Reed Technology Commercial Division Acquired

["McHoul, Dave (ThomasTech)" <dmchoul@thomastechsolutions.com>]

Thomas Publishing Acquires the Commercial Division of Reed Technology and
Information Services Inc.

HORSHAM, Pa., May 15, 2000 - Thomas Publishing Company announced today that
it has acquired the assets of the Commercial Division of Reed Technology and
Information Services Inc. (RTIS), to form a new company, Thomas Technology
Solutions, Inc.  The new company will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Thomas
Publishing Company and will continue to operate independently.  The RTIS
Commercial Division management team, including President and CEO Darryl
Fisher, remains in place.

Prior to Thomas Publishing's acquisition, RTIS' Commercial Division was an
operating unit of LEXIS-NEXIS and a member of the Reed Elsevier plc group
which is owned equally by Reed International P.L.C. (NYSE: RUK) and Elsevier
NV (NYSE:ENL).  The Commercial Division employs approximately 350
professionals in its Horsham and London, UK locations.  RTIS' Government
Division will remain part of Reed Elsevier.

RTIS Commercial's core competencies as a content management, e-commerce, and
publishing solutions provider form a strategic fit with Thomas Publishing's
commitment to bringing buyers and sellers together in the industrial arena.


"RTIS Commercial has an excellent track record of providing technology-based
solutions and services to the professional publishing industry and has a
long established relationship with Thomas Publishing," says Jose E. Andrade,
chairman of the board, Thomas Publishing Company.  "We view this as a
strategic acquisition that strengthens our content management and e-commerce
capabilities and complements our existing publishing initiatives."  

"Thomas Publishing Company is the acknowledged leader in providing industry
with the product information it needs," said Darryl Fisher, president and
CEO of the new Thomas Technology Solutions.  "It's exciting to become a part
of a company with Thomas Publishing's accomplishments and reputation.  We
have been business partners with Thomas for 29 years and have an excellent
working relationship."

About Thomas Technology Solutions, Inc.
RTIS Commercial, now Thomas Technology Solutions, Inc. is a premier provider
of information management and electronic publishing solutions and services,
offering unmatched expertise derived from more than 30 years of experience.
The company helps its clients move from the Information Age to the Knowledge
Age by providing publishing, content management and electronic commerce
solutions.  Thomas Technology Solutions, Inc. is a Microsoft Certified
Solutions Provider, an IBM Premier Partner and an Oracle Partner.  For more
information, please refer to the Thomas Technology Solutions Web site at
www.thomastechsolutions.com or call 800-872-2828. 

About Thomas Publishing Company
Headquartered in New York with an international presence, Thomas Publishing
Company is the leading provider of industrial product and service
information through both print and electronic media.  The pioneer of
industry buying guides, Thomas has been bringing buyers and sellers together
for the last 100 years.  The company publishes 24 major buying guides, 29
product news tabloids, two product information exchange services, a magazine
on factory automation, and publications to assist buyers in selecting the
most cost-efficient transportation models.  Thomas Publishing now employs
approximately 950 professionals worldwide.  For more information, please
refer to the Thomas Publishing Company Web site at www.thomaspublishing.com
or call 212-290-7200.

Press Contact:
Gail Ferrari
Tattar Cutler DBC
215-957-0300
gferrari@ dbcommunications.cc <mailto:Gail.Ferrari@ ldb.com>

________________________________
Dave McHoul
Manager, Marketing Programs
Thomas Technology Solutions, Inc.
215-682-5087
http://www.thomastechsolutions.com