LONDON, Aug. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- United Business Media ("UBM")
today announced that it has acquired three businesses in line with its
strategy of adding bolt-on complementary multi-media assets to its existing
industry verticals.
The businesses acquired (for cash consideration) are:
-- Light Reading Inc, an integrated business media company combining
online publishing, live events and research/analysis for the
communications industry, which has been acquired for $27m
-- Informex, an important US chemicals events business, which has been
acquired for $24m
-- TechOnLine, an online electronics business media platform in the US,
which has been acquired for $5.5m
CEO of UBM, David Levin, said
"These acquisitions will strengthen UBM in three industry verticals within
which we already have a significant presence. Each acquisition will deepen and
enrich the offering we are able to provide our customers."
Light Reading
Light Reading provides a wide range of high value information products and
services to professionals responsible for building, deploying, managing and
financing communications and enterprise networks.
Its business comprises five market leading online web sites (including
lightreading.com, the world's largest online telecommunications publication,
with more than 400,000 unique users), a wide range of web-based seminars, a
series of live events and other related products. In 2004, Light Reading
generated revenues of $10.1m and EBITDA of $2.6m.
Light Reading represents a good opportunity for CMP to continue the
expansion of its online business, increasing both CMP's non-print business and
expanding the market coverage of CMP's enterprise products. With the
converging telecommunications and IT markets, CMP and Light Reading have
overlapping advertiser bases and user audiences.
In addition to the initial consideration, today's transaction includes a
potential maximum earnout of up to $8m, subject to performance criteria over
the next 2 years.
CEO of CMP Media, Gary Marshall, said
"The acquisition of Light Reading represents an important expansion of
CMP's online business. Light Reading is a successful, fast growing and
profitable online and event platform in an important vertical market within
the technology sector. It is a platform that CMP Media will look, where
possible and where viable, to replicate or use as a model for a number of its
other vertical markets in the technology sector."
Informex
Informex is the leading specialty and custom chemical trade show and
exhibition in the United States and is being acquired from the Synthetic
Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association ("SOCMA"). The acquisition of this
US based business builds on CMPi's existing strong chemicals and
pharmaceutical ingredients operations in Europe and Asia. Today's move makes
CMPi the world leader in chemicals industry events.
CMPi holds its existing strong position in European and Asian based
chemicals events through CPhI - a chemical and pharmaceutical ingredients
business that attracts over 20,000 industry professionals and over 1,500
exhibiting companies. Informex brings with it over 4,000 delegates and
around 500 exhibitors.
In 2005 (the event takes place in February), Informex generated $4.6m of
revenue and an EBITDA of $2.3m.
CEO of CMP Information, Bernard Gray, said
"Informex is the leading broad fine chemicals show in the US and is a
"must attend" event in the industry. This acquisition will extend CMPi's
chemicals business into North America providing a strong US platform for
growth. CMPi will also be able to serve its customers better by expanding
Informex's broader chemical market presence into Europe and Asia where CMPi's
CPhI business unit has a market leading position in Chemical and
Pharmaceutical Ingredients events. We look forward to continuing to work
closely with SOCMA as we grow the business."
TechOnLine
TechOnLine has created a worldwide online community of more than 335,000
electronics engineering professionals by providing in-depth information,
product services and training materials to the electronics technology
industry. TechOnLine's business comprises three separate units: Marketing &
Promotional Services (encompassing online webcasting, sponsorship programs and
email marketing), E-Training and VirtuaLab, an online electronics evaluation
tool.
The combination of CMP Media Electronics Group's more than 14 market-
leading media properties such as EE Times, DesignLines and Embedded Systems
Conferences with TechOnLine's leading online services will create the most
comprehensive set of news, information and education resources available to
the electronics industry.
TechOnLine's key business is its Marketing & Promotional Services unit. In
the 12 months to June 2005, this business generated revenues of $3.0m and
EBITDA of $0.8m. We are only attributing nominal values to the two other
embryonic business units, which are currently unprofitable.
In addition to the initial consideration, today's transaction includes a
potential maximum earnout of up to $2.5m, subject to performance criteria.
CEO of CMP Media, Gary Marshall, said
"The acquisition of TechOnLine creates a unique and powerful online
resource for our customers in the Electronics industry. By adding TechOnLine's
offerings to our existing industry leading media and event properties, we will
be extending our online presence and enhancing our ability to serve the
demanding daily needs of our electronics industry audience."
Notes to Editors:
About Light Reading (http://www.lightreading.com/)
Established in February 2000, Light Reading's focus on producing high-
quality independent content has allowed the company to attract a global
audience of more than 400,000 to its network of sites, as well as an active
customer base of 370 companies, including every leading public and private
firm in the telecommunications industry.
Light Reading has been built around the lightreading.com website. However,
the business also has four other online sites: byteandswitch.com (storage),
unstrung.com (wireless), nextgendata.com (data centre management) and
heavyreading.com (market research repository). The company has also
diversified and produces a wide range of events serving the communications
industry.
Light Reading leads all telecom media in terms of traffic, content, and
reputation, and reaches every level of the telecommunications pyramid: service
providers, equipment manufacturers, and the business/financial community.
With its monthly audience in excess of 400,000 unique visitors, Light
Reading is easily the largest online telecommunications publication in the
world. Its monthly readership is greater than the audited circulation of its
all its print competitors combined.
UBM is acquiring Light Reading Inc from its shareholders.
