New York, NY (March 13, 2007) –  Extending its activity on behalf of trade magazine publishers, merger and acquisition advisory firm Whitestone Communications, Inc., New York, announced today that it has represented Oak Brook, IL-based Dana Chase Publications, Inc., in the sale of Appliance magazine to Canon Communications LLC.  Founded in 1994, Whitestone specializes in professionally representing buyers and sellers of publishing, information, trade show, conference and training companies.  The firm has completed transactions with such major companies as Thomson Corporation, McGraw-Hill, Wolters Kluwer, Dun & Bradstreet and Oxford University Press.

Appliance is the longest running publication in its field with more than 34,000 subscribers. The acquisition includes the Appliance News e-newsletter, and the ApplianceMagazine.com Web site that draws more than 40,000 unique visitors each month. The move broadens Canon’s established position and reach in business-to-business media and events serving the advanced product design and manufacturing sector. 

          Charles G. McCurdy, Chairman and CEO of Canon Communications, said, “Appliance magazine dominates its sector, a key vertical market of the advanced design and manufacturing sector.  This acquisition broadens Canon’s lineup of publications, events and digital media and strengthens our overall position in the dynamic advanced product design and manufacturing sector. It also demonstrates Canon’s commitment to providing suppliers with the broadest access to sophisticated design and manufacturing professionals around the world, using a range of events, print, and digital vehicles.”                   

          Established in 1944 and published monthly, Appliance provides detailed coverage of the latest developments in engineering, technology, materials, components, production machinery, manufacturing systems and allied support services for manufacturers of consumer, commercial, business and medical appliances.

 Appliance magazine is read every month by engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, and management personnel, in 110 countries around the world. “22% of the circulation for Appliance magazine is outside of North America,” noted Kevin O’Grady, vice president of sales and marketing in Canon’s Publication Division. “It fits well with our strategy of providing global coverage of the growing advanced manufacturing marketplace”

          As it extends the industry reach of Canon’s trade publications and digital media, the acquisition of Appliance magazine also complements the company’s extensive roster of tradeshows serving advanced product design and manufacturing markets in North America, Europe, and China. Kevin O’Keefe, vice president of the company’s Event Division, said, “Most of Appliance magazine’s advertisers are well known to Canon. Many already advertise in Canon publications and exhibit at our shows. The acquisition will build upon and strengthen those business relationships. Additionally, having access to the publication’s design and manufacturing subscriber base through advertising and direct marketing efforts will be a tremendous attendance promotional resource for many of our events.”

“We are pleased to be joining Canon Communications,” said Susan Chase Korin, CEO of Dana Chase Publications. “There are tremendous synergies between the global audience that Appliance serves and the industry leading publications, websites and tradeshows in the Canon portfolio. In this age of 24-hour global business, having the resources to effectively create and deliver relevant content when and how your audience wants it, is the key to success for a business-to-business media provider. This merger will bring value to both the readers and advertisers of the Appliance properties and ApplianceMagazine.com.”

About Canon Communications
       Canon Communications LLC is a leading trade show producer, publisher, and digital media company serving advanced, technology-based manufacturing industries, including medical device, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, specialty packaging, electronics, and plastics processing.

Canon’s show names include Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M), MEDTEC, BIOMEDevice, and Medical Device Technology (MDT); WestPack, EastPack, SouthPack, and MidPak; Atlantic Design & Manufacturing, Pacific Design & Manufacturing, and Design & Manufacturing South; Quality Expo and Quality Expo Detroit; International Powder & Bulk Solids and Powder & Bulk Solids Southeast; Assembly Technology Expo, Electronics Assembly, Electronics West, Assembly New England, Automation Technology Expo (ATX), National Manufacturing Week, and Advanced Manufacturing Exposition (AM Expo); PLASTEC, NEPCON, and OEM New England.

          The company’s expanding array of magazine titles includes MD&DI (Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry), Medical Product Manufacturing News, European Medical Device Manufacturer, Medical Device Technology (UK), China Medical Device Manufacturer, IVD Technology, MX, Pharmaceutical & Medical Packaging News, Nutritional Outlook, Cosmetic/Personal Care Packaging, Injection Molding Magazine, Modern Plastics Worldwide, and Powder/Bulk Solids. Digital media include the medical device design and engineering portal, Medical Device Link; the online magazine, Advanced Design & Manufacturing (AD&M); and 50 branded e-newsletters and e-publications.  Further information about the company’s business-to-business publications, trade shows, and digital media, is available at www.cancom.com.