Tarsus Group acquires HealthScienceMedia in the US and 60% of SADA Uzmanlik Fuarlari in Turkey

TarsusTarsus Group, the business-to-business media group, has acquired 100% of the assets of HealthScienceMedia in the US for approximately £8.5 million and 60% of SADA Uzmanlik Fuarlari A.S. in Turkey for up to £5.6 million.

HealthScienceMedia (HSM)cmhc_logo

The principal asset being acquired from HSM is the Cardiometabolic Health Congress, the largest US event focused on the cardiometabolic field. It is an annual congress which began in 2006 and is held over three days each October in Boston. CMHC’s 2012 delegates comprised approximately 1,500 practising clinicians.

The unaudited profits attributable to the assets being acquired in the twelve months to 31 December 2012 were $2 million on revenues of $3.5 million and the gross assets being acquired amount to approximately $0.5 million. HSM is owned by Alex Teperman, who will remain with the business on a consultancy basis.

Tarsus is acquiring the assets of HSM for $14 million of which $10 million is payable in cash on completion with the balance payable in two equal cash payments after the 2014 and 2015 Cardio events respectively.

SADA Uzmanlik Fuarlari A.S. (SADA)komatetec

Established in 1967 and based in Ankara, SADA organises a single event – Komatek – which was first held in 1991. This biennial (odd years) show is Turkey’s largest trade exhibition for construction equipment and related products. The last edition was held in May 2013 at the Ataturk Centre in Ankara with combined indoor and outdoor net space of 53,200m2. Over 400 exhibitor companies were present and visitor numbers, at approximately 35,000, were 9% higher than the 2011 event.

Komatek is the largest construction equipment exhibition in Turkey and one of the largest events in Europe. With $1 trillion worth of major construction and investment projects expected to be completed in Turkey between now and 2023, the Group expects strong growth in Turkey’s construction market over that timeframe.

Unaudited revenues at Komatek in 2013 were TL3.3 million (approximately £0.9 million). Tarsus will pay an initial TL5.0 million (approximately £1.4 million) on completion and two additional payments contingent on the profit performance of the 2015 and 2017 events. The total consideration for 60% of SADA is capped at TL20 million (approximately £5.6m). SADA’s management team will continue to run the business post-acquisition.

Douglas Emslie, Tarsus Group Managing Director, said, “The two acquisitions are further steps in the execution of our “Quickening the Pace” strategy. Both are exciting events in markets where we have established a strong presence and which we believe are likely to show further growth. Our focus will be on the effective integration of both businesses as cornerstones of our future organic growth. Cardio will bring greater access to the important US market for our wider medical division and Komatek delivers critical mass to our construction events in Turkey and Indonesia.”

UK, London & USA, Boston & Turkey, Ankara

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dmg events acquires specialist exhibitions and publications business Quartz Coatings

dmgeventsdmg events, DMGT’s international exhibition and publishing company, has acquired specialist exhibitions and publications business Quartz Coatings Ltd. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The deal gives dmg events a significant share of the global paint and coatings exhibitions market. Its Middle East Coatings Show is already managed by Quartz Coatings, while the company itself organises a further five events in South East Asia, Central America and North Africa. It also publishes two of the industry’s leading titles.

Commenting on the acquisition, Geoff Dickinson, CEO of dmg events, said, “The coatings sector is a fast growing specialist market that complements our Big 5 construction events.

It allows us to develop our existing Middle East Coatings Show and is in line with our desire to build our presence in the South East Asia and Latin America through geo-cloning and strategic acquisitions.

I am excited to be working with Ian Faux, Vice President of Quartz Coatings and his team and look forward to developing our Coatings portfolio and associated activities in the coming years”.

UK, London and Surrey, Redhill

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Investment consortium acquires Boat International Media

An investment consortium led by Pembroke VCT plc, with support from Lepe Capital, has acquired Boat International Media. Reports say, Pembroke have paid £10 million.

boat international

Pembroke is a venture capital trust, which specialises in investing in high growth consumer-facing businesses. Lepe Capital is a growth capital investor that specialises in digital media. The consortium also includes several other private investors including Charles Dunstone and Tara Getty.

