Wolters Kluwer Completes Sale of Its Pharma-Related Marketing & Publishing Services Business to Springer Science+Business Media

ALPHEN AAN DEN RIJN, Netherlands, Dec. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Wolters Kluwer, a market-leading global information services company focused on professionals, today announced that it has completed the sale of its pharma-related Marketing & Publishing Services business to Springer Science+Business Media. The sale is part of Wolters Kluwer's strategy to focus on core health markets through its Wolters Kluwer Health & Pharma Solutions division.

"The sale of our pharma-related business will allow us to focus future investments in our core healthcare business in key growth areas such as point of care," said Nancy McKinstry, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board of Wolters Kluwer. "We are committed to continued investments in innovative solutions that help clinicians around the globe access critical information to improve healthcare."

The agreement encompasses the Marketing & Publishing Services business unit, part of the Wolters Kluwer Health & Pharma Solutions division. Marketing & Publishing Services is a leading global provider of strategic marketing, publishing, and business intelligence products and services to the pharmaceutical industry as well as to medical libraries and academic and research institutions. The sale represents approximately 35% of the company's pharma-related assets in terms of revenue, with Adis and inScience Communications as the leading brands, and encompasses approximately 450 employees globally.

The intention to divest the Pharma Solutions business was announced in July 2011. The proceeds from this divestment are expected to be used for general corporate purposes including the reduction of debt levels in line with the company's stated objectives and investments in the business. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

For more information on Wolters Kluwer Health, visit www.wolterskluwerhealth.com. For more information on Pharma Solutions, visit www.wolterskluwerpharma.com.

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer is a market-leading global information services company. Professionals in the areas of legal, business, tax, accounting, finance, audit, risk, compliance, and healthcare rely on Wolters Kluwer's leading information-enabled tools and software solutions to manage their business efficiently, deliver results to their clients, and succeed in an ever more dynamic world.

Wolters Kluwer had 2010 annual revenues of euro 3.6 billion, employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide, and maintains operations across Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, serving customers globally. Wolters Kluwer is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. Its shares are quoted on Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices.

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Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified by words such as "expect", "should", "could", "will", "shall" and similar expressions. Wolters Kluwer cautions that such forward-looking statements are qualified by certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from what is contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, general economic conditions; conditions in the markets in which Wolters Kluwer is engaged; behavior of customers, suppliers, and competitors; technological developments; the implementation and execution of new ICT systems or outsourcing; and legal, tax, and regulatory rules affecting Wolters Kluwer's businesses, as well as risks related to mergers, acquisitions, and divestments. In addition, financial risks such as currency movements, interest rate fluctuations, liquidity, and credit risks could influence future results. The foregoing list of factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Wolters Kluwer disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE Wolters Kluwer