VNU still to buy ZD Euro paper biz

We know we've told you this already but VNU is going to buy Ziff Davis' European IT magazines so it can become a serious player in the German market.

There is still paper work to be signed apparently but the deal's a definite goer.

Ziff's UK boss, David Craver, told his troops on Friday that for them the war is now over.

There wasn't much more information available to staff but Craver mentioned the Ziff crew would soon need to vacate their sumptuous Tower of London offices.

In the UK, VNU will get IT Week, PC Direct, PC Magazine and Computer Gaming News.

Nightmare scenario realised: Episode 2

Here's a small crumb of comfort for those UK Ziffers who wonder what the future holds. They'll be feeling a little nervous because when VNU bought CMP's UK titles in July 1999 only one survived.

The good news is that Brin Bucknor, VNU's UK MD, is the most empathetic manager around. This is an official and scientific view formed by the psychometric tester VNU hired to brain shrink its senior management and staff.

So whether VNU gives you a job, keeps your magazine open, or tells you it will be mutually beneficial for both parties if you buggered off - it will all be done with a lot of love... ®

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