Boat International Media provides information and services across traditional print, digital media and organises eight annual events in Amsterdam, Kitzbühel, Monaco, Fort Lauderdale, Porto Cervo, and Virgin Gorda. It also owns a database of superyachts, as well as a social and business networking tool for superyacht captains and crew.

Andrew Wolfson, CEO of Pembroke, commented: “Boat International Media is the leading player in the superyacht industry with an unrivalled reputation amongst yacht owners, brokers and service companies alike. The company has achieved impressive growth in sales despite the economic downturn and profitability and momentum continues. We look forward to working with the experienced management team and supporting their strategic plan to further develop Boat International’s print media platforms as well as accelerate the transition to digital.”

Tony Harris, CEO of Boat International Media, commented: “We are delighted to be partnering with this group of investors. The team’s entrepreneurial operational focus and market knowledge will enable us to further cement Boat International’s position as the world’s leading media group serving the superyacht community.”

UK, Wimbledon, Surrey

Sway Group acquires Massive Sway, SITS Girls, and Bloggy Boot Camp Conferences

swaygroup_logoSway Group, a management agency for bloggers, has acquired Massive Sway, SITS Girls, and the Bloggy Boot Camp conference series. The terms of the deals were not announced.

Massive Sway is a 50,000-strong network of diverse female publishers. SITS Girls is a blogging community. Bloggy Boot Camp is a conference series for women in social media.

“Since 2011, our company has grown from a three-person startup to a company of 15 full-time employees,” said Danielle Wiley, CEO of Sway Group. “Bringing Massive Sway, SITS Girls, and the Bloggy Boot Camp conferences under the Sway Group umbrella, along with its founders Tiffany Romero and Francesca Banducci, is incredibly exciting, because these fast-growing communities of talented publishers allow us to create a truly amazing variety of programs. Now we can offer brands and agencies an even broader scale of services and targeting capabilities, including the ability to drill down by region, demographic, content vertical, and social network.”

USA, Chicago, IL

Tarsus Group plc – acquisitions in China and Turkey – disposal in France

TarsusTarsus Group, the international business-to-business media group, has ended the year strongly with like-for-like organic revenue growth up by approximately 11%. Tarsus has also made new acquisitions in China and Turkey and agreed to dispose of up to 18% of the Group’s French business.

China – SIUF acquisition

The Group is to acquire 50% of the China (Shenzhen) International Brand Underwear Fair (“SIUF”) from Mr Zhang Fengwei and associates. SIUF was launched in 2006 and has become a leading show in the Asian Pacific market for underwear garments. It is an annual event, held in May at the Shenzhen Exhibition and Conference Centre in Southern China. The show comprised 15,900 square metres (net) of space in 2013 and Tarsus expects it to continue its track record of growth in 2014.

To date, SIUF’s core business has focused on domestic brands but going forward will seek to internationalise the exhibitor range as well as launch a new sourcing event for lingerie manufacturers. Mr Zhang Fengwei and associates will continue to manage the business post acquisition.

The consideration will be met from Tarsus’ existing cash resources and bank debt facilities. The acquisition is conditional on Chinese regulatory approvals and is expected to complete in the next few months.

Turkey – IFO minority interest acquisition

The Group acquired the outstanding 25% of the issued share capital of Istanbul based IFO not already owned by Tarsus in December 2013 from Mr Selahattin Durak, who will become an advisor to the Group. The Group purchased the initial 75% in June 2011.

IFO is one of the leading exhibition businesses in Turkey whose three events are Asansor (Lifts), REW Istanbul (Recycling and Waste Management) and Sign Istanbul (Outdoor Advertising and Visual Communications). The consideration will be met from Tarsus’ existing cash resources and bank debt facilities.

France

The Group has agreed to sell up to 18% of its French business to Romuald Gadrat, the incumbent Managing Director of the division, who will continue to run the business going forward.

Douglas Emslie, Tarsus Group Managing Director, said:

“These transactions are another key step in the execution of our “Quickening the Pace” strategy.

“We are delighted to add SIUF, a market leading exhibition to our portfolio. China is an important market for us and this acquisition fits with our “Quickening the Pace” strategy as well as providing synergies with our Off-Price shows in the US. This acquisition will consolidate our position in this fast growth market.

