Live Nation Entertainment acquires a majority stake in BDG Music Group,

June 19, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT LOGOLive Nation Entertainment has acquired a majority stake in BDG Music Group, the Baltic region’s largest concert promotion company.

Since early 2012, BDG Music has produced more than 50 shows in the Baltics and sold more than 200,000 tickets. The group will bdgretain its current management team, although upon completion of the deal, it will be renamed Live Nation Baltics. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Michael Rapino, President and Chief Executive Officer of Live Nation Entertainment, said: “With this acquisition we now have operations in 43 countries. This further demonstrates our ongoing commitment to expanding our global footprint, which enables us to bring live entertainment to even more fans around the world.”

This year Live Nation Baltics is on the bill for major concerts featuring Robbie Williams and Depeche Mode, among others.

USA, Beverly Hills, CA & Estonia, Tallinn

Related articles:

Posted in Broadcasting, Conference/Exhibitions/Events, Content Media, ~Europe, ~North America. Tags: , , . Leave a Comment »

Euromoney Institutional Investor acquires a majority stake in the Centre for Investor Education in Australia

April 19, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

Euromoney logoEuromoney Institutional Investor PLC, the international online information and events group has acquired  a 75% stake in the Centre for Investor Education (CIE).

Based in Melbourne, Australia, CIE was founded in 1997 and is a provider of investment forums for senior CIEexecutives of superannuation funds and global asset management firms.  Principal events include the Chief Investment Officers Symposium and the Major Market Players Symposium, both held annually in Australia, as well as the International Investing Symposium which was held in Tokyo earlier this month.  CIE was acquired in 2010 from its founder, Melda Donnelly, by Erling Sorensen and Jamie Nemtsas who have expanded its portfolio of events and will remain shareholders in CIE until December 2015.

The acquisition is expected to be earnings enhancing for Euromoney in financial year 2013. Euromoney has paid an initial A$14.4 million (£9.9 million) cash consideration for a 75% interest in CIE, to be adjusted up or down dependent on CIE’s results for the year to December 2013.  Euromoney will acquire the remaining 25% of CIE’s equity in two instalments based on CIE’s profits for the years to December 2014 and 2015.  The acquisition will be funded from Euromoney’s existing committed borrowing facility.  CIE recorded an unaudited pre-tax profit of A$1.5million (£1.0 million) on revenues of A$4.3 million (£2.9 million) for the year to December 2012.

“We are delighted to acquire CIE,” said Richard Ensor, Chairman of Euromoney.  “Euromoney expects to benefit from the rapid growth of Australia’s asset management industry.  This acquisition of the high-quality CIE business gives us the opportunity to consolidate further our position in this premium segment of the events market.  We look forward to working with Erling Sorensen and Jamie Nemtsas to develop CIE further.”

UK, London & Australia, Melbourne

Related articles

Posted in Conference/Exhibitions/Events, Content Media, Internet Media, Market Data & Information, Publishers, ~Europe, ~Oceana. Tags: , , , . Leave a Comment »

Reed Elsevier reports growth in the 12 months to 31 December 2012

March 1, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

Reed Elsevier reports growth in revenue, operating profit and earnings in the twelve months to 31 December 2012.Reed Elsevier

Full details of results

Financial highlights

  • Underlying revenue growth +4% (+3% excluding biennial exhibition cycling) to £6,116m/€7,523m
  • Underlying adjusted operating profit growth +6% to £1,713m/€2,107m
  • Adjusted EPS +7% to 50.1p for Reed Elsevier PLC; +14% to €0.95 for Reed Elsevier NV
  • Reported EPS +42% to 46.0p for Reed Elsevier PLC; +53% to €0.90 for Reed Elsevier NV
  • Full year dividend +7% to 23.0p for Reed Elsevier PLC; +7% to €0.467 for Reed Elsevier NV
  • Return on invested capital up by 0.7 percentage points to 11.9%
  • Net debt £0.3bn lower at £3.1bn; 2.2x EBITDA pensions and lease adjusted (1.7x unadjusted)

Operational highlights

  • Revenue growth driven by volume growth, new products, and expansion in high growth markets
  • Profitability gains driven by process innovation and portfolio development
  • All five business areas contributed to underlying revenue and profit growth
  • Continued improvement in revenue mix by format, geography, and type
  • Accelerated portfolio reshaping; gross proceeds from disposal of non-core businesses £242m
  • £250m of share buybacks completed in 2012
  • £100m of share buybacks completed in 2013 YTD; further £300m to be deployed in remainder of 2013

Commenting on the results, Chief Executive Officer, Erik Engstrom, commented:

“In 2012 we made good progress on our strategy to systematically transform our business into a professional information solutions provider that combines content & data with analytics & technology in global platforms. We continued to do this primarily through organic development, with acquisitions limited to small content and data assets across markets and assets in high growth geographies. We also accelerated the evolution of our portfolio by disposing of businesses that no longer fit our strategy, using the proceeds to buy back shares. As a result of these actions we are continuing to improve the quality of our earnings, to deliver more predictable revenues, a higher growth profile, and improving returns.

