Conference & Meetings World Issue 99 | Page 10

News FOR ALL THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS, DAILY UPDATES, VISIT: www.c-mw.net SMG and AEG Facilities to merge AEG has announced a merger of its venue management subsidiary AEG Facilities with SMG. The move creates a new standalone global facility management company – ASM Global. SMG is an Onex portfolio company and Onex and AEG’s subsidiary will each own 50% of the new entity, following the completion of the transaction. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. The new diversified portfolio includes arenas, stadiums, convention centres and performing arts centres, with more than 310 venues across five continents. Wes Westley, Chief Executive Officer and President of SMG, said: “This merger is a major step for our industry. We are excited to bring together these complementary businesses to further elevate the standard of excellence in venue management. “We plan to accelerate innovation by combining our expertise to deliver increased value and offer enhanced capabilities to municipalities and venue owners worldwide. EMAIL THE CMW EDITORIAL TEAM WITH ALL YOUR INDUSTRY NEWS: [email protected] “At the same time, we expect that this transaction will offer employees at both our corporate headquarters and field operations tremendous new opportunities.” Bob Newman, current President of AEG Facilities and formerly a Regional Vice-President at SMG, added: “This transaction draws upon the depth of our combined talent and resources to create an organisation that will deliver high value and long-term success, as well as innovative services to our clients around the world.” Confex, EPS and PA Show expand into ExCeL for 2020 Mash Media Managing Director Julian Agostini has announced that the company’s premier exhibitions - International Confex, Event Production Show and PA Show - will move to ExCeL London next year, taking place, 25-26 February 2020. Agostini highlighted that the team at Mash Media has been considering a number of options to further develop and enhance the events that have run at Olympia since 2013, and felt that the facilities and surroundings at ExCeL London would provide the best opportunity to realise the growing ambitions of each of the events. Combined, the three shows deliver the largest gathering of event professionals annually in the UK. The move to ExCeL London will provide the backdrop for the development of UK Events Week, which will bring a dedicated focus for the UK’s 10 / meetings, events and exhibition industries - worth an estimated £43bn (US$55.5bn) annually to the UK economy. Liz Agostini, Event Director, International Confex commented: “We thank the team at Olympia for their support since we brought International Confex into the Mash Media Group back in 2013, but we felt that the opportunity to bring our events to the world-class facility that is ExCeL London would provide the best platform to develop all three events into something more representative of the UK’s creative abilities across the sectors they serve. “One of the crucial aspects of the move is the partnership we can build with the team at ExCeL London, who are committed to working with us in developing the future strategy for International Confex, complementing its own domestic CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / ISSUE 99 and international business development strategy.” An Advisory Board will be set up to ensure International Confex develops and grows in line with changing customer needs. James Rees, Executive Director – Conference & Events, and ICCA President, added: “It is the perfect time for International Confex to move to ExCeL London. In recent years, we have seen exponential growth in our meetings and congress business, and this relocation gives us a fantastic opportunity to work with Mash Media to promote and enhance the UK’s meetings industry.”