LONDON, May 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- UBM plc has today announced the
acquisition of ABI Building Data Limited (ABI), from EMAP plc for GBP12m plus
an amount equal to the cash in the business. In the calendar year 2004 ABI
generated revenues of GBP5.5 million and EBITDA of GBP1.1 million.
    ABI is a leading provider of construction sales and marketing information
services serving the UK construction sector with sales leads, contact data,
CRM software and marketing intelligence aimed primarily at construction
contractors and material suppliers. Established for over 60 years, ABI enjoys
a strong reputation for gathering, processing and providing information on
forthcoming construction projects and delivering quality subscription
services.
    ABI particularly complements the existing construction and property
businesses within CMPi and will become part of CMPi's Built Environment
division. This will allow ABI and the other businesses in the division to
deliver enhanced offerings to professionals throughout the UK construction
market.
    UBM CEO David Levin said
    "ABI represents an excellent "bolt on" opportunity for UBM, it allows us
to consolidate our chosen markets, it meets our strict financial criteria and
as such is a good fit with our continuing strategy. We continue to look for
more opportunities just like this one."
    CEO of CMPi, Bernard Gray said
    "ABI represents a significant opportunity for CMPi to strengthen its
information product offering to the construction industry and is
complementary to our existing range of market leading products serving this
sector - in particular the Barbour product range. Increasing demand for
project data will continue to drive growth in this business. The acquisition
should be earnings-enhancing in its first full year."
    Notes to Editors:
    CMP Information is the UK-headquartered professional media division of
United Business Media plc.
    Operating in the UK and Europe, CMPi provides creative business media
solutions to around 15 industry sectors. Its products, including magazines,
exhibitions, conferences, awards, directories and websites, are targeted at
business professionals across a range of markets; these include Building &
Property, Healthcare, Entertainment, Travel, Agriculture and Print.
    Amongst its well-established brands are industry leading publications
including Building, Pulse, Travel Trade Gazette, Building Design, Property
Week, Music Week, and Chemist & Druggist. CMPi also has a number of leading
directories, compendiums and information services such as the Building
Product Compendium, Benns Media, The Knowledge and the Professional Series.
It also has a number of exhibitions recognised as the pre-eminent events in
their respective market sectors. These include CPhI, FIE, The Interiors
Event, ACPO, International Fire Expo and IFSEC.
    CMPi's magazines reach over 660,000 readers directly through
subscription; newsstand and controlled circulation, while over 330,000
business professionals and marketers attend its exhibitions each year. CMPi
has approximately 1,000 employees in the UK and Europe and in 2004, CMPi's
revenues totaled GBP159.3m and its profits were GBP33.6m.
    http://www.abibuildingdata.com
    Notes to Editors:
    United Business Media plc (http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com) is a
leading provider of business information services to the technology,
healthcare, media, automotive, financial services and property industries.
UBM offers services in news distribution, publishing and events to customers
across the globe. Its brands include PR Newswire, the world's leading
corporate news distribution service and CMP, the B2B media and exhibition
group operating in high tech, healthcare, property, entertainment, jewellery
& fashion in the US, UK, Asia and Europe.
    This press release includes statements which are not historical facts and
are considered "forward-looking" within the meaning of Section 27 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These forward-looking statements reflect
UBM's current views about future events, business and growth strategy and
financial performance. These forward-looking statements are identified by
their use of terms and phrases such as "believe," "expect," "plan,"
"anticipate," "on target" and similar expressions identifying forward-looking
statements. Investors should not rely on forward-looking statements because
they are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from UBM's expectations. UBM
expressly does not undertake any duty to update forward-looking statements.
Management does not attempt to update forecasts unless conditions materially
change.

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