By the end of 2012 approximately 80% of our revenues were in our targeted formats of electronic and face to face, which generated average underlying revenue growth rates of +5-7%. Although the outlook for the macro environment, and its impact on our customer markets, is mixed, we have entered 2013 with positive momentum, and expect another year of underlying revenue, profit, and earnings growth.”

UK, London & The Netherlands, Amsterdam

Related articles

Posted in Company Results, Conference/Exhibitions/Events, Content Media, Internet Media, Market Data & Information, ~Europe. Tags: , , . Leave a Comment »

Radio One Inc. Increases Stake in Reach Media

January 9, 2013 — askhabra

Radio_one_logoRadio One Inc. though its wholly owned subsidiary Radio One Media Holdings has completed the purchase of shares of broadcaster Reach Media Inc. from minority shareholders worth $2 million. This transaction has increased its stake in Reach Media to approximately 80% from 53%, giving the firm an implied valuation of around $7.4 million.

Reach Media Inc., founded in 2003 by Tom Joyner and David Kantor is a cross platform media company which produces radio programmes, websites, events and initiatives targeted towards African-Americans. Its most popular show “The Tom Joyner Show” is aired in over 100 markets and reaches an audience of over eight million listeners.

Radio One CEO and President Alfred Liggins has commented on the transaction, stating ““Radio One has a commitment to be the leader in radio and online programming with compelling entertainment and information for the African-American audience,” and that by “combining our assets under Reach Media offers a […] broad platform for affiliate stations and advertisers to connect with our […] audience.”

Following the transaction, Radio One is to consolidate its Syndication One Urban programming line up with those offered by Reach Media to make Reach the largest radio network in the US catering specifically to an African-American audience.

US, Silver Lake, MD & US, Dallas, TX

Posted in Broadcasting, Content Media, ~North America. Tags: , , . Leave a Comment »

ITE Group acquires a minority stake in ABEC in India

December 4, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

ITEAirgate Holdings Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of exhibitions business ITE Group, has acquired 28.3% of the shares of Asian Business Exhibitions & Conferences Ltd. (ABEC) from Qatari Investment bank QInvest. The total consideration is c. INR (Indian Rupees) 1,227 million (£14 million), which is payable in cash on completion. The acquisition will be funded from existing cash resources and agreed debt facilities. There are arrangements in place to enable ITE to increase its shareholding in future.

ABEC generated profits of INR 140 million (£1.6 million) in the year ended 31 March 2012 on revenues of c. INR 1.1 billion (£12.5 ABECmillion) and had gross assets of INR 1,724 million (£20 million) at completion.

ABEC run 19 exhibitions in India across 11 vertical markets including construction, architecture, design, education, lifestyle, real estate, and oil & gas. ABEC’s 8% market share makes it India’s largest private exhibition organiser.

Commenting on the acquisition, ITE’s Chief Executive Officer, Russell Taylor, said:

“ABEC has a quality portfolio of events with strong market positions in sectors where ITE has an established presence such as construction, oil & gas and security. ABEC’s events in the construction and design sector total more than 65,000m2 net of sold exhibition space, giving ITE an interest in India’s dominant trade shows for this growing sector.

“With expertise in this sector and its strong international sales network, ITE can deliver significant value to ABEC’s business. Along with ITE’s current business in India, this gives ITE a leading position in a dynamic region with an exhibition industry that is currently experiencing strong growth.”

ITE also announced its preliminary results today for the year to 30th September 2012. The financial highlights are below:

  • Revenues up 11% to £172m ; Headline profits up 3% to £53m
  • Net cash of £20.0m at 30th November 2012
  • £95m of revenues booked for 2013

Full details here

UK, London & India, Mumbai

Related articles:

Posted in Conference/Exhibitions/Events, Content Media, ~Asia, ~Europe. Tags: , , , . Leave a Comment »
Newer posts »