“IFO was Tarsus’s first purchase in Turkey and we have been very pleased with its performance since then, so we are delighted to acquire the remaining 25% stake in the business.”

The Group expects to announce its final results for the year ended 31 December 2013 during the week commencing 3 March 2014.

UK, London & China, Shenzhen & Turkey, Istanbul & France, Paris

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ITE Group – Annual Financial Report

ITEInternational trade exhibitions and conferences group ITE Group has published its Annual Financial Report for the year to September 2013. 

The group continued to expand its business in the year through a mixture of organic and acquisition led growth and has now established itself in the Asian exhibition markets through its investments in ABEC in India, Tradelink and ECMI in Malaysia and since the end of the financial year in Sinostar in China.

Good organic growth across ITE’s core portfolios in Russia and the CIS together with a strong biennial performance from the Moscow International Oil and Gas Exhibition have combined with the newly acquired businesses in Asia to deliver record financial and operating results.

In this, the stronger year of its biennial pattern, ITE’s revenues were £192.3 million (2012: £172.3 million) and yielded headline profits before tax of £59.4 million (2012: £53.0 million) and headline diluted earnings per share of 19.3p (2012: 16.9p). Reported pre‑tax profit was £43.9 million (2012: £40.5 million) and fully diluted earnings per share was 14.0p (2012: 12.8p). The Group finished the year with net cash of £23.5 million (2012: £13.0 million), after investing £26.1 million on acquisitions during the year.

Although large events have traded well, much of 2013 growth has come from ITE’s portfolio of medium sized events, often run from the smaller regional offices. This growth in smaller events looks set to continue into 2014, and ITE forecasts economic growth in Russia to be maintained at current levels.

At 30 November revenues booked for 2014 were £106 million, representing circa 55% of market expectations for 2014 revenues. On a like‑for‑like basis revenues are circa 7% ahead of last year.

The recent announcement of the Sinostar joint venture means ITE enters the new financial year with good business prospects in three of the major emerging market economies: Russia, India and China.

Download ITE’s 2013 Annual Financial Report here.

UK, London

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ITE revenues up 12% following a year of Asian acquisitions

ITEInternational trade exhibitions and conferences group ITE Group has announced preliminary results for the year to September 2013.  Revenues are up 12% to £192 and headline profits are up 12% to £59.4m. £106m of revenues are booked for 2014.

Russell Taylor, CEO of ITE Group plc, said, “”ITE has continued to expand its business this year through a mixture of organic and acquisition led growth.”

This year ITE has acquired Trade Link in India,  Platform Exhibitions in Turkey, 50% of ECMI in Malaysia and last month Sinostar in China.

Taylor went on to say, “Good organic growth across our core portfolios in Russia and the CIS together with a strong biennial performance from the Moscow International Oil and Gas Exhibition have combined with the newly acquired businesses in Asia to deliver record financial and operating results.”

ITE sept 13Click on the table for an enlarged view

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Informa acquires a stake in Chinese company Baiwen

informa2Informa plc has acquired a stake in Baiwen, the owner and organiser of the annual China Beauty Expo (“CBE”). the terms of the deal were not disclosed.

CBE is the largest beauty trade event in China, comprising three co-located exhibitions that take place annually in Shanghai in May: Cosmetics China, Cosmetech and Beauty Shanghai. In 2013, the 18th edition of CBE attracted around 1700 exhibitors from 22 countries and some 250,000 visitors across a floor space of approximately 120,000 sqm.

CBEPeter Rigby, Chief Executive of Informa, said, ​”The acquisition of a stake in Baiwen is an exciting and strategically important move for Informa, increasing our exposure to the Chinese exhibition market and further strengthening our position in the beauty and aesthetics segment. We look forward to working closely with our partners at Baiwen to extend the strong growth record of CBE and leverage our collective expertise to exploit other opportunities.”

UK, London & China, Shanghai

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Tarsus Group – Mexico Acquisition

TarsusTarsus Group is to acquire a 50% interest in a company that owns two major exhibitions in Mexico from E.J. Krause & Associates (“EJK”) to establish a joint venture with EJK.

EJK was founded in 1984 and is one of the largest privately held exhibition companies in the world. Headquartered in the US EJK has offices on three continents and produces over 80 events in 16 different industries.

