Asia Business Media

Friday, August 30, 2013

Reed Panorama launches new logistics event

News this week: Reed Exhibition’s Indonesian joint venture company, Reed Panorama Exhibitions (RPE), has announced the launch of the inaugural Indonesia Transport Supply Chain and Logistics trade show which is scheduled to be held from 29^th to 31^st October 2014.

The annual transport and logistics show will be hosted at the Jakarta International Expo Kemayoran (JIExpo). RPE expects to attract more than 200 exhibitors from the five key sectors of: transport and logistics services, information systems and technology, logistics infrastructure, logistics real estate, as well as materials handling equipment and services.

Michelle Lim, president director of RPE, said, “We are extremely excited to be working with and bringing together leading players in the logistics market for this event. We hope to grow and develop the industry and participate in bringing to fruition the National Logistics Blueprint [Sislognas] of 2010-2025.”

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Baidu invests in China group buying platform

News this week: China’s leading Internet search provider, Baidu, announced the acquisition of a 59% stake in Nuomi Holdings Limited on behalf of its subsidiary, Baidu Holdings Limited, for US$160 million. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Nuomi is a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York-listed Renren Inc., a China-based social networking Internet platform. Nuomi was founded by Renren in 2010 and provides group-buying services in China. Baidu reports Nuomi generated approximately US$120 million in general merchandise sales and had 3.8 million active paying users as of Q2 2013 – 30% of Nuomi’s sales during the period were generated from mobile devices.

Netsun revenue jumps 50% in first half

News this week: Zhejiang Netsun, a Shenzhen-listed online sourcing platform, has announced its results for the first half of 2013. For the six months ended 30^th June, revenues were US$20 million, a significant growth of 50% over the first half of 2012. However, net profit attributable to shareholders in the period dropped 7.5% to US$3.2 million. Earnings per share in the first half were RMB 0.12 (US$0.0196).

Internet services generated about US$11 million, which accounted for 53% of total revenues. The company’s chemical trading services, the second largest business segment, generated revenues of US$7.9 million – 40% of total revenues. The remaining revenues were generated from the exhibition services, which accounted for US$1.3 million.

SEEC’s revenue and profit drop in first half

News this week: Earlier this week, Hong Kong-listed SEEC Media announced its interim results for the six months ended 30^th June 2013. The company generated revenues of US$28 million, a decrease of 6.4% year-on-year. Net profit in the first half was just US$774, compared with US$2.4 million in 2012.

More than 90% of SEEC’s revenues were generated from its advertising business, which amounted to US$25 million. This represents a 9.0% decrease compared with the first half of 2012. The remaining revenues (US$2.5 million) were generated from the sales of books and magazines, a year-on-year increase of 31%.

MMI to co-locate Laser India with two industry shows

News this week: The 2^nd edition of Laser World of Photonics India (Laser India) will return to the Bombay Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC), and will be combined with Intersolar India and Analytica Anacon India.

The co-located events are organised by Messe München International (MMI) and will run from 12^th to 14^th November this year. MMI reported the attendance of 128 exhibitors from 15 countries and 2,688 international trade visitors at the 2012 edition of Laser India.

Bhupinder Singh, deputy CEO of MMI India, said, “A platform such as Laser India, with government and association support, can benefit a large number of core and ancillary industries and their end consumers.”

Macau exhibition visitors jump 72% in Q2

News this week: Last week, the Macau Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) announced MICE statistics for the second quarter of 2013. A total of 228 MICE events were held in the quarter, a year-on-year decrease of 6%. There were a total of 219,000 MICE visitors in the quarter, compared with 130,000 recorded last year.

Among the 228 events, 220 were meetings and conferences, which is down slightly from 226 in 2012. A total of 24,000 participants attended the meetings and conferences in the quarter, which is a significant increase over 17,000 in the second quarter last year. The number of exhibitions held remained flat at eight during Q2, while the number of attendees jumped 72% to 194,000, from 113,000 in 2012.

Friday, August 23, 2013

Alibaba invests in U.S. e-commerce company

News this week: China’s largest e-commerce company, Alibaba Group, has acquired a minority stake in U.S.-based online shopping company ShopRunner for US$75 million.

ShopRunner is run by Yahoo’s former chief executive Scott Thompson. Alibaba executive vice chairman Joe Tsai will reportedly join ShopRunner’s board of directors as part of the deal. ShopRunner is headquartered in San Mateo, California and offers goods from approximately 80 retailers.

ShopRunner is reportedly Alibaba’s second investment in a U.S. e-commerce company this year following an investment in Fanatics Inc., a sports apparel retailer now valued at an estimated US$3.1 billion.

CyberMedia profit up, revenue down

News this week: Indian specialty publisher, CyberMedia, has announced results for the quarter ended 30^th June 2013. CyberMedia’s revenues in the quarter were US$2.6 million, a year-on-year decrease of 17%. In the same period, the company recorded a net profit of US$129,000, up 76% compared with the same quarter last year. Dilute earnings per share in the period were Rs. 0.73 (US$0.012).

CyberMedia’s media services business generated US$1.5 million or 54% of total revenues in the quarter – an increase of 13% over the same period last year. The remaining revenues were generated from its media business segment, amounting to US$1.2 million - down by 36% compared with 2012.

BOL revenue up, profit down in Q2

News this week: Last week, Bangkok-based business information provider, Business Online (BOL), reported its financial results for the quarter ended 30^th June 2013. Revenues for the quarter were US$3.4 million, an increase of 20% over the same period last year. However, net profit for the period was down by 32% to US$587,000.

BOL also released its results for the six months ended 30^th June. Revenues in the first half were US$6.2 million, a 16% increase compared with the first half of 2012. More than half of the company’s revenues, or US$3.6 million, were generated from its online information services. The remaining revenues were generated from its “other services” and “other income” segments.

The company posted a net income of US$1.1 million in the first half, which was down 19% compared with 2012. BOL’s management reported that diluted earnings per share for the six-month period were Baht 0.04 (US$0.0013).

Made-in-China.com’ revenues rise 12%

News this week: Shenzhen-listed Focus Technology, operator of Made-in-China.com, released its results for the six months ended 30^th June 2013 last week. Revenues were US$41 million, up 12% year-on-year. Profit in the first half was US$10 million, a 6.0% increase compared with the same period last year. Diluted earnings per share during the period were RMB 0.53 (US$0.086).

The majority of Focus Technology’s revenues were generated through the operation of its online sourcing platform Made-in-China.com. Membership fees generated US$19 million or 47% of total revenues, while the company’s “Audited Supplier Services” accounted for US$8.9 million or 22% of total revenues. Its value-added services segment generated 17% of total revenues (US$7.0 million).