UBM, dvm360 parent company, joins global events and info group Informa

Informa PLC, an international exhibitions, events, intelligence and academic publishing group, recently announced that it has finalized acquisition of UBM plc, the parent company of dvm360 and its associated veterinary events and media brands, including dvm360.com, the Fetch dvm360 conferences, and dvm360, Vetted and Firstline magazines. 

Christie McFall“It's an exciting time and a positive development for the Animal Care group, including the dvm360 and Fetch brands,” says Christie McFall, dvm360's vice president and general manager. “Being part of a larger global group means we can explore new opportunities for development as well as continue to invest in our service to the animal care profession.”

McFall emphasizes that there's no change to dvm360 or UBM Animal Care today. “It's business as usual for us, but we're enthusiastic about the new possibilities we can bring to customers in the future by having greater international reach and a broader portfolio of information services brands, products and channels,” she says. “And as part of a larger group, we can continue to invest in our business and customer experiences.” 

UBM and Informa's combined target audiences span a wide range of industries, including life sciences, technology, health and nutrition, maritime, fashion, construction, real estate and more. Products and services include business-to-business (B2B) exhibitions and events; data-, intelligence- and research-based products; marketing and consulting services; and other offerings that enable businesses and professionals to connect in person and digitally, to learn, to do business and to gain a competitive edge, according to company materials. 

The combination of UBM and Informa brings together more than 500 exhibition brands, 800 conferences, 200 intelligence and information brands, and 11,000 employees working in more than 30 countries. 

Stephen A. Carter, Informa group chief executive, was also upbeat about the development. “Today marks the start of an exciting chapter for Informa as we combine our company with UBM to create a truly international B2B information services business,” he said in an Informa announcement. “The new Informa Group will combine international scale, depth and breadth and a broad range of specialist B2B capabilities to provide more options for customers, greater opportunities for colleagues and the potential to create significant value for shareholders.”