UBM plc

The history of the companies that made up UBM stretches back almost two hundred years. Up until its acquisition UBM businesses published many titles that were launched in the 19th century, including Building magazine, launched in 1843 by Joseph Hansom, as well as Chemist & Druggist.{{cite web|url=http://www.ubm.com/ubm/aboutus/ubmhistory/|title=UBM History|access-date=25 August 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715235750/http://www.ubm.com/ubm/aboutus/ubmhistory/|archive-date=15 July 2010|df=dmy-all}}

The company was founded in 1918 as United Newspapers{{cite web|url=http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com/ubm/aboutus/ubmhistory/|title=UBM|website=www.unitedbusinessmedia.com|access-date=25 August 2017|archive-date=23 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023205840/http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com/ubm/aboutus/ubmhistory/|url-status=dead}} by David Lloyd George to acquire the Daily Chronicle and Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper. In 1929, the company merged with Provincial Newspapers, an owner of regional papers in the north; the next year, it sold its national papers.{{cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/united-business-media-plc-history/|title=United Business Media plc History|access-date=24 October 2012|publisher=Funding Universe}} The company continued for decades as a regional newspaper publisher, making acquisitions such as Yorkshire Post Newspapers in 1969.

It acquired PR Newswire in 1982. In 1985, it bought Express Newspapers and continued to publish the Daily Express for some 15 years. Also in 1985, it bought US trade magazine and book publisher Miller Freeman.Staff (29 March 1985) "UK Company News: U.S. generates 68% of United News profit" Financial Times, London, Section II p. 24; It changed its name to United News & Media in 1995, sold its regional papers in 1998, and bought CMP Media, a technology-focused trade media company, in 1999 for $920 million. In 2000, it sold the Daily Express to Richard Desmond, sold most of Miller Freeman to VNU and Reed Elsevier and adopted the name of United Business Media.{{Cite web| title = VNU Acquires Miller Freeman From United News & Media. |via=Free Online Library |date=31 July 2000 |work=Business Publisher | access-date =21 April 2018| url = https://www.thefreelibrary.com/VNU+ACQUIRES+MILLER+FREEMAN+FROM+UNITED+NEWS+%26+MEDIA.-a064990238}}{{Cite web| last = Teather| first = David| title = United News sells off Miller Freeman Europe| work = The Guardian| access-date =21 April 2018| date =26 July 2000| url = https://www.theguardian.com/business/2000/jul/26/7}} United Business Media acquired the trade publisher Aprovia UK (owner of The Builder) in 2003 and the medical publishing company MediMedia in 2004.{{Cite news| issn = 0307-1235| last = Jay| first = Adam| title = UBM buys Aprovia for £79m cash| access-date =28 April 2018| date =21 July 2003| url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2858393/UBM-buys-Aprovia-for-79m-cash.html}}{{Cite web| title = UBM buys medical publisher MediMedia in £188m deal| work = The Independent| access-date =28 April 2018| date =2 June 2004| url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/ubm-buys-medical-publisher-medimedia-in-acircpound188m-deal-730768.html}}

MAI was part of a consortium that bid for the ITV south and south east area, which formed Meridian Broadcasting in 1991. MAI began to expand following the successful launch of Meridian: in 1994 the company bought Anglia Television, the ITV franchise for the east of England,{{cite news|last=John|first=Murray|title=Heseltine clears way for Anglia TV bid|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/heseltine-clears-way-for-anglia-tv-bid-1395076.html|access-date=27 March 2012|location=London|newspaper=The Independent|date=19 February 1994|archive-date=22 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422034220/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/heseltine-clears-way-for-anglia-tv-bid-1395076.html|url-status=dead}} and the following year became a major shareholder in the consortium that won the franchise for Channel 5.{{cite web|title=Key dates in the history of commercial TV|url=http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/itc/uk_television_sector/overview/key_dates.asp.html|work=An Overview of Television in the UK|publisher=Ofcom|access-date=27 March 2012}} In 1996, MAI merged with United Newspapers (via an agreed takeover by United) to form United News & Media (UNM). The resulting company owned the Daily Express newspaper, Meridian, Anglia, and a large shareholding (through the Yorkshire Post) in Yorkshire Tyne Tees Television, the owners of Yorkshire Television and Tyne Tees Television.{{cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/27568&EDATE= |title=PRNewsWire |publisher=PRNewsWire |access-date=27 January 2011}} The stake in Yorkshire Tyne Tees Television was sold to Granada, allowing them to take control of the two franchises in 1997. In November 1997 UBM also launched the now defunct satellite TV Channel Rapture TV which focussed on dance music and extreme sports. The channel was put up for sale in 2001, and was eventually brought by Edinburgh-based company Power TV a year later, in April 2002.{{cite web|url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0023/82508/rapture_sky_final.pdf|title=Determination to resolve a dispute between Rapture Television plc and British Sky Broadcasting Ltd about EPG listing charges|page=7|publisher=Ofcom|access-date=11 November 2018}}

