Oak Brook, IL -- January 19, 2005. Reed Business Information and Construction Equipment magazine announced today that RBI has acquired Spec Check U.S. LLC, the leading data provider of construction and agricultural equipment specification comparisons. The Spec Check database includes more than 90 categories of mobile construction and agricultural machinery.

Spec Check will continue to serve construction equipment manufacturers, distributors and end-users. The Spec Check data will also be the future source for the specification database on ConstructionEquipment.com. The database will interact seamlessly with the newly relaunched site's product, manufacturer, distributor databases, as well as its award-winning evaluative content.

Commenting on the acquisition, Rick Blesi, publisher of Construction Equipment said,

"In our most recent Internet Usage Study, 91% of respondents indicated they use the Internet to locate specifications and product information. Obviously, it was critical that the specs on the new ConstructionEquipment.com be the best in North America. The Spec Check business will complement Construction Equipment's current business, allowing us to build more meaningful relationships with manufacturers, distributors, rental companies and end users of equipment."

Frank Manfredi, the former owner of Spec Check, will assume the position of Managing Director of Spec Check and will report to Blesi.

"This is a very exciting development for Spec Check U.S. LLC's current customers," Manfredi said. "RBI has the technical and people resources that will allow us to enhance our product and do it quicker than we would be able to on our own."

Spec Check will be based in Reed Business Information's Oak Brook, IL, office. Industry veterans Bill Borthwick and Mac Wilcox, who have been with Spec Check since its inception, will join Manfredi in the Chicagoland location.

"The addition of Spec Check to RBI's Construction group reinforces our commitment to provide the information our customers need to do their jobs," said Chicagoland Division President Jeff Greisch. "This acquisition fits with our strategy of growing subscription rich data products and online ad-based products."

About Construction Equipment

Construction Equipment (CE), established in 1949, is the premier information source for the construction equipment marketplace. The CE community provides superior content in-print with its monthly magazine, in-person with events like the Construction Equipment Institute and online with its website, webcasts and electronic newsletters.

About Reed Business Information

Construction Equipment is owned by Reed Business Information (www.reedbusiness.com), the largest business-to-business publisher in the U.S. RBI offers business professionals in the media, manufacturing, electronics, construction and retail industries more than 100 market-leading business-to-business publications, 75 Webzines and Web portals, custom publishing, directories, research and direct-marketing lists. RBI is a member of the Reed Elsevier Group plc (NYSE: RUK and ENL) – a world-leading publisher and information provider operating in the science and medical, legal, education and business-to-business industry sectors.