LONDON, November 29th, 2021 – Arc, the global events, data, and media platform backed by investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital, announced today it has acquired five rural sector events from Fortem International. These events will become part of Arc’s Agriconnect business (Farmers Guardian Ltd. and LAMMA Ltd.), adding additional depth and reach across the expansive UK agriculture sector.

The five co-located events in the portfolio connect UK farmers and land owners who are seeking alternative sources of income.

Sanjeev Khaira, who leads Agriconnect, said, “We are excited to add the rural and leisure portfolio to Agriconnect, which is already one of the UK’s largest agricultural information and events platforms. The addition of this portfolio, which includes leading events Farm Business Innovation and Holiday Park and Resort Innovation, gives us more opportunities to empower and inspire people and businesses in agriculture. We view this transaction as the beginning of a long term partnership.” The existing team at Fortem International will continue to run the portfolio through the next edition, November 2nd and 3rd 2022.

Tom Borthen, CEO of Fortem International said, “We are pleased to be entering into a partnership with the Arc team, and are excited for the growth potential of the rural and leisure portfolio as it becomes part of Agriconnect and Arc. We see this as a tremendous opportunity to learn from each other and leverage our collective content and events experience in order to develop more opportunities for our customers to come together and make the connections they need.”

This is Arc’s second acquisition as it continues to develop its position as a next generation events and media platform for B2B communities around the world. Canson Capital Partners (“Canson”), a participant in the partnership since its inception, served as financial adviser to Arc.

Contact

Caitlin Read, [email protected], +44 (0) 7727 860756

Additional Notes

Events in the Rural and Leisure Portfolio

Farm Business Innovation is designed to provide expertise, advice and resources to innovate, diversify and make more money from land. Whether it is diversifying into glamping, looking into alternative crops or livestock, starting a spa, running events, weddings, farm shops, or revitalising rural retail, there is an abundance of ideas for landowners looking to expand.

Holiday Park & Resort Innovation provides expert advice and an abundance of ideas for holiday park owners looking to grow, develop or improve their business. Collocated within Rural Entrepreneur, there is an endless number of opportunities to expand and diversify their holiday park or resort.

Family Attraction Expo is the trade event designed to provide their visitors with the most exciting entertainment products and services to transform their commercial leisure or holiday parks.

Country House Business Innovation – under one roof, over two days this will be the most illustrious place in the UK where an estate, manor, or country house owner can source information and advice on funding, grants, planning, new products, new services, new ideas, troubleshooting, business tips, marketing tools, networking, inspiring keynote sessions, likeminded professionals, potential partnerships and so much more. Visitors go into their next venture full equipped.

Leisure Food & Beverage Expo – the UK’s leading event for leisure, tourism, sports and entertainment venues to find all the products and services they need to enhance their on site customer offering.

About the businesses

Arc

Arc is a B2B platform backed by investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital that intends to redefine business networks by building the next generation events and media business. With a customer-centric approach, guided by data and intelligent insight, Arc seeks out ways to connect communities, wherever, whenever, or however, people need to come together to meet, network, learn, and grow their businesses.

Agriconnect 

Agriconnect is a talented team of people who produce the information, events, and digital platforms that bring together the UK agriculture community. Agriconnect is the UK’s largest agricultural information business, has been the trusted source of information for farmers since 1844. Today, Agriconnect continues that legacy of quality information, while also serving as a connection hub for people, ideas, and inspiration for the entire agriculture industry.

Agriconnect is part of the Arc network.

EagleTree Capital 

EagleTree Capital is a leading New York-based middle-market private equity firm with assets under management of $4.8 billion as of December 31, 2020. The firm has completed over 35 private equity investments and over 75 add-on transactions over the past 20+ years. EagleTree primarily invests in North America in the following sectors: media and business services, consumer, and water and specialty industrial. For more information, visit www.eagletree.com or find EagleTree on LinkedIn.

Canson Capital Partners

Canson Capital Partners is a leading Alternative Capital focused Advisory and Merchant Banking firm. Providing senior advice and principal to principal engagement, we seek to connect sources of Alternative Capital with specific opportunities enabling our clients to achieve their long-term strategic objectives. Canson has advised on over $54 billion of transactions since inception, with a strong track record of partnership focused transactions, and have c. $500m AUM invested alongside our clients. Notably, Canson advised Providence on its £600m sale of Clarion Events to Blackstone. Canson Capital Partners is the trading name of Canson Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. For more information, please visit www.cansoncp.com.