NEW YORK (Dow Jones) - Walt Disney Co. plans to outsource about 1,000 jobs in its information technology division to save costs, although the move is expected to result in minimal layoffs, The Los Angeles Times reported in its Friday editions.

The company told employees in a meeting Thursday that most of the workers would be moved into new jobs with two vendors, International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) and Affiliated Computer Services Inc. (ACS), after negotiations are completed this month, the paper reported.

Affected employees are in California, Florida and New York.

Disney (Research) is expected to sign an agreement with the two vendors later this month, with the outsourcing planned to occur in mid-July. The Times reported that some workers may be offered jobs elsewhere at Disney or be laid off, the company told employees, but no numbers were provided.

Representatives of IBM and ACS declined to comment.

Dow Jones Newswires 05-13-05 0625ET Copyright (C) 2005 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.