Quick takes

HKTDC forecasts a 2% decline in HK exports in 2020

The protests and political unrest begin to bite hard in Hong Kong. This decline follows an 8.6% decline in Q4 compared to Q3 2019.

India’s PayTM raises US$660 million from Softbank and Alibaba

This comes only one month after PayTM raised US$1 billion (billion, not million!) from Alibaba’s Ant Financial and T. Rowe Price Associates. The company's valuation is now at least US$16 billion.

Good summary of some of Q4 exhibition M&A activity

TSNN provides a summary of recent deals involving Questex, AZTQ, Tarsus and a few others.

Alibaba opens research centre in Shanghai

The Alibaba Shanghai R&D Center (also questionably known as “Zhangjiang AIsland”) officially opened this week. The centre’s work will focus on cloud computing and integrated circuits.

Alibaba and Tencent focus on India

At the risk of too much Alibaba this week, we include this article, which is a good take from Quartz on Alibaba’s and Tencent’s incredible appetite for investment.

Share price movement in B2B media companies involved in Asia

Figure 1: BSG B2B Media Index vs. All Tracked B2B Stocks (price movement over past 12 months)

Figure 2: BSG B2B Media Index vs. All Tracked B2B Stocks (price movement since January 2019)

Quick takes

A longish take on Why Trade Shows Still Matter

A thoughtful and reasonably optimistic take on the future of face-to-face business events.

A short take on Hong Kong at the CIIE

A happily optimistic take on Hong Kong’s reception at Xi Jinping’s pet project, the China International Import Expo.

Three (non-Asian) acquisitions announced

Tarsus acquired U.K.-based Smarter Shows, an organiser of exhibitions and conference focused on aerospace, automotive and manufacturing. Questex acquired several events and digital brands from Informa which appears to be doing a bit of house cleaning. And finally, EasyFairs bought 100% of a German organiser which focuses on industrial automation.

A busy week for Alibaba’s Joe Tsai

This week, Alibaba’s long-time #2 stepped down from the board of an electric vehicle firm and with some loose change, he bought a US$10 million stake in an e-sports team valuing the team at US$100 million

Singapore Toy, Game & Comic rebranded as Comic Con

Singapore, 11th December: This week the 12th edition of Singapore Comic Con was held at Marina Bay Sands running for two days on 7th and 8th December. The event was previously known as the Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention or STGCC. Organised by Reed Exhibitions, the event was rebranded in early 2019. This year, Singapore Comic Con reportedly attracted over 55,000 visitors.

Softbank make sell its stake in Alibaba

Tokyo, 10th December: Bloomberg has published an article reporting that Masayoshi Son, founder of the Softbank Group, may sell its stake in Alibaba. Softbank was one of the early and large investors in Alibaba in early 2000.

“Son is likely to sell Alibaba stock to help pay for another buyback in an attempt to bolster SoftBank shares, according to Jefferies Group analyst Atul Goyal. It’s a surprise the Japanese technology giant’s shares are “languishing” despite its large stake in Alibaba, Goyal wrote in a note.”

Wolfram Diener named CEO of Messe Düsseldorf

Düsseldorf, 4th December: After a meeting of shareholders on 4th December, Messe Düsseldorf has announced that the company has appointed Wolfram Diener as the new President & Chief Executive Officer.

In his new position, Wolfram Diener succeeds Werner M. Dornscheidt who will retire at the end of June 2020 after almost 17 years leading the company. Diener will officially begin as CEO on 1st July 2020.

Share price movement in B2B media companies involved in Asia

Figure 1: BSG B2B Media Index vs. All Tracked B2B Stocks (price movement over past 12 months)

Figure 2: BSG B2B Media Index vs. All Tracked B2B Stocks (price movement since January 2019)

Share price movement in B2B media companies involved in Asia

Figure 1: BSG B2B Media Index vs. All Tracked B2B Stocks (price movement over past 12 months)

Figure 2: BSG B2B Media Index vs. All Tracked B2B Stocks (price movement since January 2019)

Cosmoprof held during most turbulent week of protests in Hong Kong

Hong Kong, 27th November: Earlier this month, Informa Markets, the world’s largest international exhibition organiser, organised the 24th edition of Cosmoprof Asia in Hong Kong. The four-day beauty trade event ran from 12th to 15th November at two venues - both HKCEC and AsiaWorld-Expo.