United News and Media later agreed to buy Scottish Television's 20% stake in HTV{{cite news|last=Mathew|first=Horsman|title=Hollick secures a stake in HTV as fight for franchises hots up|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/hollick-secures-a-stake-in-htv-as-fight-for-franchises-hots-up-1359962.html|access-date=27 March 2012|newspaper=The Independent|date=25 October 1996|archive-date=22 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422034057/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/hollick-secures-a-stake-in-htv-as-fight-for-franchises-hots-up-1359962.html|url-status=dead}} and on 28 June 1997, HTV was taken over fully by UNM for £370 million.{{cite news|last=Newman|first=Cathy|title=HTV succumbs to United News in pounds 370m takeover bid|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/htv-succumbs-to-united-news-in-pounds-370m-takeover-bid-1258407.html|access-date=27 March 2012|newspaper=The Independent|date=28 June 1997|archive-date=22 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422034745/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/htv-succumbs-to-united-news-in-pounds-370m-takeover-bid-1258407.html|url-status=dead}}

In 1999, plans emerged of a merger between UNM and rival Carlton,{{cite news|title=ITV: 20 years of ups and downs|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/8136696/ITV-20-years-of-ups-and-downs.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/8136696/ITV-20-years-of-ups-and-downs.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=27 March 2012|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=16 November 2010}}{{cbignore}} however these talks failed when it appeared that Meridian would have to be sold off as a condition of the deal.{{cite news|last=Billings|first=Claire|title=United and Carlton call off merger|url=http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/129464/United-Carlton-call-off-merger/|access-date=27 March 2012|newspaper=Media Week|date=21 July 2000}}{{cite news|title=Timeline: ITV 1955-today|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/oct/07/citynews.ITV|access-date=27 March 2012|newspaper=Media Guardian|date=7 October 2003}} As a result, the television assets of UNM were sold to Granada, however due to regulations stating that the company could not control that large an audience share, the broadcasting arm of HTV was sold to Carlton in exchange for Central's 20% stake in Meridian.{{cite news|title=United News sharpens focus|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/865609.stm|access-date=27 March 2012|newspaper=BBC News|date=4 August 2000}}{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.itvplc.com/about/history|publisher=ITV plc|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-date=19 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319194544/http://www.itvplc.com/about/history|url-status=dead}}

In 2005 UBM re-focused on two principal businesses: PR Newswire, a global news distribution business; and CMP, an international events, print and online publishing business. It disposed of NOP which was acquired by GfK for £383 million in 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.prweek.com/uk/news/510285/UBM-sells-NOP-World-383m/|title=UBM sells NOP World for £383m|access-date=25 August 2017}} In September 2006, NewBay Media acquired CMP Entertainment Media from United Business Media.[http://www.jegi.com/United-Business-Media-Sold%20CMP-to-Wicks-Group UBM Has Sold CMP Entertainment Media to The Wicks Group] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717030714/http://www.jegi.com/United-Business-Media-Sold%20CMP-to-Wicks-Group |date=17 July 2011 }}, The Jordan, Edmiston Group, 13 September 2006 (retrieved 19 September 2010) The trade book operations of CMP were sold to Elsevier and Hal Leonard.{{Cite web| title = Elsevier Extends Content Offering to Entertainment Technology Professionals| access-date = 2018-04-21| url = https://www.elsevier.com/about/press-releases/science-and-technology/elsevier-extends-content-offering-to-entertainment-technology-professionals}}{{Cite web| title = Hal Leonard buys Backbeat Books for $2.2M - Milwaukee| work = Milwaukee Business Journal| access-date = 2018-04-21| url = https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2006/11/20/daily7.html}} It went on to acquire Commonwealth Business Media for $152 million in 2006.{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5606/is_/ai_n23601355|title=FindArticles.com - CBSi|website=findarticles.com|access-date=25 August 2017}} On 1 July 2008, as part of a reorganisation of the corporate structure of the Group, United Business Media Limited (UBML) was created as a new holding company and parent company of the Group. UBML is UK-listed and incorporated in Jersey.Annual report of UBML 2008/9 page 62. In 2010 the principal holding company of the United Business Media group (the "Group") was organised into five operating segments:Notes to the parent company financial statements at 31 December 2010 P146. Events, TD & M, Data Services, Online and Print.Notes to the consolidated Financial statements 3 P88.

In 2008, UBM moved its tax headquarters to Ireland, but in 2012, the company announced its intent to move its tax base back to the United Kingdom.[https://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/oct/18/ubm-plan-move-tax-base-uk "UBM plans to move tax base back to UK"], The Guardian, 18 October 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2013.

