New York --February 23, 2001-- VS&A Communications Partners II, L.P. and CANON COMMUNICATIONS LLC announced today that CANON COMMUNICATIONS has acquired Medical Device Register® and Medical Device Register International (MDR) from Medical Economics Company, Montvale, NJ, a unit of the Thomson Corporation.

The MDR products are leading directories in the medical products manufacturing industry. The 20-year-old MDR provides detailed information (in print and electronic formats) on over 65,00 medical products from more than 12,000 manufacturers registered to sell products in the United States. Company profiles include contact names of 43,000 senior executives, number of employees, annual sales volume, ISO registration, and product distribution modes. The International Edition of MDR, with a similar set of features, covers over 26,000 products from more than 7,000 manufacturers. MDR and MDR International are expected to greatly enhance CANON’s global market position and further underscore its position as the leading information supplier to the medical manufacturing industry.

CANON COMMUNICATIONS LLC is a leading business-to-business magazine publisher and trade show producer serving the medical and high technology manufacturing industries. CANON COMMUNICATIONS was acquired in November 1996 by VS&A Communications Partners II, L.P., the $330 million private equity fund affiliated with the New York media and communications investment bank Veronis Suhler.

Regarding the acquisition, William F. Cobert, President and CEO of CANON COMMUNICATIONS, noted, "The addition of the Medical Device Register® extends the depth and reach of our existing database of medical product manufacturers and their suppliers. It is a resource that further strengthens and expands our market-leading medical industry publications, shows and Web sites. The acquisition moves us closer to covering the entire medical supply chain." Cobert also noted that the addition of MDR International will be of significant value to the ongoing development and promotion of CANON’s European and International information products, especially for the annual MEDTEC show and the existing European Medical Device Manufacturer circulation and databases.

The Internet-readiness of MDR was also cited as a reason for the acquisition, particularly in terms of potential e-commerce and digital media initiatives. CANON’s Medical Device Link (www.devicelink.com) is the leading online resource for the medical device industry, and attracts more than 200,000 visitors a month.

CANON COMMUNICATIONS LLC is the leading publisher, trade show producer, and digital media company serving medical device, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, electronics, semiconductor fabrication, injection molding, and other advanced technology markets. The company’s expanding array of titles include Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry, Medical Product Manufacturing News, European Medial Device Manufacturer, Pharmaceutical & Medical Packaging News, IVD Technology, Medical Electronics Manufacturing, MX: Business Strategies for Medial Technology Executive, Nutritional Outlook, 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 show in Minnesota, and Medical Equipment Design & Technology Exhibition & Conference (MEDTEC) events in Europe. CANON’s Atlantic Design & Manufacturing and PLATEC East shows in New York, Pacific Design & Manufacturing and PLASTEC West shows in California, and OEMBoston in Massachusetts are broad-based events for design and manufacturing professionals and their suppliers across a wide spectrum of industries. The Nutritionals Exhibition and Conference serves the nutraceutical and functional foods manufacturing/processing market.

Jeffrey T. Stevenson, President and General Partner of VS&A Communications Partners II, L.P. said, "This acquisition is an excellent enhancement of CANON’s capabilities to serve the medical manufacturing marketplace."

VS&A Communications Partners II is prepared to commit additional equity capital for investment opportunities that meet CANON COMMUNICATIONS’ objectives of acquiring and investing in medical and high technology manufacturing-related business-to-business publishers and trade show operators that can achieve growth through development of synergistic marketing opportunities and through strategic acquisitions.

Since its closing in September 1995, VS&A Communications Partners II, L.P. has committed over $260 million to investments in the following industries: business-to-business publishing, trade show, radio broadcasting, cable television, telephone directory publishing and business information services.

To learn more about CANON COMMUNICATIONS LLC, please contact William F. Cobert, President and CEO, CANON COMMUNICATIONS, LLC, 311444 West Olympic Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90064, Tel: . Additional information about the company is available at www.cancom.com.

To learn more about VS&A Communications Partners II, L.P., please contact Jeffrey T. Stevenson, President and General Partner, , , Tel: . Additional information about the company is available at www.vss.com