The exhibition featured nearly 3,000 exhibitors from 48 countries and regions and covered an exhibition area of 118,900 m2 across the two venues. The number of visitors was not released, but given that figure will be substantially down compared to 2018 due to the protests in Hong Kong. Cosmoprof was held during a week of frequent violent clashes between protesters and police along with road closures and regular disruption to transportation systems.

Alibaba shares rise 6% in Hong Kong debut

Hong Kong, 26th November: Alibaba’s shares began trading in Hong Kong this week. The Chinese e-commerce giant is already listed in the U.S. In its secondary listing in Hong Kong, the company raised approximately US$11.3 billion in one of the most anticipated IPOs of the year.

Alibaba could increase the capital raised to as high as US$12.9 billion if the company exercises an “over-allotment option” within the next 30 days. Alibaba said it would use the capital from the IPO to increase its investment in its online delivery and local services platform Ele.me and in its online travel group Fliggy as well as its investment in Youku, a leading online video platforms in China.

Informa to launch in Indian healthcare event in 2020

New Delhi, 27th November: Informa Markets, the world’s largest international exhibition organiser, has announced plans to launch the India Health Exhibition running from 14th to 16th April 2020.

The three-day exhibition will be held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi and it will feature over 300 international and local exhibitors from a wide range of categories including disposables and consumables, high-tech imaging and diagnostic equipment. Informa Markets expects to attract over 4,000 trade visitors including hospital directors, doctors, medical practitioners, government policymakers, medical laboratory technicians, distributors and traders.

CCID’s revenues up 33% in first nine months

Beijing, 8th November: Recently, CCID Consulting, an IT research and information service provider based in China and listed in Hong Kong, released its financial results for the nine months ended 30th September 2019. Revenues for the period were US$19 million. This represents a 33% year-on-year increase. Net profits in the first nine months of the year grew 25% reaching US$3.1 million. Earnings per share in the period were RMB 0.0316 (US$0.0044).

The Beijing-based company attributed the increases in revenues and profits to growth in new business areas, progress in its digital transformation initiative, and improvements in the branding and positioning of its consultancy services.

New child-focused event to be launched in Bangalore

India, 12th November: Positioned as the largest international trade fair in India for toys, children’s products and sports goods, Kids India will be launched next year. Running from 16th to 17th April 2020, the new show will take place at the Manpho Exhibition Centre in Bangalore.

Organised by Spielwarenmesse India Pvt. Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Spielwarenmesse, the show will target professional buyers based in southern India. According to the organiser, the new show aims to provide a platform for buyers in southern India to meet manufacturers from the Indian toy and sports industries.

1,600+ exhibitors to join CPhI & P-MEC India Expo

Delhi, 19th November: Informa Markets, the world’s largest international exhibition organiser, will open the 13th edition of its CPhI & P-MEC India Expo later this month. More than 1,600 exhibitors from 16 countries will showcase products and services at the three-day show running from 26th to 28th November at India Expo Mart – Greater Nodia.

Launched in 2006, CPhI & P-MEC India Expo has become a leading pharma event in South Asia. According to the organiser, the show will cover the entire pharma value chain from drug discovery to “finished dosage.”

778 exhibitors at BAU China in Shanghai

Shanghai, 11th November: The recent edition of BAU China, one of the leading construction industry events in Asia, attracted a total of 778 exhibitors from 20 countries, representing an increase of 19% compared with the previous edition. The event is organised by Messe München.

BAU China was held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) and the show ran from 5th to 8th November. More than 61,000 visitors from 78 countries attended the show – that figure represents visitor growth of 17% compared to the previous edition. The key international visitor countries were Korea, Japan and Thailand.

Alibaba to launch IPO in Hong Kong

Hangzhou, 15th November: Last week, the leading e-commerce company in China, the Alibaba Group, announced plans for a second initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong. The IPO includes a global offering of 500,000,000 new ordinary shares through the listing of its ordinary shares on the main board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (HKSE).

On 20th November, Alibaba announced the IPO price will beHK$176 per share. The shares are expected to begin trading on the main board of the HKSE on 26th November under the stock code“9988.” The IPO is expected to raise about HK$88 billion (US$11.2 billion).