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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WPP acquires majority stake in Cerebra Communications in South Africa

wppWPP has acquired a majority stake in Cerebra Communications, an integrated strategic communication agency based in Johannesburg. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 2006 and employing 35 people, Cerebra builds, engages and activates brand communities for clients including Nedbank and Vodacom. Cerebra’s services include community management, crisis management, social business strategy and creative communication campaigns. Cerebra will retain its independent positioning and will work closely with other WPP companies in South Africa and across Africa.

Audited revenues for the year ended February 2013 were approximately ZAR 17 million, with gross assets at the same date of approximately ZAR 4.1 million.

UK, London & South Africa, Johannesburg

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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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Experian completes acquisition of Passport Health Communications

experianExperian, the global information services company, has completed the acquisition of Passport Health Communications.

Passport Health Communications is a  provider of data, analytics and software in the US healthcare payments market. The purchase price is $850 million. Revenues  are largely subscription based. In the year ending 31 December 2013, Passport Health is expected to generate revenue of US$121m, representing organic growth of 23%, and EBIT of US$30m. In the year ending 31 December 2014, Experian expects Passport Health revenue to reach approximately US$145m (of which 84% is already booked and contracted), with EBIT margins in the high twenties.

For more information see Experian acquires Passport Health Communications for $850M – posted on November 6, 2013.

Ireland, Dublin and UK, Nottingham

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DMGT – preliminary results for the year to September 2013

Daily Mail and General Trust plc has announced the group’s unaudited preliminary results for the year ended 30 September 2013

DMGT results 2013

 

Click on the table for an enlarged view.

Highlights:

  • Underlying revenue up 2%
  • Underlying operating profit up 6%
  • Margin up to 17%
  • Adjusted profit before tax of £282m, up 10%
  • B2B; underlying revenue up 6% and underlying profit up 4%
  • dmg media performance; underlying revenue decline of 1%, with cost efficiencies driving underlying profit growth of 10%
  • Progress on the £100 million share buy back programme, £69 million to date
  • Net debt reduced by £40 million to £573 million
  • Net debt/EBITDA ratio of 1.5
  • Earnings per share* up 7% to 53.0p
  • Full year dividend increased by 7% to 19.2p

Martin Morgan, Chief Executive, said:

“DMGT has again delivered a good set of results. Group adjusted pre-tax profits* rose by 10% despite the disposal of Northcliffe Media at the end of the first quarter, reflecting good underlying profit growth from both our B2B and consumer operations. Our international B2B companies have increased their revenues and profits* by 6% and 4% respectively on an underlying# basis. Our UK consumer business, dmg media, grew its underlying# profits* by 10%, reflecting greater productivity as the business continues its digital transition.

We continued to refine and optimise our portfolio of businesses during the year with further strategic bolt-on acquisitions, notably within dmg information and Euromoney, and disposals, including Northcliffe Media and dmg media’s central and eastern European consumer assets. We believe these changes have improved the overall quality and growth prospects of the Group and we look forward to another year of good progress.”

Read the full announcement at the DMGT website

UK, London

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VML to acquire Biggs|Gilmore in the United States

wppWPP‘’s wholly-owned global digital agency VML, which is part of the Y&R network, is to acquire Biggs|Gilmore Communications Inc., a digital advertising and marketing agency in the United States. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

VML_Logo_TransparentFounded in 1973, Biggs|Gilmore’s unaudited revenue for the previous twelve months ended September 2013 was US $21 million. Biggs|Gilmore’s client list includes Kellogg, Kimberly-Clark, Foster Farms and Stryker, the medical equipment company. Headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with an office in Chicago, Biggs|Gilmore employs 140 people.

This is VML’s third transaction this year. In October, VML acquired IM2.0, a  digital advertising and media agency in China. In June, VML acquired a majority stake in NATIVE, the digital marketing agency in South Africa. 

UK, London & USA, Kalamazoo, MI

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Y&R acquires majority stake in Plasenta Conversation Agency, a Turkish social media agency

wppWPP‘s wholly-owned operating company, Y&R, the global marketing communications network, has acquired a majority stake in Plasenta Conversation Agency, a social media agency based in Istanbul, Turkey. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 2011, Plasenta Conversation Agency specialises in social media monitoring and management and digital media projects for Turkish and international markets. The agency employs over 60 people and clients include Coca-Cola, Vodafone, and TEB BNP Paribas.

plasentaPlasenta Conversation Agency’s unaudited revenues for the year ended 31 December 2012 were TRY 3.5 million, with gross assets as at the same date of TRY 1.5 million. Unaudited revenues in the twelve months to September 2013 were TRY 7.3 million.

