B2B Business Media Companies in Asia

Business Strategies Group Ltd. (BSG), Hong Kong (Founder Member of BIIA) has published in May 2007 a report on the leading public b2b media companies in Asia. The following is an executive summary of the information contained in the report. The report is available at a fee from BSG and can be ordered by contacting Candice Siu, Assistant Manager – Research Candice@bsgasia.com

Excerpt of Executive Summary

The BSG report tracks the top Asian B2B media companies that are publicly listed or publish reliable financial figures. In the tables that comprise this report, BSG has published all the information available. BSG will update and complete the profiles as more financial data is published. In 2006, only seven of these 19 companies posted revenues over US$100 million. Pico Far East, which provides marketing, logistical and advertising services to exhibition organizers, is the largest with revenues last year of US$231 million. Pico’s number one position is even more secure if its revenues are combined with the US$34 million from its Thai subsidiary, Pico Thailand. Xinhua Finance, HKTDC, Global Sources and Japan’s Impress Holdings comprise the remainder of the top five.

BSG expects the top five to change significantly in 2007. Three of the companies in the top seven are positioned to expand their revenues considerably this year. Global Sources may complete its acquisition of HC International in June of this year. If that occurs, the company will leap to second place in terms of revenues. Global Sources and HC International had combined revenues of US$194 million in 2006. Additionally, Global Sources’ revenues in 2006 shot up 39.5% on the back of its recent success in exhibitions and that trend could continue this year, albeit less spectacularly. Xinhua Finance which completed its NASDAQ listing earlier in 2007 raised US$200 million which will be used to grow its business. Even without the benefit of that capital, in 2006, Xinhua Finance’s revenues increased by nearly 60%. In seventh place, Baidu’s revenues expanded hugely by 162% last year. If Baidu posts similar growth figures in 2007, it will be a contender for the first or second position. Finally, if Alibaba proceeds with an IPO for its B2B business unit later this year, it will likely immediately enter BSG top 5.

It is worth noting the small scale of some of these companies. Seven of the top 19 posted revenues of less than US$20 million and five of those seven registered a drop in revenues in 2006. Overall, nine of the 20 companies posted a decrease in revenues. Sun Business Network’s revenue recorded the largest drop falling 45% in 2006. Closely behind was Cybermedia which posted a 44% decrease in revenues in 2006. NASDAQ-listed Ninetowns had the third worst performance as their revenues fell 36%.