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Wolters Kluwer Acquires BCI
WKH MEDICAL RESEARCH UNIT GAINS ACCESS TO SPECIALTY MARKET SEGMENT

Wolters Kluwer Health acquired the total assets of Pennsylvania-based Boucher Communications Inc. (BCI), publisher of Optometric Management. BCI will become a part of Wolters Kluwer Health's Medical Research unit, a leading provider of print and electronic research information for medical and academic institutions, medical practitioners and corporations. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Since its formation in 1997, BCI has focused exclusively on serving the optometry, opticianry, and ophthalmology markets. In addition to OM, the award-winning titles include Eyecare Business, Contact Lens Spectrum and Ophthalmology Management, as well as Retinal Physician, a publication covering the latest scientific developments in posterior segment care.

"Given today's aging population and the accompanying increase in vision problems, there is a great need for information exchange about the latest innovations in vision care," said Gary Foster, Chief Executive Officer of Wolters Kluwer Health's Medical Research unit. "Adding BCI to our holdings immediately puts our Medical Research business into a growing leadership position for this advancing medical specialty. The respected BCI titles and related industry services will both strengthen and benefit our diverse, comprehensive portfolio of medical offerings."

"We are extremely pleased to become part of Wolters Kluwer Health and are looking forward to exploring ways to provide more services to both our customers and subscribers," said Pat Herron, President and Chief Operating Officer of BCI. "Our publications, related conference services and activities, and electronic initiatives will benefit from the strategic opportunities offered by many of the Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Research titles that will expand the depth of promotion and educational options for our customers."

BCI also publishes a variety of specialty publications, including Framebuyer, a supplement focused on eyewear fashion, and New O.D., a magazine targeting optometry students and recent graduates. BCI's Health Care Conference Group owns and operates conferences and seminars, including the Global Orthokeratology Symposium. BCI is also a leading provider of online and electronic products in vision care.

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer Health (Philadelphia, Pa.) is a leading provider of information for professionals and students in medicine, nursing, allied health, pharmacy and the pharmaceutical industry. Major brands include publishers of medical and drug reference tools and textbooks, such as Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; electronic information providers, such as Ovid Technologies, Medi-Span and SKOLAR, and pharmaceutical information provider Adis International.

Wolters Kluwer, based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, is a leading multinational publisher and information services company. Its core markets are spread across the health, corporate services, finance, tax, accounting, law, regulatory and education sectors. Wolters Kluwer has annual revenues (2004) of $3.3 billion, employs approximately 18,400 people worldwide and maintains operations across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.

About Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Research

Comprised of Ovid Technologies and Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW) medical journals, the Medical Research (MR) business unit of Wolters Kluwer Health is a leader in the development, production and delivery of print and electronic research information for medical and academic institutions, medical practitioners, and corporations. As the primary online source for all Wolters Kluwer Health content, Ovid offers hundreds of electronic databases and books and more than 1,200 journals, including full text in science, technology and the humanities. LWW publishes more than 275 journals and newsletter products, including some of the industry's most respected titles in specialty fields for physicians and clinicians, and distributes them through customized society portal pages and through electronic distribution to Ovid's 13 million users worldwide.