UBM Buys Child and Baby Event in Asia

Company reports first half earnings results.



London-based United Business Media has acquired the Shanghai International Children-Baby-Maternity Products Expo, as well as Fashion Baby magazine and a pair of b-to-c products fairs, on behalf of its UBM Asia division. Financial terms of the deal include roughly $15.1 million in cash and up to an additional $10 million based on performance results.

The annual Children-Baby-Maternity Products Expo launched in 2001 and targets international and domestic Chinese manufacturers and distributors of child and baby products. Last year’s Children-Baby-Maternity Products Expo hosted more than 850 exhibitors in 69,000 square meters of gross exhibition space. UBM says it expects the business to generate more than $10 million in revenue this year.

UBM also today released its first half earnings statement, which shows that its events business—which makes up 48.9 percent of the company’s overall revenues—reported a 7.7 percent increase in operating profit, held up in part by biennial events. Total revenues grew only 1.5 percent while revenue from attendees increased 6 percent.

Overall, the company reported a 6.3 percent increase in adjusted operating profit, to nearly $130 million. Revenues dipped slightly (0.2 percent) to about $678 million.