FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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                       INFORMATION HOLDINGS INC. ANNOUNCES
                          TWO EUROPE-BASED ACQUISITIONS

Acquisitions Significantly Expand IHI's Worldwide Intellectual Property Business


     NEW YORK, March 29, 2001 - Information Holdings Inc. (NYSE: IHI) today
announced that it has acquired the IDRAC business of IMS Health (NYSE: RX). In a
separate transaction, the Company has agreed to acquire a 49% interest in GSI
Office Management GMBH ("GSI"), with an option to acquire the remaining 51%
interest after 3 years.

     IDRAC, based in France, is a leading provider of regulatory and
intellectual property information to pharmaceutical companies worldwide, a key
market for IHI's intellectual property business. IDRAC provides legal,
regulatory, scientific and technical texts, plus explanatory documents from 24
countries and 2 broader regions related to pharmaceutical product registrations.

     GSI, based in Germany, is a leading provider of intellectual property
management software. GSI's products are complementary to the patent annuity
payment services of the Company's Master Data Center unit and will allow the
Company to expand into key European markets.

     Commenting on the announcement, Mason Slaine, President and CEO of IHI
said, "These acquisitions will significantly strengthen the position of our
intellectual property business worldwide. It provides us with a significant base
of operations on continental Europe, an important growth area for IHI. In IDRAC
we are acquiring a high-growth, subscription-based business that provides
"need-to-know" information in an important market. With our investment in GSI we
believe we will be able to provide the most advanced software products in the IP
industry."

     The IDRAC transaction has been completed, while the GSI transaction is
expected to be completed by the end of April 2001. In fiscal 2000 IDRAC had
revenues of approximately $7.1 million and EBITDA (earnings before interest,
taxes, depreciation, and amortization) of approximately $2.9 million. Its
prospective results, which will be subject to certain purchase accounting
adjustments, will be consolidated with IHI from the date of acquisition. In
fiscal 2000 GSI had revenues of approximately $2.0 million and EBITDA near
break-even. The Company's share of GSI income or losses will initially





be included in operating results from the date of acquisition using the equity
method of accounting. Both businesses will become part of IHI's Intellectual
Property Group.


About Information Holdings Inc.
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Information Holdings Inc. is a leading provider of information products and
services to scientific, technical, medical, intellectual property and IT
learning markets. Its Intellectual Property Group, which includes
MicroPatent(R), Master Data Center(TM) and CorporateIntelligence.com, provides a
broad array of databases, information products and complementary services for
intellectual property professionals. The Company is recognized as a leading
provider of intellectual property information over the Internet. In addition,
the Company's CRC Press(R) business publishes professional and academic books,
journals, newsletters and electronic databases covering areas such as life
sciences, environmental sciences, engineering, mathematics, physical sciences
and business. The Company's Transcender(R) unit is a leading online provider of
IT certification test-preparation products. Its products include exam
simulations for certifications from major hardware and software providers.
Information Holdings Inc. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades
under the symbol: IHI.

This press release includes statements which may constitute forward-looking
statements made pursuant to safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although the Company believes the expectations
contained in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no
assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. This information may
involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause or
contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, factors detailed
in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

For further information, contact:

Vincent A. Chippari
Information Holdings Inc.
203-961-9208
vchippari@informationholdings.com


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