Canon Communications to be Sold to United Business Media; Transaction Expands Global Reach of Canon's Advanced Manufacturing and Design Focus

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Canon Communications LLC today announced that it has agreed to be acquired by United Business Media Limited, a leading global business media company.  The agreement was arranged by Apprise Media, LLC, the management/investment company of Canon Chairman and CEO Charles G. McCurdy, and Spectrum Equity Investors, Apprise's private equity partner.  Apprise and Spectrum acquired Canon in 2005.

"The last five years have seen strong growth at Canon across all categories, notwithstanding a difficult past two years for the B-to-B media industry as a whole," said McCurdy.  "The outlook for Canon remains very promising.  We have already laid the groundwork for significant continued growth in trade shows, digital media, and data products.  Under UBM's ownership, Canon's businesses will continue to expand their global reach and ability to meet the information, events and data needs of advanced manufacturing and design engineering companies wherever and however they do business.  Canon's audiences and marketing customers can expect to see ever more compelling offerings in this next phase of Canon's growth under UBM."

Under Apprise's stewardship over the past five years, Canon Communications dramatically increased its scope of products, services and delivery platforms supporting the advanced manufacturing and design sector.  Canon now offers trade shows in eight countries around the world, up from two, as well as many more offerings around the United States.  Digital and data comprise 40% of Publishing revenues, up from 9%.  On the data side, the Master Audience File has dramatically enhanced Canon's ability to target its markets in uniquely effective ways.  In addition, Canon has built one of the most effective teams in the B-to-B media industry.

Canon Vice Chairman and COO Michael P. Behringer added, "Given UBM's size, resources and demonstrated ability to grow strong B-to-B media brands, on top of the continued growth of the advanced manufacturing and design segment worldwide, we believe that UBM can help accelerate Canon's success."

In addition to their Canon roles as Canon's two most senior managers, Charles McCurdy and Michael Behringer are Chairman/CEO and Managing Director, respectively, of Apprise Media, LLC, which they founded in 2004.   Apprise will be involved in the transition period following UBM's formal acquisition.   McCurdy and Behringer plan to continue their roles as managing investors in media companies through Apprise Media.

About UBM Limited

UBM is a London Stock Exchange-listed (UBM.L) global media business focusing on two principal activities: worldwide information distribution, targeting and monitoring; and, the development and monetisation of B2B communities and markets.  UBM's businesses inform markets and serve professional commercial communities - from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewellery traders, from farmers to pharmacists – with integrated events, online, print and business information products. Our 5,900 staff in more than 30 countries are organised into specialist teams that serve these communities, bringing buyers and sellers together, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.

For more information, go to www.ubm.com

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 design and manufacturing industry, including medical device, pharmaceutical, electronics, packaging, design engineering, process technology, automated assembly, quality control, and plastics processing.

SOURCE Canon Communications LLC