Intrum Justitia Closes Dun & Bradstreet Deal

Intrum Justitia has today completed the acquisition of Dun & Bradstreet?s European Receivables Management Services operations. The combined company will be the indisputable market leader in receivables management in Europe.

“The Dun & Bradstreet deal is an important step in Intrum Justitia?s strategy to boost growth through combining its strong organic growth with acquisitions,” said CEO Peter Sjunnesson. “It is an important step in preparing Intrum Justitia for a listing.?

“With this deal Intrum Justitia teams up with one of very few competitors who have a pan-European presence. The two operations have an excellent strategic fit, since Dun & Bradstreet and Intrum Justitia?s operations to a large extent are complementary. Together, we are able to offer clients a very strong service,” said CEO Peter Sjunnesson.

Geographic fit
Intrum Justitia has a particularly strong position in the Scandinavian region and in the UK, while Dun & Bradstreet has a strong position in the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, France and Belgium.

Intrum Justitia and Dun & Bradstreet are to a large extent present in the same geographical locations throughout Europe, enabling the combined group to merge offices into one in many locations and reduce associated expenses.

Complementary operations
Intrum Justitia?s strong position in the consumer receivables area is complemented by Dun & Bradstreet?s focus in commercial receivables. The effect is that client overlap is low, and where it occurs services offered are complementary.

The difference in focus is also manifested in a slightly different product focus. Dun & Bradstreet Receivables Management Services has a more developed outsourcing product, including an international and multi-lingual outsource centre in Rotterdam. As a supplement to its core business, Intrum Justitia offers debt recovery, debt surveillance, in-house legal and tracing services. These complementary products can be cross-sold to both existing and new clients. The objective is to offer Intrum Justitia?s customers a ?one-stop shop?.

Integration
The integration between Intrum Justitia?s and Dun & Bradstreet Receivables Management Services operations is expected to be completed during 2002.

Jim Burton, member of the Group Executive team and Head of the Integration process, comments, ?This acquisition will mean Intrum Justitia becoming the indisputable market leader in Europe. Both companies will be working in close partnership with each other following the acquisition, building on the excellent strong relationship which already exists between us.?

?With the combined knowledge and ability of both companies, clients can look forward to much stronger and more focused Receivables Management Services on offer to them in the future.”

Further collaboration
Intrum Justitia and Dun & Bradstreet view each other as preferred suppliers for their respective areas of expertise. The parties will continue to exchange information and data, and jointly market to their shared customers. Intrum Justitia has also established a global partnership between the enlarged Intrum Justitia European business and the US Dun & Bradstreet Receivables Management Services business to offer the clients a global service.

For further information: Peter Sjunnesson, CEO Jim Burton, CEO & Grp Managing Director UK Phone: +46 8 616 77 00 Phone: +44 (0)1789 412000 E-mail: p.sjunnesson@nl.intrum.com E-mail: j.burton@uk.intrum.com

Intrum Justitia is Europe?s leading receivables management services group. The group has a turnover of EUR 200 million with 1,800 employees in 21 European countries. Intrum offers efficient high quality management of commercial and consumer receivables. Intrum has a growth strategy and aims to take active part in consolidating its industry. For more information, please visit www.intrum.com

Dun & Bradstreet, the world?s leading provider of business information, has been enabling business-to-business commerce for nearly 160 years. Dun & Bradstreet?s information and technology solutions help businesses reduce credit risk, find profitable customers, manage vendors efficiently and collect cash and receivables. Businesses also use Dun & Bradstreet?s information and technology to authenticate and verify potential trading partners online, increasing their trust and confidence in e-commerce transactions. For more information, please visit www.dnb.com