Canon Communications Expands North American Events Portfolio With Acquisition of Three Key Canadian Plastics Processing

LOS ANGELES, CA, Oct 05 (MARKET WIRE) --
Canon Communications today announced its acquisition of the Plast-Ex and
EXPOPLAST shows, the leading plastics trade shows in Canada, from the
Canadian Plastics Industry Association. In a separate transaction, Canon
also acquired PACKEX, Canada's leading packaging trade show, from
France's COMEXPOSIUM group and the Packaging Association of Canada. Canon
will co-locate Plast-Ex and PACKEX in 2011 as the foundation of the
company's plan for its first major North American trade event outside of
the U.S. The event will serve Canada's vibrant advanced technology
manufacturing industry sector. Terms of the transactions were not
disclosed.

"Canada is a natural extension of our events portfolio, which now includes
62 shows in eight countries in North America, Europe and Asia," said Canon
CEO Charles McCurdy. "We are excited about acquiring these respected and
well-run shows. They provide the perfect launch platform for our
co-location strategy in the Canadian market. Canon is already the leader
in co-located advanced manufacturing trade shows throughout the U.S. and
in the UK. We also support advanced manufacturing exhibitions in Germany,
France, Ireland, Switzerland, Japan, and China."

Plast-Ex has been a staple of the Canadian events calendar for more than a
half-century. The show's exposition is international in scope, featuring
over 500 suppliers from 13 different countries around the world in support
of Canada's C$25 billion plastics sector. Its most recent 2007 edition
attracted over 8,000 decision makers. PACKEX Toronto is recognized as the
largest trade show serving Canada's C$22 billion packaging, food process,
material handling and logistics industries. Its metrics are virtually
identical to those of Plast-Ex, in attracting over 500 exhibitors and more
than 8,000 attendees.

"Creating broad-based, geographically focused events is one of Canon's
core strengths," said Kevin O'Keefe, Senior Vice President of the
company's events division. "Plast-Ex and PACKEX Toronto will anchor the
first plastics or packaging event in Canada that also contains automation,
process technology, and design and manufacturing expositions as well. As
we have seen elsewhere, Canon's proven co-location strategy allows
exhibitors to connect with more, qualified attendees than they've been
able to with shows held on their own. We also look forward to working
closely with the Canadian Plastics Industry Association and the Packaging
Association of Canada as we further the interests of these industries."

About Canon Communications

Canon Communications LLC, a portfolio company of Apprise Media LLC, is
the leading producer of trade events, publications, and electronic media
for the $3 trillion advanced, technology-based manufacturing industry,
including medical device, packaging, design engineering, process
technology, automated assembly, electronics, quality control, and plastics
processing.

Editorial Contacts:
Dan Cutrone
Canon Communications LLC
(310) 445-4200
Email Contact

Laura Brophy
Marketcom PR
(212) 537-5177, Ext 2
Email Contact

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