AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, July 21, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Wolters Kluwer, a leading multinational publisher and information services company, announced today that it has signed a EUR 750 million multi-currency syndicated credit facility. The transaction achieved substantial oversubscription and raised commitments from 13 banks across Europe, the United States and Australia, underlining the strong support for Wolters Kluwer from its relationship banks.
ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Citigroup, Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A. and ING Bank N.V. acted as mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners. ING Bank N.V. will act as facility agent.
This facility refinances the existing USD 600 million, seven-year credit facility originally established in September 1998. The new credit facility has a maturity of five years with two extension options, potentially raising the maturity to seven years. The credit facility will be used for general corporate purposes including acquisitions, supporting the company's three-year strategy to restore profitable growth and deliver improved value to shareholders, as announced on October 30, 2003.
The syndicate includes the following banks: Mandated lead arrangers: ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Citigroup, Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A. and ING Bank N.V.; Arrangers: Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, Credit Suisse First Boston, Fortis Bank (Nederland) N.V., CCF S.A., KBC Bank Nederland N.V., Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A. and Societe Generale S.A.; Senior lead managers: Banca Intesa S.p.A. and Dresdner Bank Luxembourg S.A.
About Wolters Kluwer
Wolters Kluwer (Euronext Amsterdam:WKL) is a leading multinational publisher and information services company. The Company's core markets are in the health, tax, accounting, corporate, financial services, legal and regulatory, and education sectors. As of 2003, Wolters Kluwer has annual revenues of EUR 3.4 billion, employs approximately 19,500 people worldwide, and maintains operations across Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific. Wolters Kluwer is headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Its depositary receipts are quoted on the Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices.