CMP, Veronis Suhler Go Shopping

Two acquisitions that involved companies with multiple events and tradeshows occurred in the third full week of February.

In the first, private equity firm Veronis Suhler Stevenson continued to expand its ever-growing empire with the acquisition of U.K.-based Clarion Events, an independent organizer of events, conferences and tradeshows, from Hg Capital for an unspecified amount. Clarion CEO Simon Kimble and COO Tim Pilcher will continue to lead the company.

The acquisition included 65 events and conferences across six sectors: gaming, retail, arts and antiques, motor homes, financial services and entertainment. Some key consumer show brands in the United Kingdom were included in the sale:

• ICE and ATEi, international gaming industry
• Top Drawer, high-end giftware industry
• Mortgage Business Expo and Adviser, financial services industry
• The Baby Show

Hal Greenberg, managing director at VSS, said Clarion was just the latest tradeshow deal for the private equity firm that previously owned Canon Communications and Hanley Wood, and currently owns Advanstar Communications – which it bought last year for $4 billion.

“We, as a firm, have a long history of fantastic results investing in tradeshow companies,” Greenberg said. “(Clarion) is just another one that we think very highly of, and the management and their position in the served market.”

Kimble added, “With VSS's support, we look forward to growing Clarion both organically and through add-on acquisitions. There are numerous opportunities both within the U.K. and throughout Europe to expand existing Clarion franchises and acquire additional exhibitions, events and conferences.”

Another company that went shopping last month was CMP Channel, a unit of U.K.-based United Business Media, which bought Vision Events from Gartner for $11.4 million.

According to CMP Channel, “Vision Events builds partnerships and alliances through events, private appointments and one-on-one meetings, which maximizes a return on investment for participants.”

Events included in the sale are focused primarily in the IT sector:

• Healthcare Summit
• The Project & Portfolio Management Summit
• IT ChannelVision Spring and Fall

CMP Channel Group President Robert Faletra will oversee Vision Events.

Faletra said, “Face-to-face events provide a platform for technology buyers to build relationships. By adding Vision Events to our already strong portfolio, we are expanding offerings and markets even further.”