TechInsights/UBM acquires EDA Ltd and Embedded Systems Show

Just got a note from Paul Miller about the acquisition of EDA Ltd., the nascent Embedded Systems Show in the UK and the only and print components of ESE Magazine.  The news release is below.  
This gives TechInsights a foothold into the embedded industry in Europe that is currently dominated by the Embedded World Conference in Nuremberg, Germany, something UBM has wanted for some time.  While the acquisition is not huge in comparison to some of UBM's other acquisitions it brings an interesting level of competition between conferences in the Old World around technology that is, arguably, dominated by Europe: namely Embedded Design.

And since TechIisights sees a lot of it's future in that industry, this makes a lot of sense.  It also comes without some fairly heavy baggage, i.e the Design Automation and Test Exposition that bounces annually between France and Germany.  

That conference, which has been run by EDA Ltd. has become extremely unprofitable and filled with unhappy exhibitors.  While the conference does very well, the exhibition that provides the funding for much of the event, does not.  It's been shrinking every year as EDA companies struggle on how to promote their industry...and blame everyone else for the problem.  The good news for UBM is the rumor that 2009 is the last year for the conference, and it will be taken over by the folks running Embedded World ... and then folded into Embedded World.  So United Media doesn't have to deal with the recalcitrant EDA community.  There are lot's of embedded companies who like what TechInsights has done with the Embedded Systems Conference series in the US and are looking forward to an expansion in Europe.

United Business Media acquires European electronics industry event for £125,000

Expands TechInsights European portfolio with electronics industry event acquisition

 

United Business Media plc today announces that it has acquired event and publishing assets from EDA Ltd and EDA Exhibitions Ltd on behalf of its TechInsights division (www.techinsights.com).

 

The principal asset is the Embedded Systems Show and its complementary online and print components. The Embedded Systems Show is held annually, the next show being held at the Birmingham NEC on October 1st & 2nd 2008. The acquisition complements TechInsights’ established EE Times Europe print and online presence and will help the business extend its strong US embedded systems franchise to Europe.

 

The ESS conference is the UK’s largest forum for the embedded system design community to share technical knowledge and expertise. Technical sessions cover all of the key topics in system engineering and embedded software development with presentations by leading academics, consultants and professional tutors.

 

As part of the transaction TechInsights will also acquire the MCAD print and online media properties. These products will provide TechInsights with an established position in the mechanical engineering space, positioning it to take advantage of the accelerating convergence of electronic design with the automotive, industrial and consumer electronics industries, as well as providing synergies with the How Machines Work business acquired in 2007.

 

The acquisition is anticipated to meet UBM's 8% post-tax cost of capital acquisition criterion in its first full year of ownership.

 

 

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