For immediate release                                 3 November 2003          

United Business Media announces acquisition of leading US oncology and primary 
                          care publishing businesses                           

United Business Media today announced the acquisition of The Oncology Group and
Cliggott Publishing from SCP Communications Inc. Titles acquired include
"Oncology" and "Oncology News International", leading US publications in the
category and "Consultant", a major player in the large primary care market.

UBM is paying the $37.5 million in cash, eight times forecast 2004 operating
profit. The acquisition is expected to achieve UBM's investment criteria in its
first full year. The Oncology Group and Cliggott Publishing will be integrated
into CMP Healthcare Media, the Healthcare division of CMP Media in the US. The
oncology publications provide an ideal platform for the further expansion of
CMP Healthcare's fast growing continuing medical education business.

Clive Hollick, Chief Executive of United Business Media, said:

"This acquisition is financially and strategically attractive. It gives CMP
Healthcare Media a strong platform in the fast growing oncology publications
and education market."

Gary Marshall, Chief Executive of CMP Media, said:


"These leading titles are an excellent fit with the current portfolio and give
CMP Healthcare Media, whose revenues grew by 14 per cent in the first half of
2003, a platform to develop new multimedia professional education products for
the oncology market - products which can be promoted by CMP Healthcare
publications. These titles bring rich databases - the oncology website alone
has over 45,000 registered specialists."

This acquisition adds a strong position in oncology to CMP's market leading
positions in psychiatry, radiology, geriatrics and orthopaedics, making CMP one
of the top US full service healthcare communications companies, serving
professionals across 15+ therapeutic categories.

Senior executives include Jonathan L. Bigelow, President of Cliggott Publishing
and founding editor of many Cliggott journals. His other professional roles
include the position of Board Director and President-Elect of the Association
of Medical Publications. The President of the Oncology Group is Melissa Warner,
a leader in the field of cancer communications and a Board Director on the
Healthcare Marketing and Communications Council.

                                   - ENDS -                                    

For further information please contact:

For United Business Media enquiries:

Michael Waring          United Business Media          + 44 20 7921 5031       
                                                                               
Colin Browne            The Maitland Consultancy       + 44 20 7379 5151       
                                                                               
Nick Molden             United Business Media          + 44 20 7921 5097       


For CMP Media and CMP Healthcare enquiries:

Alix Raine              CMP Media                      + 1 516 562 7827        
                                                                               
Vicki Masseria          CMP Healthcare Media           + 1 415 947 6486        
                                                                               
Sally Shankland         CMP Healthcare Media           + 1 212 600 3072        

Notes to Editors:

CMP Heathcare Media is part of UBM's CMP Media division.

CMP Healthcare Media delivers information and education to healthcare
professionals via a diverse range of marketing and communication vehicles
including publications, websites, tradeshows, meetings and conferences. CMP
Healthcare Media's Publishing Group delivers unbiased objective coverage,
independent of any professional association or commercial influence. Its
publications lead the industry in requestor rates, demonstrating readership
loyalty from subscribers in the fields of psychiatry, geriatric care, medical
imaging and orthopedics. CME, Inc. is a division of CMP Healthcare Media. CME,
Inc. is an independent provider of continuing medical education for physicians
and other healthcare professionals. With 25 years of expertise, CME, Inc. has
unmatched editorial, research capabilities, faculty relationships and planning
experience ensuring effective, fair balanced educational programmes delivered
via a range of venues such as annual congresses, weekend conferences, internet
programmes, home-study programmes and customized publications and meeting
series. MEDReach is also a division of CMP Healthcare Media. It is an
integrated marketing and communications company serving the pharmaceutical
industry. MEDReach delivers new product information to key markets using the
full range of CMP Healthcare's multimedia resources.

SCP Communications, Inc. is a venture capital supported healthcare publishing
group. In 1998 it acquired PRR, Inc., the previous name for what is now known
as The Oncology Group. The same year it also acquired Cliggott Publishing, Co.

The Oncology Group and Cliggott Publishing. The Oncology Group is US leader in
the field of oncology publishing for specialists, researchers, primary care
physicians and patients. Cliggott Publishing plays a leading role in educating
primary care practitioners and medical surgical specialists and publishes
several of the best read journals in the US.

United Business Media plc (http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com) is a

leading provider of business information services to the technology,
healthcare, media, automotive and financial services industries. UBM offers
services in market research, consultancy, news distribution, publishing and
events to customers across the globe. Its brands include NOP World, one of the
largest market research groups globally; 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.

Schedule of Products

The Oncology Group and Cliggott Publishing

Major publications:

Oncology, Oncology News International, Myths and Facts Series (Breast Cancer,
Colon Cancer, Lung Cancer, Ovarian Cancer), Consultant, Infections in Medicine,
The Journal of Respiratory Diseases, The Journal of Respiratory Diseases for
Pediatricians, The Journal of Musculoskeletal Medicine, Drug Benefit Trends,
The Journal of Critical Illness, The AIDS Reader

Major websites:

www.cancernetwork.com

www.ConsultantLive.com

CMP Healthcare Media

Major publications:

Psychiatric Times, Geriatric Times, Diagnostic Imaging, Diagnostic Imaging
Europe, Biomechanics

Major websites:

www.CMEInc.com

www.MEDInfoSource.com

www.MentalHealthInfoSource.com

www.NeuroInfoSource.com

www.PsychiatricTimes.com

www.GeriatricTimes.com

www.MEDReach.com

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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