Amsterdam, The Netherlands, July 27, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Wolters Kluwer, a leading multinational publisher and information services company, announced today that its award-winning software company in Spain, A3 Software, has added gold to its shelf.
A3 Software was recently awarded gold-level Recognition for Excellence by the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM). Formed in 1988, the EFQM provides a verifiable framework for sustainable organizational excellence. Open to over 800 organizations throughout Europe that represent several million employees, the EFQM awards are based on the following criteria:
* Leadership and constancy of purpose * Customer focus * Corporate social responsibility * People development and involvement * Results orientation * Management by processes and facts * Continuous learning, innovation and improvement * Partnership development
Very few organizations have been successful in reaching gold at their first attempt, but A3 has done just that. The EFQM team of independent assessors, most of them senior managers from the field, pointed to the following highlights within A3: customer focus, results orientation, continuous innovation and improvement, and the commitment of all people within A3 Software.
"We are very pleased to receive this Recognition of Excellence from such a reputable organization as EFQM," commented Salvador Fernandez Lopez, CEO of Wolters Kluwer Spain. "It clearly underlines Wolters Kluwer's ongoing commitment to provide our customers with the innovative tools and solutions they need. I would like to congratulate all our staff on this magnificent achievement."
About A3
A3 Software began in 1980 and has implemented more than 22,000 applications for over 10,000 customers. It is unique company dedicated to the development of management software for professionals in the fields of labor, tax, accounting and human resources. A3 Software's highly specialized, user friendly and smart solutions for payroll, accounting, tax, and HR management are designed to deliver added value to its professional customers. A3 Software is part of Wolters Kluwer's operations in Spain, belonging to the Legal, Tax & Regulatory Europe Division.
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.
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