WASHINGTON, D.C. --June 28, 2001-- Hanley-Wood, LLC, announced today that it has purchased POOL & SPA NEWS and AQUATICS INTERNATIONAL from Leisure Publications.

POOL & SPA NEWS, the leading publication in the pool and spa industry, targets the residential and commercial markets, including builders, retailers and distributors of pools, spas, hot tubs and related products. It is a news and technical magazine with 24 issues annually. AQUATICS INTERNATIONAL publishes 9 issues annually and is written for facility managers, designers and maintenance personnel of municipal/commercial pools and water parks. Both magazines publish industry-leading directories.

"These magazines lead the pool and spa sector with excellent editorial and dominant market share," says Peter Goldstone, President, Hanley-Wood's Magazine Division. "This is a vibrant market, with residential pool sales increasing every year since 1994. The growth trends in residential design and construction related to outdoor space are exciting. POOL & SPA NEWS and AQUATICS INTERNATIONAL have been at the forefront of that expansion."

Both magazines will continue to be located in Los Angeles and will be managed by publisher Richard Coleman, who joins Hanley-Wood from Thomson Healthcare Publishing and PennWell Publishing. Coleman will relocate to Los Angeles.

"The acquisition of these two magazines, combined with the International Pool & Spa EXPO we purchased earlier this year, puts Hanley-Wood in a strong position to serve the $8 billion pool and spa market," adds Michael Wood, Chief Executive Officer of Hanley-Wood. "This acquisition follows our strategy to pair leading magazines with successful trade shows to cover all segments of the housing industry."

"Hanley-Wood is the premier publisher in the residential construction market and we're delighted to put our publications in such capable hands," says Jules Field. Field founded Leisure Publications over 30 years ago. Leisure Publications will continue to publish Fitness Management and other publications.

Hanley-Wood is the leading business-to-business media company serving the housing and commercial construction industry. Founded in 1976, Hanley-Wood is a $160 million company owned by VS&A Communications Partners III, the private equity affiliate of media industry merchant bank Veronis Suhler.

Hanley-Wood publishes leading magazines in the residential and commercial construction industry including Builder, BIGBUILDER, ihousing, REMODELING, THE JOURNAL OF FLIGHT CONSTRUCTION, PROSALES, CUSTOM HOME, residential architect, BUILDING PRODUCTS, CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION, and TOOLS OF THE TRADE.

From its Exhibitions Division based in Dallas, Hanley-Wood produces nine trade shows, four of which are listed in the Trade Show 200, including World of Concrete at #19. Hanley-Wood Integrated Marketing is based in Minneapolis and the Home Planners Division, based in Tucson, is the leading publisher of house plan magazines, Special Interest Publications and eplans.com.

Hanley-Wood's Internet Division has a major Internet presence through its sites including BUILDER ONLINE, REMODELING ONLINE, and its new company, ebuild, the comprehensive guide to building products..

Contacts:
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For VSA Communications Partners