VS&A Communications Acquires Phillips Business Information

Posted on October 6, 2000

VS&A Communications Partners III, LP, the private equity affiliate of New York-based media merchant bank Veronis Suhler, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Phillips Business Information, Inc. from Phillips International, Inc. In addition, Hart Publications, a division of Phillips Business Information, Inc., specializing in energy industry publishing, is being acquired by Chemical Week Associates (CWA), a portfolio company of VS&A Communications Partners II, LP.

The two acquisitions, expected to close by the end of October, were announced jointly by Jeffrey T. Stevenson, President and Managing General Partner of VS&A Communications Partners II and III, LP; Thomas L. Phillips, chairman and president of Phillips International, Inc.; and Michael Silber, President & CEO of CWA.

Phillips Business Information (PBI) is a business-to-business media company engaged in trade magazine publishing, business information services, and conferences and trade shows. PBI is expected to generate more than $110 million in revenues in 2000. PBI's markets include media and communications, cable television, satellite, aviation, defense and energy. Key products include RepliTech trade shows, AV Video & Multimedia Producer magazine, Via Satellite magazine, Communications Technology magazine, Rotor & Wing magazine, and Defense Daily newsletter and website.

Hart Publications, which merged with PBI in 1998, provides coverage of the global energy industry through its magazines, conferences,newsletters, directories, online resources, and other electronic products. VS&A Communications Partners II, LP, acquired CWA, publishers of Chemical Week, Modern Plastics and Chemical Engineering, in 1997. It is an information company covering the chemical, plastics and hydrocarbons industry.

``Phillips Business Information is a natural addition to VS&A Communications Partners' family of portfolio companies,'' Jeffrey Stevenson said. ``VS&A Communications Partners will use the firm's significant resources in B2B trade magazines and trade shows, and the business information industry to expand upon the tremendous foundation PBI has built over the years. This will enable PBI to maintain its reputation as the premier information provider in the dynamic markets they serve.''

Phillips International, Inc. will retain its consumer investment and health publishing businesses. More than 1,500,000 people subscribe to Phillips' consumer newsletters and online services.