Dealmakers
Steve Monnington Managing director Mayfield Media Strategies
Dealmakers
Steve Monnington rounds up a busy period for M & A activity
C loserStill Media is making its largest acquisition to date in a move that brings it into a totally new sector . UKI Media and Events has been on the wish list of many acquisitive organisers for some time , and over the 30 years that it has been operating , has built a portfolio of innovative events across Europe , United States and Asia serving the automotive , aerospace , marine , transport and infrastructure sectors . The business will form the core of a new Future Transport and Infrastructure division at CloserStill . With its emphasis on geographical brand roll-outs , we can expect to see CloserStill quickly expand the portfolio . Founder Tony Robinson will continue as UKI ’ s chairman for 2024 .
You wait for ages for an acquisition and then two come along at once . Terrapinn has acquired US-based Broadband Communities through its Total Telecoms business . The Broadband Communities Summit has been developed over 20 years into the leading event for the building , managing , marketing and monetisation of high-speed broadband technologies and services . The Broadband Communities magazine was launched in 2010 . This is a strategic addition to the Total Telecom event portfolio which includes Connected Britain , Total Telecom Congress and the World Communication Awards . Terrapinn acquired the Total Telecom business in 2004 .
The Broadband Communities acquisition was quickly followed up by the purchase of Aerospace Tech Week , which takes place in Munich and Atlanta , and Aerospace Tech Review magazine . The business was created by Adrian Broadbent ( ex-Blenheim and Tarsus ) who previously sold his Avionics event to Pennwell and it joins a portfolio that includes the World Aviation Festival series . Terrapinn ’ s multi sector and multi geography portfolio and its determination to acquire synergistic market leading events should mean a continuing flow of deal announcements .
It ’ s said that exhibition entrepreneurs easily get bored . Mayfield
has sold several businesses for people who swear they are retiring … until they announce another launch . Doug Emslie was never going to retire after the $ 1bn sale of Tarsus to Informa but it was less than six months between the announcement of the Informa sale agreement and the announcement of the formation of Cuil Bay Capital and the acquisition of Raccoon Media Group . Emslie is on firm ground having been a shareholder in Raccoon for several years , having a friend in CEO Mike Seaman and inviting Neville Buch from his Blenheim days and Dan O ’ Brien ( ex-Tarsus ) along to the party .
The Raccoon story as organiser of consumer shows for dedicated communities involved in outdoor sports such as running , cycling and snow sports is well documented , but it ’ s the next stage that will be most interesting . The acquisition of the Allergy and Free From Show signalled a move into healthy living and the funds that will be available for further acquisitions and launches in both the UK and USA will continue to propel the group forward . The common denominator is defined communities of enthusiasts and I don ’ t think it will be too long before we see a move into B2B events that have these characteristics . Exciting times ahead no doubt .
Transactions and partnerships this period ( AugustSeptember )
Buyer Business Country Sector CloserStill Media UKI Media & Events UK / Global Transport
Cuil Bay Capital Raccoon Media Group UK
Sports & Nutrition
Informa LSX Global Biotech Terrapinn Broadband Communities USA Tech
Terrapinn Aerospace Tech Week
USA / Germany
Aviation
RX Corp Events France Tech
www . exhibitionworld . co . uk Issue 5 2023 13