PennWell Buys CMM Trade Show

TULSA, Okla.— PennWell Corporation, a diversified global media and information company, announced today that it has acquired CMM International, the leading trade show for the converting and package printing industry in North America. The addition of CMM International brings a new market to the PennWell Conferences & Exhibitions group, the fastest growing sector of PennWell's business-to-business communications products. CMM International also complements PennWell's Electronic Publishing franchise, which includes a publication, e-Newsletter, web site, and conferences for design, printing, and publishing professionals. The financial terms of the sale were not disclosed.

CMM International, held biennially since its launch in 1978, took place most recently in April of this year. Held in Chicago, CMM International 2005 attracted more than 15,000 attendees and featured 200,000 square feet of exhibit space. The next CMM International show will be held from June 4 to June 7, 2007 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL.

"CMM International has a distinguished history of serving professionals in the converting and package printing markets with authoritative and relevant content at its shows," says Robert Biolchini, PennWell's President and CEO. "PennWell's Conferences and Exhibitions group brings a global reach to CMM International, expanding the markets and visibility for this important show," Mr. Biolchini continues. "Steve Taneman has done a tremendous job in this dynamic market with our publication Electronic Publishing, and I have great confidence that CMM International will be energized and even more successful in the years to come."

Group Publisher Steve Taneman, who will oversee the CMM International show from PennWell's Advanced Technology Division in Nashua, NH, sees new opportunities for the show because of the convergence of job responsibilities in the industry. "Today's digital production technology has linked individuals in every segment of the growing converting, packaging, and printing markets. Adding the CMM International show enables PennWell to deliver timely, relevant information about the latest technologies and applications to the converging converting and package printing industries through the CMM International show, websites, webcasts, e-Newsletters, and new conferences. As an added benefit, Electronic Publishing is synergistic with CMM International through its coverage of the rapidly growing interest in package printing within the commercial printing and design markets."