CloserStill Group

  • SectorB2B Services
  • OverviewTo acquire or launch a series of small exhibitions in high growth vertical markets
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The CloserStill team identified an appetite amongst major media groups to acquire mid-sized exhibition businesses: exhibitions and events are seen as an effective face-to-face counterpoint to online marketing media. At the time of the launch of CloserStill there was a dearth of target companies of this nature following recent consolidation within the exhibition and B2B events industry.

Subsequent to the original investment in 2008, CloserStill built a portfolio of major exhibitions in the UK, principally in the healthcare and technology sectors.

All the events have grown strongly based on the team’s ability to build clear, well-structured propositions which they then support with very high quality content. Under CloserStill’s management many of their shows have become leaders within their vertical markets and continue to go from strength-to-strength.

In 2011, NVM backed Andy and the team again with investment of £3m to launch Closer2.

In May 2012, both CloserStill and Closer2 were partially sold to Phoenix Equity Partners to drive further acquisitions and launches across the UK and overseas. NVM retains a 10% equity stake in the business.

In March 2015, NVM supported the team for the fifth time over the past ten years following the sale of the business to Inflexion Private Equity.  This represented a full exit for Phoenix and a partial exit for NVM – who re-invested £5m and will continue as a shareholder of the events company.

2450

It’s been a brilliant journey and huge fun so far with our friends at NVM and with a team of people here at CloserStill that can move mountains.

Andy Center ,  CEO ,  Closerstill
2451

We have really enjoyed working with CloserStill over the years; so much so, we were keen to re-invest and be a part of the company’s next stage of growth.

Peter Hodson ,  NVM
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