In Turkey itself, WPP companies (including associates) employ nearly 1,000 people, generating revenues of US$100 million. This is the fourth investment made by WPP in Turkey in the past two years.

UK, London & Turkey, Istanbul

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Chime completes the acquisition of JMI

chime2Chime, the international communications & sports marketing group, has completed the acquisition of JMI, a global marketing firm focused on motorsports.  

Previous reporting (October 25, 2013) Chime Communications to acquire Just Marketing

Chime is paying a maximum consideration of $70.6 million (approximately £43.7 million). The acquisition will be part funded through a placing of 8,533,334 new ordinary shares to raise approximately £25.6 million. Chime today issued 3,287,899 new fully paid ordinary shares.  Chime shareholders approved the acquisition at a meeting on 14 November 2013. 

JMI is a global marketing firm focused on motor sports, operating primarily in Formula 1, NASCAR and IndyCar. JMI provides long-term sponsorship management and activation strategies, together with services including large-scale hospitality events, rights sales, and digital and experiential marketing initiatives.

UK, London & USA, Indianapolis

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Publicis acquires 75.1% of Walker Media

walkermediaPublicis Groupe is to acquire 75.1% of UK based independent media agency Walker Media for £36 million. M&C Saatchi, the current owner, will retain a 24.9% shareholding. Clients include Marks & Spencer, Dixons Group, KFC, Halfords and Weetabix. Walker Media had gross assets of £49.1m as at 31 December 2012 and operating profit of £5.2m for the 12 months ended 31 December 2012. The deal is expected to complete on 27 November 2013.

Walker Media will become part of the ZenithOptimedia Group.

The Walker Media board will be comprised of:

  • Phil Georgiadis, Chairman, Walker Media
  • Simon Davis, CEO, Walker Media
  • Steve King, CEO, Worldwide, ZenithOptimedia
  • Adrian Sayliss, COO, Worldwide, ZenithOptimedia
  • David Kershaw, CEO, M&C Saatchi
  • Jamie Hewitt, Group Finance Director, M&C Saatchi

The new ZenithOptimedia Group in the UK will be comprised of: Zenith, Optimedia, ZenithOptimedia Worldwide, Walker Media, Performics (digital performance marketing), Newcast (branded content), Ninah (analytics) and Sponsorship Intelligence. The group employs around 500 people.

Steve King, CEO Worldwide, ZenithOptimedia said, “Walker Media is the biggest and most successful independent media agency in the UK and we are absolutely delighted to welcome them to the ZenithOptimedia family. The agency was built and developed on the principle of client centricity and its incredible success is testament to this. I have known Phil Georgiadis for many years and I couldn’t think of a better person to lead our new media network in the UK.”

France, Paris & UK, London

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ITE establishes a presence in China with the creation of Sinostar ITE Ltd

ITEITE Group‘s wholly owned subsidiary, International Trade and Exhibitions Overseas Ltd, has  established a 50:50 Joint Venture (“Sinostar ITE“), with Hong Kong based Worldcoat Exhibitions Ltd.

As part of the transaction, Sinostar ITE has acquired the ChinaCoat / SF China exhibition from Sinostar International Ltd, a company controlled by Mr Raymond Ho, owner of Worldcoat. ITE’s investment in Sinostar ITE is c. £33m, financed out of the Group’s existing cash and bank facilities and is expected to be earnings enhancing in the current financial year.

The ChinaCoat / SF China exhibition serves the paints, coatings and surface finishing industries in China and the surrounding region. The exhibition is held in November each year and alternates between Shanghai and Guangzhou. The upcoming 2013 exhibition will be held in Shanghai, marking the 26th edition of this event, which is expected to sell more than 35,000m2 net and be attended by over 30,000 professional visitors. The 2012 event, which took place in Guangzhou, was 31,000 m2 net and had more than 28,000 visitors.

Out of the total consideration of c.£33m, c.£30m was paid on completion with the balance payable in June 2014 once Sinostar ITE’s results for the period ended 31 March 2014 are available.  The value of the gross assets being acquired is c. £33m. The total profits generated by the assets acquired by Sinostar ITE in the period ended 31 March 2013 was £6.5m.

The owner of Worldcoat and the current CEO of Sinostar International, Mr Raymond Ho, will become CEO of Sinostar ITE.

ITE’s Chief Executive Officer, Russell Taylor, commented, “ITE has taken an important step in building a business in China. I am delighted that the creation of Sinostar ITE, in partnership with Worldcoat, further increases our business presence in Asia. This move represents progress in achieving the Group’s aims to expand its territorial operations in markets with further potential for growth.

UK, London & Hong Kong

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