Boucher Communications sold to Wolters Kluwer Health.

Wolters Kluwer Health (Philadelphia, PA) has acquired all the assets of Boucher Communications Inc. (BCI; Ft. Washington, PA). BCI assets will become a part of Wolters Kluwer Health's Medical Research unit, a provider of print and electronic research information for medical and academic institutions, medical practitioners, and corporations. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The deal was handled by Berkery, Noyes & Co. (New York).

BCI products focus on the optometry, opticianry, and ophthalmology markets, including five vision care trade journals that offer clinical and practice management information and business strategies. The titles include "Eyecare Business," "Optometric Management," "Content Lens Spectrum" and "Ophthalmology Management," all produced monthly, as well as "Retinal Physician," a bi-monthly publication covering the latest scientific developments regarding advances in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) diabetic retinopathy, and posterior segment care. In addition to the trade journals, BCI publishes a variety of specialty publications, including "Framebuyer," a semiannual supplement focused on eyewear fashion; "New O.D.," a quarterly magazine targeting optometry students and recent graduates; and a number of patient-directed and practitioner-focused supplements. BCI's Health Care Conference Group owns and operates educational conferences and seminars for the vision care industry. BCI is also a provider of online newsletters, customized communication programs, and other electronic products in vision care. BCI was created in 1997 with the purchase of nine business titles to a management team lead by current BCI chairman/ceo Robert Boucher from Cardinal Business Media, a company formed by Brentwood Associates (Los Angeles, CA).

"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."

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