Wolters Kluwer Education: strong basis, poised for growth


Harry Sterk, CEO of Wolters Kluwer Education, commented: "Learning is an ongoing need, despite economic conditions. Our division has leading and distinct positions across key European educational segments, in which we merge customer needs and technologies to create opportunities for building new and compelling products and services. A good level of product innovation, in combination with tight cost management, provides us with a solid foundation and steady growth. We build on proven capabilities in content development, technology and customer service. This approach underlines our vision to be the leading and fastest growing provider of quality learning solutions, as well as a trailblazer in integrating content, services and technology in the European education markets".
 
During 2002, some 38% of the division's EUR 300 million in revenues came from revenues of products for secondary education, followed by 25% for primary, 18% higher education and 15% vocational. Harry Sterk added: "Within Education, we emphasize specific market dynamics; every five to seven years, governments decide on new curricula for secondary, which causes a cyclical effect. In The Netherlands, for example, new curricula are expected in 2004. With our robust platforms and strong, trusted brands (of which several are over 125 years old), we are extremely well positioned to fulfill market needs".
 
Going forward
In an environment burdened by a shortage of teachers and increased performance demands, Wolters Kluwer Education's strategy aims to provide integrated solutions by integrating content, services and technology to facilitate learning processes. "So, we will provide solutions for testing, assessment, classroom administration, performance tracking and more in order to simplify teachers' lives, bring more structure to the content and improve students' performance".
"Wolters Kluwer Education maintains a strong presence across our markets, and we enjoy significant brand recognition as well. Assets like these, combined with our continuous focus on customers, will deliver solid margins, while positioning ourselves for further growth", said Harry Sterk.

The Education Day presentation is now available for download via www.wolterskluwer.com, and will be available there as a webcast as soon as possible following the presentation in Amsterdam on November 25, 2003.
 
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified by words such as 'expect', 'should', 'could', 'shall', and similar expressions. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results and events could differ materially from what is expected presently. Factors leading thereto may include without limitations general economic conditions, conditions in the markets in which Wolters Kluwer is engaged, behavior of customers, suppliers and competitors, technological developments, as well as legal and regulatory rules affecting Wolters Kluwer's businesses.
 
Note for the Editor
About Wolters Kluwer Education
Wolters Kluwer is Europe's largest Education publisher, setting the standard in teaching and learning across the European educational world. Its brands are well established and are seen as a hallmark of quality and reliability. Many Europeans have been (and continue to be) educated products from such Wolters Kluwer Education companies as Wolters-Noordhoff (the Netherlands), Liber (Sweden), Nelson Thornes (United Kingdom), Bildungsverlag EINS (Germany) and Wolters Plantyn (Belgium). Wolters Kluwer Education has annual revenues (2002) of EUR 300 million, and employs nearly 1,500 people.
 
About Wolters Kluwer (www.wolterskluwer.com)
Wolters Kluwer (Euronext Amsterdam: WKL) is a leading multinational information services company based in the Netherlands. The company's core markets are Health, Tax, Accounting, Corporate & Financial Services, Legal/Regulatory and Education. Wolters Kluwer has annual revenues (2002) of more than EUR 3.9 billion, employing almost 20,000 people and activities in Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific. Wolters Kluwer depositary receipts of shares are quoted on the Euronext Amsterdam and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices.
 
Wolters Kluwer Contacts
Media
Caroline Wouters, tel. +31 20 6070 459
e-mail: press@wolterskluwer.com
Investor Relations
Oya Yavuz, tel. +31 20 6070 407
e-mail: ir@wolterskluwer.com