PARIS, Dec. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reed MIDEM, a leading organiser of international tradeshows and conferences, today announces the acquisition of LeWeb, Europe's top internet conference and networking events.

The acquisition enables LeWeb to reinforce its development and further strengthens Reed MIDEM's interests in digital innovation and entrepreneurship.

Launched in Paris in 2004 by Loic and Geraldine Le Meur, LeWeb brings together the key players in the international internet ecosystem including entrepreneurs and visionaries, investors and venture capitalists, technology businesses, large companies, digital marketers and journalists. In addition to its annual Paris gathering, LeWeb successfully launched a London event in June 2012.

Commenting on the acquisition, Reed MIDEM Chief Executive Officer Paul Zilk said, "LeWeb fits very well with Reed MIDEM. We share the same ambition for developing premium international events where participants network and build relationships, do business, launch new products and discover the latest innovations. 

"Loic and Geraldine Le Meur are true international internet entrepreneurs and they have done an outstanding job in building LeWeb. Thanks to their expertise and Reed MIDEM's strength in international events, I am convinced that together we will take LeWeb to new heights.

"LeWeb's strong position in digital innovation and entrepreneurship is relevant to Reed MIDEM events and to the global portfolio of our group, Reed Exhibitions.  We see many opportunities and synergies between our shows and LeWeb," Paul Zilk noted.

Loic Le Meur, LeWeb founder said, "Reed MIDEM is an ideal partner for us.  Reed MIDEM will bring to LeWeb the resources and expertise to solidify the growth and maintain the premium quality of our events.

"LeWeb's development has been incredible since 2005 and we needed a partner such as Reed MIDEM to make it even more successful. We are very excited to benefit from Reed MIDEM's unique expertise in the event industry and are looking forward to working closely with their team to provide even better experiences to our participants and partners.

"LeWeb's positioning as the international platform of success for entrepreneurs will remain unchanged" said Loic Le Meur.

LeWeb Paris was held December 4-6, 2012, bringing together some 3,500 people from 75 countries and LeWeb London is scheduled for June 5-6, 2013.

About Reed MIDEM
Founded in 1963, Reed MIDEM is a leading organizer of professional, international tradeshows and conferences. Reed MIDEM events have established themselves as key dates in professional diaries. The company hosts MIPTV, MIPDOC, MIPCOM, and MIPJUNIOR for the television and digital content industries, MIDEM for music professionals, MIPIM, MIPIM Asia and MAPIC for the property and retail real estate sectors. www.reedmidem.com

About Reed Exhibitions
Reed Exhibitions is the world's leading events organizer, with over 500 events in 39 countries. In 2011 Reed brought together six million active event participants from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa and organized by 33 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 44 industry sectors with trade and consumer events and is part of the Reed Elsevier Group plc, a world-leading publisher and information provider and a FTSE 100 company. www.reedexpo.com

About LeWeb:
LeWeb Paris is Europe's number one event for the web industry.

In 2012, nearly 3500 participants from 76 countries and 400 journalists attended LeWeb. Many prestigious speakers have taken part in previous editions, including Karl Lagerfeld, Carlos Ghosn, Shimon Peres, Philippe Starck, Paulo Coelho and Rania de Jordanie.

In June 2013 will be held at Westminster Central Hall in London, the second summer edition of the LeWeb conference.

SOURCE Reed MIDEM