9th October 2007

International event services company, Staging Connections Group Limited (SCGL), has increased its stake in its successful investments in China and South East Asia as follows:

• ETG Staging Connections in China and Hong Kong – acquisition of remaining 49% minority interest;
• Techmex Staging Connections in Singapore and Malaysia – acquisition of remaining 30% minority interest; and
• Techmex Event Production in China – 100% interest acquired.

SCGL Chief Executive, Michael Gardner , said the Company’s full ownership of businesses in China and South East Asia is central to its growth strategy in the region and reinforces SCGL’s ongoing commitment to increasing shareholder value through fiscally responsible commercial transactions.

“As part of this overall regional strategy, we will integrate the Techmex entities with our other leading organisation, The Event Company Staging Connections (TECSC),” Mr Gardner said.

“Increasing our stake in these vibrant and dynamic businesses provides SCGL with new opportunities for growth,’’ said Gardner . “It is our intention to operate these businesses with existing management and staff and support them with innovative products and enhanced services to ensure organic growth.

“We have great confidence in the growth potential of the consolidated businesses in this region, particularly in China which continues to experience strong growth in the lead-up to the 2008 Olympic Games. The acquisitions announced today will deliver a number of synergies that will enable the SCGL network to leverage event and staging services, and provide a premium product to our clients across the Asian region.”

SCGL acquires Point of View Design

SCGL has entered into an agreement to acquire the business of Point of View Design Pty Limited (POV), a leading international creative design consultancy specialising in audio-visual infrastructure design and architectural lighting design for the hospitality sector.  The total cost of the acquisition is $3.75 million, consisting of $2.6 million cash and 815,000 SCGL shares.  It is expected that the business will deliver annualised revenue of $2 million with strong profit margins. “Staging Connections and POV have collaborated on a number of projects in the past four years and this acquisition delivers new opportunities globally to SCGL, enabling the company to develop an unsurpassed service offering to our key hospitality partners.

“POV currently delivers exciting cutting-edge audio visual infrastructure design services in Dubai , India , China and Singapore as well as in Australia and New Zealand , and its established reputation and presence in these markets will provide greater opportunities for collaboration,” Mr Gardner said.

Continued Expansion

After its first full year as an international events organisation, SCGL is entering a new phase of growth and anticipates further announcements about its continued expansion in Asia-Pacific and globally.