The JV owns two events held in Mexico:

  • Plastimagen (2013: 17,400 net sqm), a leading exhibition in Mexico for the plastics industry, focussing on plastics processing and ancillary equipment, attracting engineering and production professionals from plastics processing, packaging and manufacturing companies. It is run on an 18 month cycle with the next edition scheduled to be held in November 2014; and
  • Expo Manufactura (2013: 4,300 net sqm), a metalworking/manufacturing exhibition, featuring machine tools, assembly technology, fabricating, software, coil winding and welding technologies.   Visitors include production and engineering professionals from across a wide spectrum of Mexican manufacturing industries. The show takes place annually, with the next edition due to be held in March 2014.

The JV provides the Group with an important hub in the growing Mexican exhibition market and it will be one of the top three largest international exhibition companies in Mexico. Under the terms of the Acquisition EJK will continue to manage the events post Acquisition.

The JV will also provide a platform for Tarsus to launch new exhibitions in Mexico, primarily drawing on Tarsus’s existing major brands. Concurrently Tarsus has agreed to collaborate with EJK by launching replications of existing EJK brands into territories in which Tarsus has a suitable launch platform.

The first of these will be in Indonesia where the Group has agreed with EJK to launch an edition of EXPO COMM in Jakarta. EXPO COMM is an ICT exhibition with a global schedule of events in Latin America, Europe, and Asia. It covers telecommunications, broadband, wireless 3G/4G, unified communications and network infrastructure. The first event is scheduled to be held in November 2014.

Douglas Emslie, Tarsus Group Managing Director, said:

“Mexico is a large and fast-growing market that has close trading ties with the US. The Mexican exhibition market is highly fragmented at present and offers exciting potential for growth.

“This agreement with EJ Krause enables Tarsus to acquire a stake in two leading events in Mexico – Plastimagen and Expo Manufactura. The joint venture fits our aim to  quicken the pace of our earnings by investing in quality assets in high growth markets.

“I am excited by the opportunity to work with EJ Krause to launch collaborative replications of Tarsus’ brands in Mexico and EJ Krause’s brands in emerging markets where Tarsus has an established footprint, initially  with an edition of EXPO COMM in Indonesia.”

UK, London & USA, Bethesda, MD & Mexico, Col. Del Valle

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Profits rise at Future plc

Future plc, the specialist media group and digital publisher has announced preliminary results for the year ended 30 September 2013.

Financial highlights

Future results 2013

Click on the table for an enlarged view

  • Normalised Group revenues up 3% driven by Digital & Diversified revenue streams
  • Normalised pre-tax profit at £1.9m from loss of £2.7m in prior year
  • Digital revenues up 38% year-on-year, Digital & Diversified now 32% of total Group Revenues
  • Digital advertising now 59% of total advertising revenue, up from 48% a year ago
  • UK operations grow advertising and circulation revenues for the year
  • US operating profitably (at EBITDAE level) in H2
  • Net debt more than halved from £14.1m to £6.9m following the sale of non-core print activities
  • Reinstatement of dividend at 0.2 pence per share

Digital highlights

  • Unique users up 14% year-on-year to 57.7 million a month, US unique users up 18% − growth driven by TechRadar
  • Page views up 19% year-on-year to 328 million a month
  • TechRadar now reaching over 20 million unique users globally a month
  • Digital edition revenues up 44% year-on-year
  • Over 340,000 subscribers to digital editions, up 46% since September 2012

Mark Wood, Future’s Chief Executive, said: “Our digital revenue growth accelerated, with a 38% increase year-on-year, and we passed an important transition point with more than half our advertising revenues now digital. We have made real progress in reshaping the Future business, diversifying our digital revenues, making our US operations profitable and building global digital brands.

“We have an on-going programme to reduce the cost base and improve margins. During the year we transformed our balance sheet, paying down term debt from the proceeds of non-core asset disposals and extending our credit facility until 2017. This leaves us well positioned to execute on our growth strategy.

Overall, these are good results after difficult trading conditions earlier in the year, thanks to stronger trading across all areas in the fourth quarter. Looking forward, we see the encouraging Q4 trends continuing with forward advertising bookings up year-on-year, and revenue momentum across all sectors.”

Read the full announcement here.

UK, London

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