Tuesday, May 2, 2006

ROCKVILLE, MD, May 2, 2006 — The Business Information Division of Access Intelligence LLC announced today the acquisition of daily publications The Energy Daily and Defense Today, and weekly newsletter Space & Missile Report, from King Publishing Group, expanding its portfolio into the growing energy market and further solidifying its leadership position in the defense marketplace.

Founded in 1973 by Llewellyn King, CEO of King Publishing, The Energy Daily has kept its readers at the forefront of major developments in the energy industry. The top daily publication among energy executives covers all aspects of the energy industry including electric utilities, nuclear power, natural gas, oil, coal and alternative fuels.

The acquisition marks Access Intelligence’s continued investment in high-value information products. Don Pazour, president and CEO of Access Intelligence, said: “Timely market intelligence offered through our investments in the defense, chemical and cable markets have delivered double-digit growth to Access Intelligence. From a strategic standpoint, the strength of the energy marketplace, along with its synergistic tie to our other vertical markets, makes it an attractive acquisition.” Access Intelligence is a portfolio company of Veronis Suhler Stevenson, a private equity and mezzanine capital fund management company dedicated to investing in the media, communications, information and education industries in North America and Europe.

“Without energy, everything else is moot. That is the flame that has burned at The Energy Daily for 33 years, and it will continue to inform the paper in the future,” said King. “Covering energy is, in a sense, covering all human endeavor, all economic life, and much political activity. It has been my privilege to do so for these many years, and through a consulting arrangement I shall remain close to The Energy Daily for the foreseeable future,” he said.

The Energy Daily provides the cornerstone to Access Intelligence’s growing energy group. Jennifer Schwartz, vice president and group publisher Defense, has been tapped to add Access Intelligence’s Energy Group to her existing product portfolio. Ms. Schwartz’s impressive track record in growing daily newsletters and paid websites make her the ideal executive to spearhead Access Intelligence’s energy initiatives. Veteran market expert George Lobsenz, Executive Editor The Energy Daily, will continue in his current leadership role.

Access Intelligence has deep ties serving the defense community through its flagship publication Defense Daily. Defense Today will be merged with Defense Daily, further enhancing Defense Daily’s reach and scope into the market. Space and Missile Defense Report, established in 1988, provides in-depth coverage of ballistic missile defense and military space. It joins sister publications Defense Daily,Terror Response Technology, Report, Helicopter News, Defense Daily’s Capitol Hill Report, Defense Daily International and the premier Web site Defense Daily Network in rounding out Access Intelligences’ leading role in the defense information marketplace.

Heather Farley, divisional president of Access Intelligence Business Information, noted “today’s business publishing environment is geared toward delivering daily, market-centric news, data and analysis in print and on the Web. The Energy Daily brand is a perfect fit in our portfolio of daily newsletter brands that have become trusted advisors to the markets they serve.”