In September 2010, Canon Communications announced that it had agreed to be acquired by UBM.{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/canon-communications-to-be-sold-to-united-business-media-transaction-expands-global-reach-of-canons-advanced-manufacturing-and-design-focus-103029489.html|title=Canon Communications to be Sold to United Business Media; Transaction Expands Global Reach... -- LOS ANGELES, Sept. 16 /PRNewswire/ --|author=Canon Communications LLC|date=16 September 2010|work=prnewswire.com|access-date=3 April 2015}} In May 2011, United Business Media officially changed its name to UBM plc.{{cite web|url=http://www.ubm.com/ubm/media/releases/2011/2011-05-11/|title=United Business Media name change to UBM plc|access-date=25 August 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514175558/http://www.ubm.com/ubm/media/releases/2011/2011-05-11|archive-date=14 May 2011|df=dmy-all}} In February 2012 Yankee Group sold its annual 4G World telecoms and wireless trade show{{cite web |author=Mash Media Group Ltd |url=http://www.exhibitionworld.co.uk/newsdetails/1876/ubm-acquires-4g-world-exhibition-and-conference |title=UBM acquires 4G World exhibition and conference |publisher=Exhibition World |access-date=30 March 2013 |archive-date=12 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612040321/http://www.exhibitionworld.co.uk/newsdetails/1876/ubm-acquires-4g-world-exhibition-and-conference |url-status=dead }} to UBM plc{{cite web |url=http://media.ubm.com/index.php?s=18069&item=121168 |title=UBM - News releases |publisher=Media.ubm.com |access-date=30 March 2013 |archive-date=19 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119050247/http://media.ubm.com/index.php?s=18069&item=121168 |url-status=dead }} where it was incorporated into its UBM Tech division.{{cite web|url=http://tech.ubm.com/ |title=UBM Tech |publisher=tech.ubm.com |date=31 January 2013 |access-date=30 March 2013}}

Briefing Media{{cite web |url=http://www.briefingmedia.com/ |title=Briefing Media |publisher=Briefingmedia.com |access-date=30 March 2013 |archive-date=30 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830061324/https://www.briefingmedia.com/ |url-status=dead }} acquired UBM plc's UK agriculture and medical general practitioner portfolios for £10 million in February 2012{{cite web |url=http://media.ubm.com/index.php?s=18069&item=121086 |title=UBM - News releases |publisher=Media.ubm.com |access-date=30 March 2013 |archive-date=19 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119050317/http://media.ubm.com/index.php?s=18069&item=121086 |url-status=dead }} while UBM plc announced the acquisition of four trade shows in Asia for 19.4 million in the same month, marking UBM plc's continuing transformation into an events and B2B marketing services company.{{cite web |url=http://media.ubm.com/index.php?s=18069&item=122686 |title=UBM - News releases |publisher=Media.ubm.com |access-date=30 March 2013 |archive-date=19 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119050217/http://media.ubm.com/index.php?s=18069&item=122686 |url-status=dead }} In 2012, PA Group, the parent company of the Press Association, sold its 50% stake in Canada Newswire to joint venture partner UBM for £30.1 million.[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/nov/01/pa-group-canada-newswire-ubm "PA Group sells stake in Canada Newswire to UBM for £30.1m"], The Guardian, 1 November 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2013. In April 2013, UBM's data services businesses were sold to Electra Partners.Electra. [http://www.electrapartners.com/Media-Centre/?itemid=MTIwNjEzMDUwNDU2MDE= "Electra Partners acquires UBM plc's Data Services businesses"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724050137/http://www.electrapartners.com/Media-Centre/?itemid=MTIwNjEzMDUwNDU2MDE= |date=24 July 2013 }},

