CloserStill buys ROAR B2B, adding five events to its portfolio
What's the deal? CloserStill MediaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has acquired London-based events business ROARDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → B2B for an undisclosed sum. The deal adds five events to CloserStill's portfolio: Environmental Services & Solutions Expo, Naidex, Contact Centre Expo, Customer Experience Expo, and B2B Marketing Live.
The events will join CloserStill's infrastructure, technology, and healthcare divisions, and each will keep serving its current audience. The largest is the Environmental Services & Solutions Expo, held annually at the NEC in Birmingham, which draws 15,000 attendees and 700 exhibitors, according to CloserStill.
What's the endgame? ROAR looks like a bolt-on that fits CloserStill's established expansion model. "The sectors represented by these brands are a natural fit with CloserStill's existing infrastructure, technology and healthcare portfolios," said chief executive officer Gareth Bowhill.
Why now? The acquisition comes five months after Searchlight Capital PartnersDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → took joint control of CloserStill alongside Providence Equity PartnersDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, in a deal that valued the company at £1.35 billion. CloserStill has 900 staff and offices in the UK, US, Germany, Spain, and Singapore.
ROAR brings its own deal history. Founder Duncan Kirk, backed by Apiary CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, built the business by buying Naidex, RWM, and B2B Marketing Expo from Prysm Media GroupDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → in 2019, then acquiring Environment Media Group — owner of letsrecycle.com and Letsrecycle Live — in 2021.
"We are very excited about the future and feel that CloserStill is the natural home to harness the potential of our events and develop the careers of our team," said Kirk, ROAR's chief executive officer.
The signal: The deal reflects a broader push to consolidate B2B events, with private-equity-backed combinations such as Emerald and QuestexDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → reshaping the sector. For CloserStill, fresh backing and a repeat acquirer's playbook point to more bolt-ons to come.
Read more: exhibitionnews.uk
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
