Mecom Group & VSS/Berliner Verlag

December 1, 2005

      Compass Advisers, LLP ("Compass") is pleased to announce the acquisition of Berliner Verlag by BV Deutsche Zeitungsholding, a company owned by Veronis Suhler Stevenson ("VSS") and Mecom Group plc ("Mecom"), from Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck.  Berliner Verlag is a leading newspaper publisher in Berlin, with a modern plant that prints both its own titles and third-party newspapers, including Financial Times Deutschland.  The transaction was completed after permission was granted by the German Cartel November 25, 2005.

      Compass assisted Mecom and VSS in identifying the opportunity, and approached Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck, obtaining exclusivity in the transaction.  As financial advisor to the purchasers, Compass performed discreet due diligence, raised bank financing and negotiated the purchase price for Berliner Zeitung, Berliner Kurier, Abendblatt and TIP, along with other related assets.

      The acquisition is a milestone for Mecom to create a more widely-based group of European consumer media assets through a succession of acquisitions of regional papers in Germany and Europe.  Compass' expertise and guidance was essential to helping Mecom continue to achieve its global objectives.