12th Aug 2010 13:10
12 August 2010 UBM acquires The Route Development Group for up to £9.3 million Extends UBM Aviation's global events footprint with a business highly complementary to its OAG data platform
United Business Media Limited today announces that it has acquired The Route Development Group Limited (RDG) from its private shareholders on behalf of UBM Aviation for £8 million in cash and a further deferred consideration of up to £ 1.3 million payable over the next two years.
Founded in 1995 by CEO Mike Howarth, RDG operates a global series of must-attend aviation route development and network planning events as well as a supporting consultancy business from its headquarters in Manchester, UK. For the full year 2010 the business is expected to generate revenues in excess of £ 7 million.
RDG's flagship event, Routes - The World Route Development Forum - is an industry-leading, peripatetic, global networking event at which airlines, airports, suppliers and industry observers meet to generate and develop new aviation routes worldwide, as well as manage existing aviation route networks.
Last year's event in Beijing attracted almost 3,000 participants, including representatives from airports worldwide and from 139 major and regional airlines, low cost carriers, cargo lines and tour operator airlines. Now in its 16th year, the 2010 event will take place on 19-21 September in Vancouver, Canada. The Routes events portfolio also includes a series of smaller regional events in the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and CIS regions.
RDG also operates a highly regarded aviation route consultancy business, Airport Strategy & Marketing Ltd (ASM), as well as the www.routesonline.com website which brings together airports and airlines to share information and intelligence such as facilities, traffic statistics, air services, demographics and supporting resources, as well as through Route Exchange, a platform for airports to bid directly for airline capacity.
The acquisition of RDG provides UBM Aviation with a face-to-face networking event to better serve its airline and airport customers whilst also being highly complementary to UBM Aviation's existing OAG data and schedules business. It will help consolidate UBM Aviation's leadership in the global scheduling information market.
Peter von Moltke, Chief Executive Officer, UBM Aviation said:
"We are delighted to have acquired this fantastic business, which includes a genuinely unique mix of assets which will enhance how we serve the airline and airport markets. I am also pleased to welcome their solid base of talented aviation industry experts, whose skills will greatly complement the UBM Aviation team."
"RDG's collective assets, merged with our own, will strengthen our position as the leading global provider of aviation intelligence, events and tradeshows, create a solid foundation for our global aviation consulting business, and contribute to the company's future growth. We look forward to growing the Routes events further by utilizing the global UBM resources."
- Ends - ContactsMedia Peter Bancroft Director of Communications E-mail [email protected] Direct telephone +44 20 7921 5961 Chris Barrie Citigate Dewe Rogerson E-mail [email protected] Direct telephone +44 20 7282 2943 Mobile +44 796 872 72 89 Analysts/Investors Email [email protected] Direct telephone +44 20 7921 5095 Andrew Crow +44 20 7921 5940 Notes to Editors1. UBM
UBM focuses on two principal activities: worldwide information distribution, targeting and monitoring; and, the development and monetisation of B2B communities and markets. UBM's businesses inform markets and serve professional commercial communities - from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewellery traders, from farmers to pharmacists - with integrated events, online, print and business information products. Our 5,900 staff in more than 30 countries are organised into specialist teams that serve these communities, bringing buyers and sellers together, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.
For more information, go to www.ubm.com
2. UBM Aviation
UBM Aviation specialises in the supply of data and information products, market intelligence, news and events related to the global aviation industry. Our assets include the pre-eminent aviation data and analytics provider, OAG, an international program of aviation exhibitions and conferences, as well as market-leading print publications.
For more information, go to www.ubmaviation.com.
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