CMP Media and Global Sources Team up to Launch Asian Editions of EE Times and Electronic Buyers' News

PRNewswire
MANHASSET, N.Y.
Jul 27, 2000

Two highly respected news weeklies of the global electronics industry, EE Times and Electronic Buyers' News, will be widely circulated in Asia for the first time as a result of a new joint venture between CMP Media Inc. and Global Sources Ltd. CMP, a leading provider of high-tech news and information and a unit of United News & Media plc (NASDAQ: UNEWY), and Global Sources (NASDAQ: GSOL), a leading B2B market maker and e-commerce solutions provider for the global trade community, said the joint venture will publish first issues of the tabloid newspapers in October 2000.

CMP's Electronics Group will provide international news, trends and other specialist "how-to" content while building on Global Sources' local market-leading brands and significant regional circulation. Global Sources' multi-lingual web sites and titles will be relaunched and integrated into CMP brands. For example, Global Sources' established magazine Asian Electronics Engineer (created in 1987) will be re-branded with the English title EE Times Asia, while Electronics News for China (created in 1985) will be re-branded with the English title Electronic Buyers' News (EBN) China. The new venture will distribute over 35,600 copies of a local language EBN China Edition (simplified Chinese) and over 70,100 copies of local language editions of EE Times Asia (simplified Chinese for China, traditional Chinese versions for Hong Kong and Taiwan, Korean and English). The EE Times Asia English edition will be distributed to the ASEAN countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines, as well as incidental distribution in India, Australia and New Zealand.

"For years, EE Times and EBN have delivered the latest news of technology and business and insightful analysis to North American electronics professionals," said Steve Weitzner, president of CMP Media's Electronics Group. "Now with the help of our partners at Global Sources, we'll deliver stories from our worldwide news reporting network to engineers, procurement professionals and corporate managers throughout Asia for the first time." The editors of each Asian edition will maintain a balance of local and international news and combine technical content to create unique editions matched to the specific needs of local audiences in Asia.

"The joint venture will also lead to expanded coverage of the Asian electronics business in our U.S. editions," said Richard Wallace, vice president of editorial for CMP's Electronics Group, who was instrumental in defining the new editions and setting up the editorial teams that will help fill them.

"The reach of these publications is unmatched in the Asian electronics markets we serve," said Mark Saunderson, president of the new joint venture, and a member of Global Sources management board. "Our publications will be BPA audited from the day they are relaunched."

The joint venture partners plan to cooperate in the conference and online businesses as well as in print. "We'll continue to focus on the markets that matter most: communications, embedded systems, and advanced design and manufacturing processes," said Weitzner. "Our goal is to deliver integrated media solutions for electronics marketers in the key world markets. Now through our products and services in the U.S., our network of native language partners in Europe and this new joint venture in Asia, CMP's Electronics Group is ready to provide access to the most important influences in the worldwide electronics industry-in print, online, and face-to-face."

About CMP Media Inc.

CMP Media Inc. (http://www.cmpnet.com/) is a leading high-tech media company providing essential information and marketing services to the entire technology spectrum -- the builders, sellers and users of technology worldwide. Capitalizing on its editorial strength, CMP is uniquely positioned to offer marketers comprehensive, integrated media solutions tailored to meet their individual needs. Its diverse products and services include newspapers, magazines, Internet products, research, direct marketing services, education and training, trade shows and conferences, custom publishing, testing and consulting.

About Global Sources

Global Sources (NASDAQ: GSOL) is a leading infomediary and neutral B2B market maker for volume buyers and suppliers worldwide. Global Sources has been operating for over 29 years and in Mainland China for more than 15 years represented in more than 30 locations. The Company has developed one of the world's most comprehensive databases of export products and suppliers, in twelve market segments including: Computer Products, Electronics Components, Electronics, Timepieces, Gifts and Home Products, Fashion Accessories, Telecom Products, Hardware, Security and Safety, Ceramics and Porcelain, Food and Beverage, and Trimmings and Fabrics. Global Sources community currently includes over 203,000 active buyers who are able to locate over 88,200 supplier contacts from more than 90 countries and source over 83,700 products per day, with detailed specifications and color images. For further information, please visit http://www.corporate.globalsources.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27-A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21-E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements as a result of the risks associated with the Company's business, changes in general economic conditions, and changes in the assumptions used in making such forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: CMP Media Inc.

Contact: US contact - Steve Weitzner, 516-562-5621, Fax: 516-562-5995,
sweitznr@cmp.com, or Asia contact - Camellia So, +852-2555-5042,
Fax: +852-2518-8764, cso@globalsources.com, both of CMP Media Inc.

Website: http://www.cmpnet.com/
http://www.corporate.globalsources.com/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/181993.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 181993