NLnet acquisition reinforces UUNET's lead in Benelux
and the European Internet services market
JACKSON, MS (September 3, 1997) -- WorldCom, Inc.
, today announced that its subsidiary, UUNET Technologies, Inc., the
world's largest Internet service provider, has acquired NLnet,
the Netherlands' leading Internet service provider. The
acquisition includes 100 percent of NLnet stock.
The newly acquired company will incorporate UUNET's existing
business in the Netherlands and operate as UUNET NL. The acquisition
will mean that Internet users in the Netherlands will benefit from
access to WorldCom's unique, worldwide fibre network.
This acquisition is a major step forward in our overall
international growth strategy and greatly enhances our Internet
foot-print in Europe," said Bernard J. Ebbers, Chairman and CEO
of WorldCom. The acquisition works hand-in-glove with WorldCom's
current international network expansion, including a trans-Atlantic
cable system, a pan-European broadband network, and new city networks
in Brussels and Amsterdam.
The deal further establishes WorldCom through its UUNET
subsidiaries -- as Europe's market leader in business-focused
Internet services. Customers can now buy a full range of Internet
solutions from local UUNET operating companies in Belgium, Germany,
Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and the UK.
John Sidgmore, Vice Chairman and Chief Operations Officer for
WorldCom, comments: In a market driven by unprecedented demand for
bandwidth you have got to be facilities based. Having access to
infrastructure at the lowest possible cost will enable you to control
bandwidth deployment and availability of services end-to-end. With
this infrastructure, NLnet is now better positioned to succeed in
this market.
Looking beyond infrastructure, Pat Chapman-Pincher, Vice President
of UUNET Europe adds: We are committed to building the world's
best business-focused Internet company. In addition to global reach,
security and reliability -- and we are well ahead of the field in all
three -- customers also care about local service, knowledge and
infrastructure. We look forward to bringing these benefits to our
current and future customers.
NLnet's current management team will continue to lead the new
UUNET Netherlands operating company. We are extremely pleased to be a
part of UUNET and WorldCom, said Aris Doelman, business director of
NLnet. Our local infrastructure combined with UUNET's global
reach and resources, ensures leading edge capabilities for our
customers. This is positive and exciting news for Internet users in
the Netherlands.
NLnet was the first commercial Internet provider in The
Netherlands. Since 1982, it has built the largest part of the Dutch
Internet. The company has a business focus that closely matches that
of UUNET. Through co-operation with national railways, international
software houses like Cap Volmac and content providers such as the
Internet Connect Centre], it offers turn-key solutions to meet the
needs of business professionals.
WorldCom is a global business telecommunications company.
Operating in more than 50 countries, the company is a premier
provider of facilities-based and fully integrated local, long
distance, international and Internet services. WorldCom's
subsidiary, UUNET Technologies, Inc., is the world's largest
provider of Internet services. WorldCom's World Wide Web address
is
http://www.wcom.com
. The common and depositary shares of WorldCom trade on the Nasdaq
National Market (U.S.) under the symbol WCOM and WCOMP,
respectively.
