Company acquires Nutritional Outlook magazine, Nutritionals Symposium & Exhibition, and Cosmetic/Personal Care Packaging magazine from O & B Communications

LOS ANGELES--Oct. 25, 2000-- CANON COMMUNICATIONS LLC today announced that it has acquired Nutritional Outlook magazine, the Nutritionals Symposium and Exhibition, and Cosmetic/Personal Care Packaging magazine from Paoli, PA-based O & B Communications.

Under the terms of the agreement, CANON assumes full ownership and operational management of the three properties, effective immediately.

According to William F. Cobert, President and CEO of Los Angeles-based CANON COMMUNICATIONS LLC, "The acquisition of Nutritional Outlook magazine and the allied Nutritionals Symposium and Exhibition provides an established platform for our high-visibility entry and expansion into the advancing nutraceuticals manufacturing market...now valued at $20 billion and growing rapidly. The addition of Cosmetic/Personal Care Packaging magazine further strengthens CANON'S position in the specialty packaging industry, which now includes full-market coverage of the medical device, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetic and personal care sectors."

Since its introduction in 1998, Nutritional Outlook has emerged as the leading information resource for manufacturers of vitamins, dietary supplements, and functional foods. Providing comprehensive coverage on formulation, regulation, production, and packaging, Nutritional Outlook keeps manufacturers informed of the latest developments in new ingredients, processing equipment, instruments and controls, packaging/labeling materials and machinery, and material handling systems.

The annual Nutritionals Symposium and Exhibition provides a dedicated information forum and marketplace where manufacturers of nutraceuticals from throughout North America explore the latest issues, developments, and market trends shaping the industry. The event also provides manufacturers an opportunity to meet with leading suppliers of raw materials and ingredients, processing equipment, packaging machinery, material handling systems, and other related products and services. The fourth annual Nutritionals Symposium and Exhibition is set for January 29 - February 1, 2001, at the Disneyland Convention Center in Anaheim, CA.

Cosmetic/Personal Care Packaging magazine is the only industry publication that exclusively focuses on packaging design, materials, machinery, systems and services for manufacturers of cosmetics, personal care products, and related health and beauty aids. Established in 1995, the BPA-audited publication serves specialty packaging engineers, materials engineers, and other packaging professionals in both the captive and custom market sectors.

CANON COMMUNICATIONS LLC is a leading publisher, tradeshow producer, and digital media company serving medical device, electronics, semiconductor fabrication, plastics processing, specialty packaging, and other advanced technology markets. In addition to the new acquisitions, the company's expanding array of titles includes Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry, Medical Product Manufacturing News, European Medical Device Manufacturer, Pharmaceutical & Medical Packaging News, IVD Technology, Medical Electronics Manufacturing, Medical Device Executive Portfolio, Compliance Engineering, MICRO, Injection Molding Magazine, Injection Molding Metals and Ceramics, and The Almanac.

CANON's premier information forums and marketplace events include the Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) conferences and expositions in California and New York, a regional MD&M event in Minnesota, and the Medical Equipment Design & Technology Exhibition & Conference (MEDTEC) serving Europe. CANON'S Atlantic Design & Manufacturing, Pacific Design & Manufacturing, and OEMBoston Shows are horizontal events for design and manufacturing professionals and their suppliers across a broad spectrum of industries. PLASTEC East and PLASTEC West are full-featured, all-application shows for the plastics processing industry.

CANON COMMUNICATIONS LLC is a portfolio company owned by VS&A Communications Partners II, L.P., the private equity affiliate of media merchant bank Veronis, Suhler and Associates. For more information, contact CANON COMMUNICATIONS LLC, 11444 West Olympic Boulevard - Suite 900, Los Angeles, California 90064 USA; Tel: ; Fax: ; www.cancom.com.

CONTACT:

CANON COMMUNICATIONS LLC, Los Angeles
Mary Hoegy,

or

ALLAN RIPP, New York
for VS&A Communications Partners