March 4th, 2021 – GL events Group and Nexus Point Capital (“Nexus Point”) announced the closing of a strategic investment and partnership agreement. GL events Group and Nexus Point will invest collectively RMB 2 billion of growth capital in GL events Group’ China operations (“GL events China”) to further develop its exhibition business in China. Both parties will leverage their respective resources and strengths, and collaborate in key areas such as business innovation, industry consolidation, strategic investments and capital markets to support GL events China in its next phase of growth.
（from left to right：Mr. Min Li, Partner, Nexus Point ； Mrs. Inès GINON, Co-President of GL events China & Vice-President of GL events Shanghai ； Mr. Jor Zhou, CEO, GL events China）
Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Lyon, France, GL events Group is a listed company on Euronext Paris. It has three strategic business divisions: GL events Live (event services), GL events Exhibitions (exhibition organizing), and GL events Venues (venue management). Through a wide network of over 90 global offices, GL events Group organizes over 200 proprietary exhibitions every year, provides services to over 3,700 events, manages a network of 50 venues (convention and exhibition centers, concert halls and multi-purpose facilities), and is a driving force behind the development of 27 international exhibition destinations. With a revenue of EUR 1.173 billion in 2019, GL events Group is one of the leading players in the global events industry. Mr. Olivier Ginon, Founder and Chairman of GL events Group, said, "GL events Group regards China as a key strategic priority of the global exhibition industry value chain and attaches great importance to the development of our business in the China market. The exhibition industry is key to restarting economic growth. After experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, China’s economy has recovered rapidly, and so has the exhibition industry. The Group has always maintained strong confidence in the development of the China market and we believe that this strategic partnership with Nexus Point will accelerate the business expansion and development of GL events China."
Since 2018, GL events Group has continuously increased its investment in China business development and has established a national network comprising operations in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Qingdao, Nanning, Hong Kong and Macau. GL events China is committed to assisting local economies to build sustainable exhibition ecosystems and enhance their attractiveness in terms of economic development, trade, culture and sports. GL events China currently operates 11 entities with more than 600 employees across 15 cities in China. Every year, GL events China organizes more than 900,000 sqm in exhibition space, serves more than 25 sports activities and events, manages an international convention center, and provides services to 6 exhibition centers. “We are delighted to partner with Nexus Point! This strategic investment and partnership reflects the shareholders’ endorsement and recognition of the development plan of GL events China and its management team. It also demonstrates confidence of both GL events Group and Nexus Point in the long-term development potential of the exhibition industry in China,” said Mr. Jor Zhou, CEO of GL events China.
Nexus Point is a prominent private equity fund with a focus on investment opportunities in Greater China. Nexus Point invests in companies where it can add significant strategic and operational value and works closely with founders and management teams to deliver superior long-term growth and returns. Mr. Kuo Chuan Kung, Managing Partner of Nexus Point, commented, “Nexus Point focuses on industry sectors that benefit from rising domestic consumption in China, including Business Services, Healthcare, Consumer and Education. The exhibition industry is a subsector of Business Services that has been identified since Nexus Point was founded.” Mr. Min Li, Partner of Nexus Point, added, “Nexus Point has strong confidence in the China exhibition industry, especially in the context of China’s “dual circulation” strategy, the new national economic growth model in which “domestic circulation” plays dominant role. The exhibition industry underpins green development path and plays a critical role to serve the real economy in China. GL events China has a unique integrated business model across the full exhibition industry value chain, access to global resources and capabilities, existing strategic footprint in China and remarkable local management team, all of which are key success factors to creating superior value for its clients and stakeholders, highly consistent with Nexus Point’s investment philosophy of active value creation.”
Through this strategic investment and partnership between GL events Group and Nexus Point, GL events China will continue to develop and enhance its operational and innovation capabilities, grow its network and footprint in the China’s exhibition industry, and create sustainable value for our partners, customers and all stakeholders.
GL events Group：
Investor Relations:
Sylvain BECHET
Tel: +33 (0)4 72 31 54 20
infos.finance@gl-events.com
Press Relations:
Nathalie IANNETTA
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 31 54 44
Nathalie.iannetta@gl-events.com
Corporate Marketing (China)：
Jane Shi
Tel: +86 21 5255 8288转8135
jane.shi@gl-events.com
Nexus Point Capital：
Managing Director | Chief Financial Officer
Raman Yiu
Tel: +852 3891 0938
