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Centaur Communications Limited buys Consultancy Europe Associates

Centaur Communications Limited, one of the UK's leading independent business publishers, has purchased 100% of the issued share capital of Consultancy Europe Associates (CEA). The sellers include Congressional Quarterly Inc. of Washington DC, existing management (who are staying with the company), and other minority shareholders.

The price paid for the shares is not being revealed.

CEA's main product is the Spicers Centre for Europe database which covers all EU legislation and policy since 1987 (http://www.spicers.co.uk).

"Accordingly, the team of about 80 people will transfer to the Centaur offices immediately. The new Centaur division will be headed by Neil Wood as Managing Director, who brings nearly 20 years experience in business media via Board positions in EMAP Business Communications companies, Reed Exhibitions and as Managing Director of Miller Freeman Exhibitions where he was responsible for all the shows in this portfolio and worked closely with the magazines concerned".

CEA was formed in late 1989 by Peter Winter and Charles Bright. In December 1991 CEA acquired the database and related assets of Spicers Centre for Europe. Congressional Quarterly has been involved with the company since early 1995.

Following the death of Charles Bright in 1994, Peter Winter has continued as managing director of the company and he retains that role now that CEA is part of Centaur.

Centaur already owns Lawtel, the UK's leading on-line legal current awareness database (http://www.lawtel.co.uk). It also owns The Lawyer, the leading independent weekly newspaper serving the legal profession.

"We are delighted to have bought CEA", says Rachel Lesiter, commercial director of Lawtel. "The way that Spicers deals with EU legal information fits in very well with the approach which we have taken at Lawtel and we are looking forward to working very closely with the team at CEA to the benefit of the customers of both products."

For further information call:

Rachel Lesiter
Centaur Communications
+44 (020) 7970 4636

Peter Winter
CEA
01636 610620

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