Canon Communications Expands North American Events Portfolio With Acquisition of Three Key Canadian Plastics Processing and Packaging Trade Shows

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - October 5, 2009) - 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.

Contact Information: Editorial Contacts: Dan Cutrone Canon Communications LLC (310) 445-4200 Laura Brophy Marketcom PR (212) 537-5177, Ext 2