In October 2014, UBM announced it would acquire Advanstar Communications for a fee of $972 million.{{cite press release| publisher=Reuters| date=1 October 2014| title=Events organizer UBM buys U.S. rival Advanstar for $972 million| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-advanstar-m-a-ubm-idUSKCN0HQ34Z20141001| access-date=2 July 2017| archive-date=5 October 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005085924/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/01/us-advanstar-m-a-ubm-idUSKCN0HQ34Z20141001| url-status=live}} In November 2014 UBM plc CEO, Tim Cobbold, announced a new Events First strategy{{cite web |url=http://media.ubm.com/news?item=136831 |title=News | UBM |publisher=Media.ubm.com |access-date=28 April 2017 |archive-date=20 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220064642/http://media.ubm.com/news?item=136831 |url-status=dead }} By 2015, UBM had rebranded itself as primarily focused on B2B events. Reflecting this, 82 percent of its business in 2016 derived from events and only 18 percent from other marketing services.{{cite web|url=http://www.ubm.com/about-ubm/ubm-business-segments|title=Who We Are - UBM|website=www.ubm.com|access-date=25 August 2017}} In December 2015, UBM announced the sale of PR Newswire to Cision for $841 million, subject to regulatory approval. UBM had owned the company since 1982. Some analysts interpreted this as a further step in the transition from a diverse media company to a B2B events company.Rory Gallivan, "UBM to Sell PR Newswire to Cision for $841 Million" WSJ 15 December 2016 In June 2016 UBM plc announced the completion of the sale of PR Newswire to Cision.{{cite web|url=http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail/UBM/12623231.html |title=UBM plc announces the sale of PR Newswire to Cision - RNS |publisher=London Stock Exchange |access-date=28 April 2017}} In the same month UBM reached agreement to divest its electronics media portfolio to an affiliate of Arrow Electronics Inc. for a cash consideration of $23.5m. The portfolio comprised the US and Asian versions of EE Times, EDN, ESM, Embedded, EBN, TechOnline and Datasheets.com.{{cite web |url=http://media.ubm.com/news?item=136880 |title=News | UBM |publisher=Media.ubm.com |access-date=28 April 2017 |archive-date=20 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220064638/http://media.ubm.com/news?item=136880 |url-status=dead }}

In January 2018 Informa announced the acquisition of the company for £4 billion.{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/e22e79fe-fb96-11e7-a492-2c9be7f3120a |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211/https://www.ft.com/content/e22e79fe-fb96-11e7-a492-2c9be7f3120a |archive-date=11 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|title=Informa to buy exhibitions rival UBM for £4bn|newspaper=Financial Times |date=16 January 2018|access-date=1 June 2018 |last1=Garrahan |first1=Matthew |last2=Pfeifer |first2=Sylvia }} The transaction was completed in June 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/alliance-news/detail/1529077402234106100.html|title=Informa's takeover of peer UBM effective after court sanction|publisher=Alliance News|date=15 June 2018|access-date=16 June 2018}} In January 2019, Informa sold several of the UBM Life Sciences publications (including Spectroscopy and Psychiatric Times) to MJH Associates.{{Cite web| title = MJH Associates, Inc. Acquires Assets from UBM Life Sciences Group Becoming the Largest Privately Held Medical Media Company in the United States| work = AP NEWS| access-date = 2019-05-04| date = 2019-01-31| url = https://apnews.com/BusinessWire/d58d9753577a4263b043fc73fdf9b3dc}}

UBM was a global B2B events organizer.{{cite web|url=http://ubm.com/about-ubm/ubm-overview.aspx|title=UBM|work=ubm.com|access-date=4 April 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027123201/http://www.ubm.com/about-ubm/ubm-overview.aspx|archive-date=27 October 2014|df=dmy-all}} Its businesses included UBM Asia, UBM EMEA and UBM Americas. It was also a shareholder of ITN and Press Association. UBM's brands included:

Conferences

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• 4G World
• Black Hat Briefings
• DesignCon
• Game Developers Conference
• IFSEC International
• International Motorcycle Shows
• Interop
• MAGIC
• National Business Awards

{{div col end}}

Journals (published by Technology Group)

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• Black Hat
• Content Marketing Institute
• Content Marketing World
• Dark Reading
• Enterprise Connect
• Fusion
• GDC
• Gamasutra
• HDI
• ICMI
• InformationWeek
• Interop ITX
• Network Computing
• No Jitter
• VRDC

{{div col end}}

Other

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• Medical Devices & Diagnostics Industry
• Packaging Digest
• PlasticsToday
• Qmed
• Routes
• Security & Fire Excellence Awards

{{div col end}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/*/www.ubm.com Official website] (Archive)
• {{cite web |title=United Business Media plc (unitedbusinessmedia.com) |url=http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com/ |website=United Business Media |publisher=United Business Media plc |access-date=20 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040710000807/http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com/ |archive-date=10 July 2004}}
• {{cite web |title=UBM Tech (tech.ubm.com) |url=http://tech.ubm.com/ |website=United Business Media Limited |access-date=20 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103140154/http://tech.ubm.com/ |archive-date=3 November 2012}}
• {{cite web |title=Welcome to United Business Media Limited (www.ubm.com) |url=http://www.ubm.com/ |website=United Business Media Limited |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216153252/http://www.ubm.com/ |archive-date=16 December 2008 |date=16 December 2008}}

{{Media in the United Kingdom|comporg}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Companies based in the London Borough of Southwark

Category:1918 establishments in England

Category:British companies established in 1918

Category:Mass media companies established in 1918

Category:2018 mergers and acquisitions

Category:Tax inversions