advanstar

BOSTON - March 6, 2001 - Advanstar Communications Inc., a leading worldwide business information company, today acquired Automotive Body Repair News, Motor Age, and Automotive Marketing publications from Cahners Business Information.

The acquisition of these publications gives Advanstar extended coverage into the service/installer and body repair segments of the automotive aftermarket, and complements Advanstar's leading position in the retail aftermarket segment served by Advanstar's Aftermarket Business.

"We've been publishing Aftermarket Business for 65 years now, and we've been searching for the right mix of aftermarket titles to complement the great market position we enjoy," said Robert Krakoff, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "The addition of the respected Automotive Body Repair News, Motor Age, and Automotive Marketing publications broadens our reach and strengthens our portfolio of b-to-b products and services serving the $249 billion automotive aftermarket industry."

Automotive Body Repair News is a monthly product tabloid with news, product and technical information for owners, managers, shop foremen, and collision, paint and mechanical technicians in the body shop, collision repair and paint refinish markets. Motor Age, launched in 1899, is a monthly technical publication that covers the domestic and import automotive service industry for owners, managers and professional service technicians and mechanics.

Automotive Marketing is a marketing, trend analysis and research publication which each month reaches upper management and purchasing decision-makers in the retail, jobber and distribution segment of the automotive aftermarket. It has been a direct competitor of Advanstar's Aftermarket Business. Plans for integrating Automotive Marketing with Aftermarket Business will be announced shortly.

Automotive Body Repair News' and Motor Age's ASE-endorsed training manual programs are also part of the acquisition. These programs help automotive and collision repair technicians keep pace with rapidly changing automotive repair technology and supplies the information necessary for them to excel in their profession. The acquisition also includes the National Autobody Congress Exposition (NACE) Show Dailies, produced by Automotive Body Repair News.

Automotive Body Repair News, Motor Age, and Automotive Marketing join Advanstar's Motor Vehicle Group which has more than 65 years experience in the automotive aftermarket plus more than 30 years of experience in the powersports industries. In addition to Aftermarket Business, the group's products and services include the Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows, Dealernews magazine, and the Dealernews International Powersports Dealer Expo.

"We are pleased to add these titles, the ASE training manuals and the award-winning teams that produce them. We look forward to combining our resources and expertise with the publication teams to create a unique and fully-integrated mix of publishing and online market opportunities for automotive aftermarket product suppliers," said Alex DeBarr, Executive Vice President of Advanstar. "Our aim is to create the same sort of full-service portfolio of products that our Motor Vehicle Group has achieved in the motorcycle and powersports industries."

The Automotive Body Repair News, Motor Age, and Automotive Marketing staffs will report to Advanstar Group Publisher Douglas Ferguson, who is also publisher of Aftermarket Business.

Advanstar Communications Inc. is a worldwide business information company serving specialized markets with high-quality information resources and integrated marketing solutions. Advanstar has 106 top business and professional publications, 108 exhibitions and conferences, 79 Web sites, and a wide range of direct marketing, database and reference products and services. Advanstar serves targeted market sectors in such industries as telecommunications, CRM/call center, e-commerce, retail, travel, hospitality, beauty, fashion, healthcare, pharmaceutical, manufacturing and processing. The company has more than 1,400 employees and currently operates from multiple offices North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. For more information on Advanstar Communications, visit www.advanstar.com.