17,000 employees, including 8,100 employees based in the US, the company had revenues of $2.1 billion in 1989. Bull HN, along with Zenith Data Systems Corporation and European-based Bull SA and Bull SA International, is part of Groupe Bull, one of the top 10 computer companies in the world.