UBM revenues up 9%, profits up 11%

News this week: U.K.-based B2B media group, UBM plc, released its results for the six months ended 30^th June, showing headline revenue growth of 9.1%, from £434 million last year to £474 million. Adjusted group operating profit grew 10.5% from £83 million to £92 million.

Revenues from UBM’s exhibition business grew 27.1% in the first half to £177 million and adjusted operating profit was up 41.8% to £58 million – which the company attributed in part to the acquisition of Canon events last year. Underlying annual revenues are up 13.6% in emerging markets, with particular success in India and China, the latter posting a 17.4% increase in underlying revenues. Emerging markets in total accounted for 30.2% of annual events revenues in the first half of 2011.

UBM completed four acquisitions during the first half for maximum consideration of £21.2 million. UBM also recently concluded the acquisition of U.K.-based organiser of Ecobuild for a cash consideration of £31.2 million and up to an additional £20.0 million of earn out.

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