Trading Statement

Informa Group PLC
26 June 2001

                                                                  26 June 2001


                              INFORMA GROUP PLC


                                Trading update


We are about to enter our close period and this week we will be briefing
analysts on our first half performance to June 30, 2001 and the outlook for
the full year. These briefings will focus on the following key areas.


  * First half results in line with expectations


  * All six of our operating sectors showing growth on last year


  * Slowdown in mobile telecoms industry hitting conference attendances


  * Full year Telecoms profits now expected to be flat on 2000


  * Cost base reductions to meet this new outlook carried out at a cost of 
    £1m


  * Sponsorship and exhibition renewals encouraging for 2002


  * H1 acquisitions in finance and life sciences integrated well


Our first half results are in line with expectations, with all our six sectors
showing advances year on year.


Strong continuing organic growth and the successful integration of the
BioTechniques acquisition is producing the expected accelerated improvement in
our Life Sciences business; Finance is performing well, with the MCM
acquisition also meeting its targets; Energy continues to benefit from
improved prices in the oil market and there has been a welcome return to
growth in our Maritime business aided by a strong Cruise + Ferry exhibition
and conference in London in May.


In Telecoms, however, the significant slowdown in the mobile
telecommunications industry is having its effect on delegate numbers to our
conferences. This is mitigated by the market-leading positions we hold, but
the scale of cutbacks and closures across the industry has resulted in
companies generally sending fewer delegates to our events.


The success of our flagship 3GSM event in February, which saw 30% more
delegates than in 2000, has not been maintained in other conferences as the
year has progressed. The Bluetooth Congress in June, the second of our four
majors for this market in the year, did not achieve the delegate numbers we
had hoped for, leaving total profits on the event flat on 2000.


The trend we highlighted in our AGM statement in May of lower delegate
attendances at our smaller Telecoms events has also continued and in some
cases has fallen as low as 50% of levels achieved a year ago. We do not assume
that this position will improve in the second half and our overall growth
targets are unlikely to be met. We now expect profits in our Telecoms division
to be flat on 2000.


We have taken steps to adjust our cost base accordingly. We have eliminated
marginal product and reduced staffing levels by around 5% of total group
headcount. Our first half results absorb the cost of this restructuring which
is in excess of £1m. The majority of the resulting savings will be felt next
year.


In a period of such rapid change it is not easy to predict conditions for this
sector in 2002 but it is notable that we have already achieved 80% renewal of
the 3GSM exhibition for next February and have 70% renewal for next June's
Bluetooth Congress. Informa's range of market leading information products for
the mobile telecoms business -- events, publications and electronic
information services -- positions us well to capitalise on any improvement in
sentiment as the international drive to third generation technology continues.


In the remainder of our business, trading is in line with our expectations.
Subscription titles continue to do well worldwide with average renewal rates
in excess of 80% and advertising income across our range of specialist titles
continues to perform to budget.


Overall we expect 2001 to be another good year for Informa with performance
well ahead of last year but the changed climate in the telecoms industry means
we do not expect our growth this year to match the high level of recent years.


For further information
Informa Group                          020 7453 2222
Peter Rigby                            Chairman
David Gilbertson                       Chief Executive
Jim Wilkinson                          Finance Director


Fiona Piper
The Maitland Consultancy             020 7379 5151 / 07808 727 500