Penton Acquires Tech Conferences, Incorporated; Expands Event Portfolio Into Computer Programming Market.

Business Editors, High Tech Writers

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 15, 2001

Penton Media, Inc. (NYSE:PME) announced today its acquisition of Tech Conferences, Incorporated (TCI) of Monroe, CT, a conference producer serving the computer programming and applications development market. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

TCI will become part of Penton's Technology Media Division portfolio. It will fall under Penton's Duke Communications (www.duke.com), a leading integrated media company serving the Windows 2000 and AS/400 operating systems markets, and other technology operating platform markets. Duke publishes five magazines in the United States, and one title in the United Kingdom, including flagships Windows 2000 Magazine and NEWS/400. Duke's respected magazine franchise is complemented by its significant Internet media portfolio of successful Web sites and electronic newsletters. Duke is based in Loveland, Colorado, and became part of Penton Technology Media in August 2000.

"We are very pleased to add TCI's event expertise and strong brands to our growing IT media platform," said David Nussbaum, president of Penton Technology Media. "With the integration of Duke into Penton Technology Media progressing so smoothly, the next step in our strategic plan, adding in-person events to the media mix, is now in full swing. Our hope is that the combination of TCI and the very strong Windows 2000, SQL Server, and News 400 magazine brands, will result in a number of new projects coming forward over the coming months."

Duke President Mark Smith added, "Our plan is to leverage the 1 million unique customers we reach every month through our print and online products to build a successful event portfolio. TCI provides us with a good launch pad to kick-start our event business. We have worked with TCI for several years and know them to be an excellent partner."

TCI began producing events for computer programmers in 1993. Today TCI produces 11 events covering a variety of programming languages. (For event listings, visit www.devconnections.com).

TCI's brands include:

ASP+ Connections -- a conference that covers all aspects of Microsoft's highly popular Active Server Pages programming language.

XML Connections -- a conference that focuses on the use of eXtensible Markup Language.

Windows 2000 Connections -- covers all aspects of the Windows 2000 server operating system.

Exchange 2000 Connections -- presents programmers and system administrators with the tools and techniques necessary to successfully operate the Exchange 2000 suite of workgroup applications.

VB Connections -- an in-depth conference covering all aspects of Visual Basic.

Visual C++ Connections -- covers the extensively used programming language from the Microsoft family.

SQL 2000 Connections -- one of the leading events covering Microsoft's version of Sequel Query Language.

VPF DevCon Connections -- covers Visual Foxpro, a popular database programming environment.

Connections on Lotus Solutions -- the premier event for Lotus architects, administrators and developers.

About Penton Media

Penton Media, Inc. (NYSE:PME) (www.penton.com) is a leading, global business-to-business media company that produces 62 market-focused magazines, 185 trade shows and conferences, and 143 Web sites. Penton's integrated media portfolio serves the following industries: Internet/broadband; information technology; electronics; manufacturing; design/engineering; natural products/food/retail; management; supply chain; aviation; government/compliance; mechanical systems/construction; and leisure/hospitality. Penton generated revenues in 2000 of $404.6 million.