Largest Canadian independent telephone directory firm launches into Toronto market

October 22, 2006, Vancouver, BC: Canpages is expanding into Toronto after its success in British Columbia, Alberta and other Ontario markets. Its 2006 entry into the Greater Vancouver and Calgary markets were among the most successful independent directory launches in North America, with unprecedented penetration rates of the advertising share in their first year alone.

The Toronto launch follows Canpages’ three recent acquisitions, which include the directory unit of Osprey Media Group, Northern Canadian Directories and the Canada-wide search engine yellow.ca. Canpages is owned by HM Capital Partners, a $10-billion U.S. private equity group, which has backed the firm’s expansion with more than $110-million.

The company plans to distribute at least 1.1 million phone books to every business and household in the Toronto market. “Toronto is the only city of its size in North America without competition in the directory marketplace,” said Canpages CEO Olivier Vincent. “Competitive telephone book options here are long overdue.”

Combined with its other phone books, Canpages now provides independent directories to more than 50% of Ontario residents.

Residents across the GTA are the latest to benefit from Canpages growth strategy for their listing needs. Canpages is combining Toronto East and Toronto West into one directory, which will allow one-stop shopping for consumers on both sides of Yonge Street. Currently, the only directory available uses an artificial approach to Toronto, dividing the city core at Yonge Street, creating an inconvenient two books for the city.

The rest of the GTA will be covered by three directories: Etobicoke, Scarborough and North York. Each of them will include the Toronto core directory. A recent survey conducted by Ipsos-Reid confirmed that 75% of consumers would use these improved directories.

In addition to greater convenience for consumers, Canpages is offering more value to advertisers, with more comprehensive market coverage – at less than half the price. “This is a terrific opportunity for advertisers to access a better value source for their directory needs,” Mr. Vincent said. “Advertisers and consumers tell us that they are excited about the possibilities.”

Mr. Vincent is used to being the upstart in the marketplace. He launched the first independent directory in France and has more than 20 years of experience in the directory business in North America as both the incumbent and an independent publisher. Between 1999-2001, he was president of Verizon’s Canadian subsidiary, which is now owned by Yellow Pages Group.

Canpages also offers an online directory, yellow.ca, for Internet-based searches. Mr. Vincent sees the online directory as a growth area in his business over the next 5 years, complementing an already robust print directory industry. In addition to this service, Canpages is offering free listings to all VoIP subscribers, to be published both online and in print.

“Our launch into the Vancouver and Calgary markets was greeted with relief because businesses finally had a second option, a more convenient and cost effective choice, for their directory needs,” said Mr. Vincent.

Canpages’ directories will be available in Toronto in summer 2007. For more information please visit www.canpages.ca.

ABOUT CANPAGES

Canada’s largest independent phone directories publisher, Canadian Phone Directories, (formerly Phone Directories Company) publishes 70 directories with a circulation of more than five million. Canadian Phone Directories under new leadership by industry veteran Olivier Vincent brings choice, high-quality products and customer service excellence at an incredible value to the Canadian market. Members of his management team have local, national and international phone directory experience. Headquartered in Coquitlam, BC, Canadian Phone Directories employs 270 people. All personnel are based in Canada.

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Media Contact:
Patricia Dunn
Dunn PR
604 734 8749
patricia@dunnpr.com