Global events organiser Terrapin Holdings has completed the acquisition of Highways UK from Essential Infrastructure Events. BDO provided financial and tax due diligence to the deal.
Terrapinn has bought the annual Highways UK road and highway infrastructure event, which was launched in 2015, and attracts over 170 exhibitors and 6,000 visitors. Organisers had claimed the attendance at the show, which took place at the NEC last November, had grown 40% last year. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Terrapinn’s own sector portfolio includes: Roads and Traffic Expo in Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, and in North Africa.
Terrapinn’s CEO, Greg Hitchen, said: “Highways UK is a world-class exhibition, conference and awards that drive the future of roads and highways in the United Kingdom; and is a great fit with our existing events.” He added: “Highways UK is a wonderful partnership with all key stakeholders and we look forward to continuing to serve this important sector as it faces the challenges of the future.”
Highways UK Managing Director, Andrew Dowding, said: “The UK roads sector is enjoying an exciting period of growth and, with their impressive track record, we are confident Terrapinn will continue to develop Highways UK. And we are excited to work with them.”
“We were very pleased with BDO's collaborative approach to this transaction, providing an independent, issues focused financial due diligence report,” added Terrapinn’s Andrew Ewer, Group Finance Director.
Terrapinn, which has offices in London, New York, Dubai and Johannesburg, has events in the telecoms, aviation, energy, transport, retail, health, finance and tech sectors.
Exhibitions reportedly make up 95% of Terrapinn’s revenues, although the company was initially found in the publishing and training sphere.
