dmg events acquires EMS PTY South Africa

One of the world’s leading event companies, dmg events, has announced the acquisition of Exhibition Management Services PTY Ltd (EMS) – headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. dmg events, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Daily Mail & General Trust plc (DMGT, www.dmgt.com), an international portfolio of digital, information, media and events businesses. Geoff Dickinson, CEO, dmg events, said: “This acquisition is part of our strategy to become key event players in Africa. EMS offers a strategic hub in Africa’s largest economy.” EMS adds five shows to the existing portfolio of dmg events:

• SAITEX – A non-food retail products exhibition
• Africa’s Big Seven (AB7) – The continent’s biggest food and beverage trade expo
• WAMPEX – Mining, machinery and technology, Ghana
• INDUTEC – Industrial design and manufacturing expo
• CIS – An industry showcase in Cape Town, covering the oil & gas sector, temperature controlled storages, and small business sector

dmg events now operates 12 events across the continent, including construction and interiors in Morocco, oil and gas in Egypt, construction and coatings in Kenya, and the Global African Investment Summit that takes place in London, UK and Kigali, Rwanda. The new Johannesburg-based company will be called dmg EMS Africa, reporting to dmg events’ Middle East, Asia and Africa division that operates some of the largest exhibitions in the region. These include The Big 5 series of construction events, INDEX – the interiors event in Dubai, and The Hotel Show – the Middle East’s biggest Hotel and Hospitality event. Matt Denton, President of dmg events – Middle East, Asia & Africa, said: “The team and I are excited about the events and opportunities that this acquisition opens to us in Africa. It is clear that we can build significantly on the existing EMS events and we already have plans to grow the business with fresh launches supported from our new Johannesburg hub.”   John Thompson, who formed EMS in South Africa in 1981, said: “Having launched and developed these events over the last 35 years, we feel they are a tremendous fit with dmg events, which is in an excellent position to take forward and develop these and other events in the region.”