NEW YORK, NY (April 1, 2004) VS&A Communications Partners II, LP, a private equity affiliate of media merchant bank Veronis Suhler Stevenson, today announced the sale of Hart Publications, a leading diversified publisher serving the worldwide energy industry, to Hart Energy Publishing LLLP, a newly formed entity backed by Wiegers & Company and Compass Advisers. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

"Long recognized as an industry innovator, Hart is now positioned to implement new growth strategies," said Richard A. Eichler, appointed Chief Executive Officer with the inception of the new firm. "Our Board of Directors are visionary thinkers prepared for significant investment in new launches and product expansion. They are investing in Hart's strategy of developing an integrated family of products and services for the energy industry and are struck by our track record of steadily building value while others failed to capitalize on market opportunities."

"Hart Publications has established itself as one of the leading suppliers of information to the global energy market through its editorial expertise, extensive research and industry knowledge and breadth of product offerings," said Jeffrey T. Stevenson, President of VS&A Communications Partners II. "We are confident that under this new operational structure, together with the support of the Company's new owners, Hart Publications is well positioned to continue to supply highly-targeted, customer-focused information products to its global customer base, and to capture additional market share through identifying and serving new key market niches in the worldwide energy industry."

Headquartered in Houston, Hart Energy Publishing's market-leading publications include Oil and Gas Investor, Hart's E&P, Energy Markets, PipeLine and Gas Technology and World Refining. Hart produces nine newsletters, custom publishing products, World Fuels Conferences, and unique multi- and single-client consulting services, such as The International Fuel Quality Center and the World Refining and Fuels Analysis: 2000-2015 annual study.

VS&A Communications Partners II, LP, acquired Hart Publications in October 2000. Hart Energy Publishing LP was formed by Hart management and Wiegers Capital to include investors from Denver and New York in the publishing assets purchase. Compass Advisers LLP advised on the transaction and is an equity investor. J.P. Morgan Chase provided debt financing to the transaction.

About Veronis Suhler Stevenson
Veronis Suhler Stevenson is a leading independent merchant bank dedicated to the media, communications and information industries. Veronis Suhler Stevenson has completed over 630 transactions since its inception in 1981. The firm has acted as a financial advisor across the full spectrum of media, communication and information segments and provides the following services: private equity investment and mergers & acquisitions advisory services . VS&A Communications Partners III, LP is the third private equity fund managed by Veronis Suhler Stevenson. Capitalized at over $1 billion, it is one of the largest private equity funds dedicated exclusively to investments in the media, communications and information industries. The VSS Private Equity buyout funds have invested in 33 platform companies and 153 add-on acquisitions, across multiple media segments; the realized and unrealized enterprise value of these investments total approximately $7 billion.

Contacts:

Veronis Suhler Stevenson

Stanton Crenshaw Communications