UBM Buys Business Journals Inc, US Fashion Show Portfolio

LONDON, April 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Acquisition in line with UBM's 'Events First' strategy 

 Increases UBM's scale in North America and the fashion sector 

UBM plc (LSE: UBM-LN) today announces the acquisition of Business Journals Inc (BJI), a producer of fashion trade shows in New York and Las Vegas, for $69m in cash.

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BJI serves the men's apparel and women's apparel and accessories markets under the following leading tradeshow brands: AccessoriesTheShow, EDIT, FAME, Moda, MRket and Stitch.  These shows run multiple times a year and in some cases are located in the same venues as UBM shows.  BJI also operates several websites and publications serving the fashion sector. In 2015, BJI's revenues were approximately $40m - $33m from Events and $7m from Other Marketing Services.

BJI is highly complementary to UBM's existing fashion tradeshow portfolio. The combination of BJI and UBM will provide an improved experience for both attendees and exhibitors and generate material synergies in areas such as event operations, property and cross-marketing opportunities.  

BJI is expected to make a modest post tax contribution this year.  In 2017, with a full year of contribution and strong operational and financial synergies, the acquisition will achieve a return on investment in excess of UBM's weighted average cost of capital.

Tim Cobbold, CEO of UBM plc, said: 

"We are delighted to have acquired BJI. This transaction is very much in line with our 'Events First', strategy. It adds to our presence in North America and also in the fashion sector, both of which were already strong following UBM's acquisition of Advanstar at the end of 2014. We see excellent opportunities to deliver an improved experience for customers and to realise the operational benefits which scale will bring."

Notes to Editors 

About UBM plc 

UBM plc is a leading global marketing services and communications company, whose primary focus is events. We help businesses do business, bringing the world's buyers and sellers together at events, online and in print. Our 5,100 staff in more than 20 countries are organised into specialist teams which serve commercial and professional communities, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.  Running over 400 events per year, UBM is the second largest exhibitions organiser globally and the largest independent organiser in the US and China.

For more information, go to http://www.ubm.com; for UBM corporate news, follow us on Twitter at @UBM_plc and go to http://media.ubm.com/social for more UBM social media options.

Contacts
Kate Postans
Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications,
UBM plc
[email protected]
+44-207-921-5023

Meredith Corley
Head of PR and Communications,
UBM Americas
[email protected]
+1-(703)-853-8977

Jon Coles, Andy Rivett-Carnac, Craig Breheny
[email protected]
+44-207-404 5959

SOURCE UBM