Changes at UBM and Ziff
Jinfo Blog

17th March 2008

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Changes at UBM and Ziff. While much of the attention focuses on Reed Elsevier with its acquisition of Choicepoint and its disposal of Reed Business Information we should not overlook changes at United Business Media (UBM) and Ziff Davis Media. A week after Reed announced the RBI disposal UBM disclosed that it was restructuring its CMP Technology company (CMP) into 4 divisions. Each of these divisions is US- based but their CEOs will report into the UK-located UBM CEO David Levin. http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com. The CMP name no longer exists. Between 2004 and 2007 CMP made 18 acquisitions and saw the majority of its revenue shift from print to events, online and data services. Three months ago Steve Weitzer moved from being CMP’s CEO to run its international division. This January he became the chairman/CEO of Ziff Davis Enterprise. UBM’s announcement of the changes at CMP was followed a week later by Ziff Davis Media filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in order to restructure its operations and pay down its debt. However it expects business to continue as usual during the reorganization and plans to emerge from Chapter 11 this summer. The company cited a decrease in revenue from print advertising and subscriptions as contributing to its decline. Jason Young, Chief Executive Officer of Ziff Davis Media, said: “We matched audience growth with impressive digital revenue expansion. And while the print market continued to be challenging, we continue to be print category leaders in the markets we serve." The challenges at Ziff reflect those of other print media companies as they continue to migrate to the online environment. http://www.ziffdavis.com/press/releases/080305.0.html

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