United Business Media & CMP acquire incoming calls management institute; UBM first half results

Business Publisher, July 31, 2005

CMP Media (Manhasset, NY), a division of United Business Media (UBM; London), has acquired Incoming Calls Management Institute (ICMI; Annapolis, MD) for $3.75 million. In 2004, ICMI generated revenue of $4.1 million and EBITDA of $600,000. The deal also includes a potential maximum earn-out of up to $7.5 million over several years, subject to performance criteria.

ICMI's mission is to advance the call center profession by promoting managerial excellence to call center management professionals. ICMI's events and marketing products include training and customized educational services, including handbooks, web sites, software, management reviews, forums, seminars and conferences. The company also publishes "Call Center Magazine" and "Call Center Focus Magazine." Its global partnership arrangements include activities in Argentina, Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, Spain and the UAE.

CMP Applied Technologies Group vice president Philip Chapnick said "there is not another organization in the world that can provide such a rich suite of information products and resources to support call center industry professionals in enhancing their value to their companies and improving the customer contact experience." CMP has no related titles.

In related news, UBM had 2005 first-half revenues of 336.6 million pounds, an increase of 19.7 over the 281.1 million pounds reported in the first half of 2004. Net income rose 103.1%, going from 3.2 million pounds last year to 6.5 million this year. Operating income rose 40.2% to 71.4 million pounds from 50.7 million in the period last year. Excluding revenue and operating profit from the recently acquired CMP Medica division, UBM revenue rose 1.2% and operating profit increased 16.5%.

Revenue for CMP fell 6.1%, going from 110.6 million in 2004 pounds to 103.9 million this year, with operating profit declining 9.8%, going from 14.3 million pounds in 2004 to 12.9 million this year. CMP Asia, CMPi (Europe) and PR Newswire all showed increases in both revenue and operating profit.