In the USA , Emerald acquired EDspaces , the annual tradeshow for educational products from the Education market Association ( EmA ). The Association has been in existence for over 100 years and the show for 25 years . The focus is on the designing , building and equipping of learning environments so it fits into Emerald ’ s portfolio of design shows which include Healthcare Design , HD Expo for the Hospitality Design sector and Environments for Aging . This was actually a deal transacted at the very end of 2020 but announced in 2021 and follows a pattern of US associationowned shows acquired by
“ We are already seeing that longer earnouts are likely to be negotiated as a way of both de-risking the acquisition for the buyer and getting full value for the seller .”
commercial organisers during the pandemic including Emerald ’ s own acquisition of the Atlanta Bakery show earlier in 2020 . Another Association sale , this time in Colombia , where Messe Dusseldorf has teamed up with Colombian organiser and venue operator , Corferias ’ to jointly acquire a share in COLOMBIAPLAST , one of the leading events in Latin America for the plastics , rubber , petrochemical and packaging sectors taking place at Corferia ’ s own centre in Bogota . The Association in question is Acoplasticos ( Asociación Colombiana de Industrias Plásticas ) who will be an equal one-third partner with Corferias and Messe Dusseldorf . Messe Dusseldorf have vast experience in the plastics and rubber sector through their organising of the world leading K Trade Fair . Although this is Dusseldorf ’ s first entry into the sector in South America , they first started a partnership with Corferias in 2017 as partners for Meditech Columbia . 2021 is set to be a fascinating year , kicking off with International Confex scheduled for 22 June , just one day after the date set by the Government for major events , a brilliantly if bravely timed initiative by Mash Media and which should be a big party . We also have the speculation around what RELX might decide to do with their exhibition division as Reed turned a £ 331m profit in 2019 into a loss of £ 164m in 2020 due to Covid . Flashes and Flames opined recently that Informa would be the most logical buyer if such a decision was taken . Then we have the potential of significant non-core asset disposals from those organisers who significantly pared down their staff during the pandemic and to balance this out we have the potential for Private Equity backing of event professionals in new acquisition buy and build strategies . Finally , we have an interesting new model emerging where one well known organiser is finalising plans to help independent organisers who need a leg up because of the pandemic by offering a menu of help including office space , sales and marketing resource , growth consultancy and financial assistance . These are all examples of things that wouldn ’ t have happened without the pandemic , but which show that it hasn ’ t dented our creativity and determination .
March-April — 11