London – Reuters, the global information and news group, has agreed to sell its majority stake in VentureOne Corporation to Wicks Business Information, LLC subject to customary closing conditions for a consideration of £21 million in cash. Reuters expects to realise in the order of £17 million of pre-tax profit in the second half of this year.

VentureOne Corporation, based in San Francisco, provides information and research for the venture capital investment industry.

Reuters acquired VentureOne in January 1999.

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Contact:

Peter Thomas/Adrian Duffield
Corporate Relations - UK
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7542 4890/4728
peter.v.thomas@reuters.com or adrian.duffield@reuters.com

Nancy Bobrowitz/Felicia Cosby
Corporate Communications - USA
Tel: +1 646-223-5220/5223
nancy.bobrowitz@reuters.com or felicia.cosby@reuters.com

Note to editors:

Reuters (www.about.reuters.com) premier position as a global information, news and technology group is founded on its reputation for speed, accuracy, integrity and impartiality combined with continuous technological innovation. Reuters strength is based on its unique ability to offer customers around the world a combination of content, technology and connectivity. Reuters makes extensive use of internet technologies for the widest distribution of information and news. Reuters is the world's largest international text and television news agency with 2,260 journalists, photographers and camera operators in 190 bureaux. In 2000 the Group had revenues of £3.59 billion and on 30 June 2001, the Group employed 19,081 staff in 210 cities in 99 countries. Reuters celebrates its 150th anniversary this year.

This news release may be deemed to include forward-looking statements relating to Reuters within the meaning of Section 27A of the US Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Certain important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those disclosed in such forward-looking statements are described in Reuters Interim Statement for the six months to 30 June 2001 under the heading ‘Risk Factors'. Copies of the Interim Statement and Form 20-F are available on request from Reuters Group PLC, 85 Fleet Street, London EC4P 4AJ.

Reuters and the dotted and sphere logos are the house trademarks of Reuters Limited.

Wicks Business Information, based in Fairfield, Connecticut, concentrates on growth by acquisition and development of business magazines, newsletters, conferences, trade shows, Internet services and specialised information products serving the financial and general business sectors. The Wicks Group of Companies, LLC invests in communications, information and media businesses.