Comexposium acquires Euromoney’s wine exhibitions portfolio

Trade show operator Comexposium has bought Adhesion Group S.A and its majority stake in the World Bulk Wine Exhibition.

This year’s World Bulk Wine exhibition will be held in Amsterdam from 20-21 November.

Paris-based Comexposium also bought a further 16% stake of World Bulk Wine Exhibition from Pomona Keepers S.L, bringing its total stake in the event to 90%.

Adhesion Group is a Paris-based exhibitions business which Euromoney has owned for over 20 years.

It’s principal event, Vinisud, is the international trade fair for Mediterranean wines, the world’s leading wine region, and it attracts around 1,650 exhibitors from countries around the Mediterranean.

The World Bulk Wine Exhibition runs in Amsterdam each November and is the number one event for buyers of bulk wine.

The deal also involves three leading events, including World Wine Meetings — which are one-to-one events.

Last year, Comexposium, launched VinoVision Paris, the International Cool Climate Wine Exhibition.

Vinisud and VinoVision’s teams will combine their skills to better address the needs of the wine industry in a series of trade shows next year, including VinoVision Paris from the 12-14 February 2018, and Vinisud in Montepllier, which will run from 18-20 February.

Compexium, which acquired Euromoney’s wine events collection as part of its long-term growth strategy, will use its new portfolio to bring together industry leaders from France’s Northern and Southern wine regions for the upcoming trade events, expanding their overall reach in the wine sector on both a national and global scale.

Christopher Fordham, Euromoney’s Managing Director, Corporate Development, said: “The wine sector is not strategic for Euromoney. We are delighted to have found in Comexposium a new owner which is looking to invest in the sector and to take these businesses to the next stage of their growth.”

Commenting on the transaction, Renaud Hamaide, Chairman of Comexposium, said: “Comexposium is continuing to build businesses in strategically important industry sectors and the acquisition of Adhesion Group and World Bulk Wine Exhibition increases our presence in the wine sector.”

“This move is confirming the group’s ambitions to expand internationally its operations in markets with
further potential for growth.”