Related Websites:
http://www.byteandswitch.com/ http://www.heavyreading.com/
http://www.unstrung.com/ http://www.nextgendata.com/
About CMP Media (http://www.cmp.com)
CMP Media is the leading integrated media solutions company providing
"broad and deep" access to the entire technology spectrum - the builders,
sellers and buyers of technology worldwide. The company's comprehensive
database of technology decision makers enables marketers to reach targeted
audiences throughout the purchase process with publications, web offerings,
face-to-face events, consulting and other marketing services that deliver
actionable results.
About Informex (http://www.informex.com/)
For over 21 years, INFORMEX(R) has been the premier US venue for
connecting the chemical industry to the latest technological advances and the
newest developments in custom manufacturing, with nearly 480 exhibiting
companies and over 4,000 specialty and fine chemical professionals in
attendance.
About SOCMA
The Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association (SOCMA) is the
leading trade association serving the specialty-batch and custom chemical
industry since 1921. Its 300 member companies have more than 2,000
manufacturing sites and 100,000 employees. SOCMA members encompass every
segment of the industry-from small specialty producers to large multinational
corporations-and manufacture 50,000 products annually valued at $60 billion
dollars.
About CPhI (http://www.cphi.com)
CPhI started in 1990 as an international convention on chemical and
pharmaceutical ingredients and intermediates. The first CPhI in 1990 attracted
250 visitors for 16 companies, while nowadays 20,000 industry professionals
visit some 1,500 exhibiting companies from over 110 countries in the world.
CPhI is the leading exhibition on pharmaceutical ingredients and allied
industries. Every year the exhibition becomes larger with exhibitors and
visitors doing business at CPhI. It is the perfect opportunity to develop new
business contacts and to maintain existing relationships. The next CPhI show
will be held in Madrid on November 1st - 3rd 2005.
About CMP Information (http://www.cmpinformation.com)
CMP Information is the UK-headquartered professional media division of
United Business Media plc. Operating in the UK and Europe, CMPi provides
creative professional media solutions to around 20 industry sectors. Its
products, including magazines, exhibitions, conferences, awards, directories
and websites, are targeted at business professionals across a range of
professional markets; these include Building & Property, Medical, Chemical and
Pharmaceutical Ingredients, Travel, Agriculture and Print.
About TechOnLine (http://www.techonline.com/)
TechOnLine enjoys a leading position in connecting Electronic Original
Equipment Manufacturers (EOEM) with electronics design engineers through its
online program offerings and web communities. The EOEM marketplace is a
sizeable $200 billion market.
TechOnLine works with the world's top electronic component manufacturers,
in addition to almost 400,000 registered users who rely on its websites and
program offerings to gain valuable design information throughout the design
and manufacturing process.
TechOnLine has built an enviable customer list that includes Intel,
Freescale (Motorola), Renesas (Mitsubishi/Hitachi), Texas Instruments, Agilent
and many other top tier electronics manufacturers. Part of the success of the
company to date has been that TechOnLine's web-based relationship marketing
programs provide high and measurable ROI for these customers.
UBM is acquiring the assets of the TechOnLine business from TechOnLine
Inc.
About CMP Media's Electronics Group
CMP Media's Electronics Group is the premier technology and business media
brand serving the information needs of the creators of technology worldwide
through print, online and conferences.
As the most comprehensive and integrated source of electronics technology
information, CMP's Electronics Group offers a full suite of products and
services to reach the largest number of electronics systems design
professionals throughout the world. With its combination of media properties,
CMP Media's Electronics Group focuses on delivering a targeted audience and
actionable information to marketers in the electronics technology community.
Each month, CMP Media Electronics Group delivers more than 1 million
copies of its publications in five languages to subscribers in 55 countries,
and online visitors from more than 100 countries view more than 7.5 million
pages on its Web sites in six different languages. Each year, more than
35,000 decision makers from 48 countries attend CMP Electronics Group
conferences in North America, China, Taiwan and Europe.
CMP Media's Electronics Group properties include:
-- Print: EE Times, Embedded Systems Programming, Electronics Supply &
Manufacturing
-- Online: EE Times Online, DesignLines, PlanetAnalog.com, Embedded.com,
my-esm.com, CommsDesign.com, and SupplyLines
-- Conferences: Embedded Systems Conferences, Embedded Connect and Design
Seminars
United Business Media plc (http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com) is a
leading provider of business information services to the technology,
healthcare, media, automotive, financial services and property industries.
UBM offers services in news distribution, publishing and events to customers
across the globe. Its brands include PR Newswire, the world's leading
corporate news distribution service; and CMP, the media and exhibition group
serving the Professional and Enthusiast in the high tech, healthcare,
property, entertainment, jewellery & fashion markets in the US, UK, Asia and
Europe.
This press release includes statements, which are not historical facts and
are considered "forward-looking" within the meaning of Section 27 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These forward-looking statements reflect
UBM's current views about future events, business and growth strategy and
financial performance. These forward-looking statements are identified by
their use of terms and phrases such as "believe," "expect," "plan,"
"anticipate," "on target" and similar expressions identifying forward-looking
statements. Investors should not rely on forward-looking statements because
they are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from UBM's expectations. UBM
expressly does not undertake any duty to update forward-looking statements.
Management does not attempt to update forecasts unless conditions materially
change.
SOURCE United Business Media
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Related links:
http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com
http://www.techonline.com http://www.cphi.com
http://www.cmpinformation.com
http://www.byteandswitch.com http://www.unstrung.com
http://www.heavyreading.com http://www.nextgendata.com
CONTACT:
Richard Kerr of United Business Media,
+44-20-7921-5097; or Fiona Piper, The Maitland Consultancy,
+44-20-7379-5151
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