Canon Communications to Expand Global B-to-B Media Presence in Advanced Manufacturing Segment

Agrees to Acquire Worldwide Assets of Four Key Design Engineering Media Properties from Reed Business Information-US

Los Angeles, February 16, 2010—Canon Communications LLC announced today a definitive agreement to acquire four key media brands serving the advanced design engineering sector in the United States, Asia, and Europe.  Included in the purchase from Reed Business Information-US are the worldwide assets of Electronic Design News (EDN), Design News, Test & Measurement World, and Packaging Digest.  These brands have robust digital and print offerings, and hold lead positions in their markets.  This transaction will reinforce Canon’s leading position in the advanced manufacturing sector worldwide in exhibitions, publications, and digital media.  Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“This is a rare opportunity to expand our global reach across each of our product offerings in print, digital, events and information,” said Charles G. McCurdy, Chairman and CEO of Canon.  “It also increases our ability to serve the needs of advanced manufacturers wherever they do business and positions Canon well for the future.
 
“Canon’s acquisition of these advanced manufacturing media brands will bring several strong growth opportunities,” he added.  “First, it balances our portfolio, bringing market breadth to our Publishing Division that’s comparable to the breadth of our Events Division; we now cover virtually the complete array of advanced manufacturing sectors across all media.  Second, Canon’s overall scale and capabilities as a digital media provider is dramatically enhanced; digital and data revenues as a percent of Canon’s Publishing Division will now exceed 30% with a broad array of products and services.  Third, this acquisition establishes the Publishing Division’s operating presence in Asia to complement the Events Division’s existing presence in those markets; Canon now supports the advanced manufacturing sector on a truly global basis.  Fourth, Canon’s Master Audience File of professionals in the manufacturing design and engineering sector will exceed 1 million unduplicated individuals; Canon’s global market reach in this sector is now unparalleled.”

Ron Wall, Executive Vice President of Canon’s Publishing Division, commented, “EDN, Design News, Test & Measurement World, and Packaging Digest are great brands with great talent.   We have already begun work on integrating our new Asian assets and building more products for all Canon brands worldwide.  We will also act quickly to integrate our Electronics brands with our Medical Device brands and Packaging Digest with our vertical Pharmaceutical and Medical Packaging News.”

Kevin O’Keefe, Executive Vice President of Canon’s Events Division, added, “The inclusion of these operations into Canon is very exciting.  We’ll be able to accelerate the penetration of our trade shows in North America, Europe, and Asia given the incremental market access these brands provide.  In fact, tying in with EDN, we are already developing medical electronics features alongside our medical manufacturing shows in Yokohama, Japan and Chicago later this year.”

The acquisition of the US assets was completed today, and the acquisition of the balance of the assets is expected to close in the near future after the completion of required legal processes.

About Reed Business Information-US
Reed Business Information-US (www.reedbusiness.com/us) is a leading business-to-business information provider of publications and web sites, as well as custom publishing, directories and research. Reed Business Information-US is part of Reed Elsevier (NYSE: RUK and ENL), a world leading provider of professional information and workflow solutions in the Science, Medical, Legal, Risk Management and Business sectors.
 
Reed Business Information-US and Reed Elsevier were represented by The Jordan, Edmiston Group, Inc., a New York City-based investment bank that specializes in the media and information industries.

About Canon Communications LLC
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
(310) 445-4200
dan.cutrone@cancom.com

Greg Miller
917-653-7335
gmiller@marketcompr.com