The addition of YPI from Active Interest Media, the privately-owned specialist US media group, will combine several major US-based international yachting exhibitions with Informa’s Monaco Yacht Show, one of the leading events of its kind in Europe. The YPI portfolio includes the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the largest in the world.
Stephen A. Carter, Informa Group Chief Executive, said: “Following three years of private discussions, we are delighted to bring YPI into the Group. It will deepen our leadership in the growing international yachting and boating sector, with its attractive exhibitions complementing our existing ownership of the Monaco Yacht Show.
“It follows the addition last year of Penton Information Services in the US, increasing our scale in the world’s leading economy and making our Global Exhibitions Division the largest business by revenue and profit at Informa. This forms part of our 2014-17 Growth Acceleration Plan, adding further Balance and Breadth across the Group portfolio.”
Efram ‘Skip’ Zimbalist III, Chairman of Active Interest Media, said: “I am confident that Informa will be a great owner of these powerful US shows. We’ve long admired the Monaco Yacht Show, and through our discussions over the last three years, we can see that the combination represents a very attractive outcome for both sets of exhibition brands and the growing international yachting community.”
On completion, the addition of YPI will make Informa’s Global Exhibitions Division the largest contributor to Group revenues and profit, with annual sales of more than £500m. The Division operates a portfolio of about 200 major Exhibition Brands, says Informa.
YPI is the leading US-based Exhibitions business in the growing International Yachting industry, with five major Exhibition Brands: Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Yachts Miami Beach, Palm Beach International Boat Show, Suncoast Boat Show and the St Petersburg Power and Sailboat Show.
The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show attracts 100,000 attendees, 820 exhibitors and more than 1,200 boats annually each November. Established in 1959, its successful track record over several decades underlines its enduring Brand strength and the high barriers to entry for in-water boat shows due to the significant logistics expertise and local permits required to run them effectively.
YPI’s focus on International Yachting events in the US is highly complementary to Informa’s leading position in Europe through the Monaco Yacht Show. The combination will create a scale player in this attractive and growing vertical, extending Informa’s relationship with leading yacht brokers and builders, and providing good opportunities for cross-promotion and enhanced customer relationships across platforms and geographies.
The addition also further increases Informa’s scale in the US, where the Group has been buying and building a position over recent years through a combination of organic investment and a series of targeted acquisitions in verticals including Construction & Real Estate (Hanley Wood Exhibitions, WWETT), Natural Products (Virgo, Penton), Agriculture (Penton), Life Sciences (FIME) and Pop Culture (Orlando MegaCon, Dallas Comicon).
The YPI combination forms part of the 2014-17 Growth Acceleration Plan, in which Informa has focused on building scale in a number of attractive and growing and increasingly international industry verticals, which enhance customer relationships, revenue mix, growth potential and predictability of earnings.
Following the addition of YPI, on a pro-forma basis the US is expected to represent more than 50% of Group revenues and also over half of the Global Exhibitions Division.
YPI has a consistent track record of growth in revenue and adjusted operating profit over recent years, reflecting the strength of its Brands and attractive growth in the International Yachting industry.
The combination follows exclusive talks with Wind Point Partners, the private equity group behind Active Interest Media (AIM), the parent company of YPI. AIM is a US based specialist/enthusiast diversified media Group.
Under the terms of the combination, Informa will acquire 100% control of AIM’s Yacht Exhibitions business while retaining a long-term cross-marketing agreement with the parent company, replicating the structure adopted when Informa acquired Hanley Wood Exhibitions in 2014.
The cash consideration for 100% of the equity of YPI is $133m (£106m), including $5m which is subject to the business meeting performance and operating targets. Based on its results in the 12 months ended 31 December 2016, this represents a trailing acquisition multiple of 11.5 times EBITDA. The business also brings with it around $40m of net operating losses that are deductible for US tax purposes over a number of years, equating to a net present value of $33.9m. The inclusion of these tax assets implies a multiple of 8.6 times EBITDA.
Four of YPI’s five major events are yet to run in 2017. While management has plans to invest in the business to reap the full benefits of scale and make the most of its strengthened position in the International Yachting vertical, the transaction is expected to be immediately enhancing to adjusted Earnings Per Share. It is also expected to generate a post-tax return on investment ahead of Informa’s weighted average cost of capital within three years of ownership.
The consideration will be funded through existing debt facilities. It is anticipated that the Group’s net debt to EBITDA ratio will be around 2.6 times immediately following completion, falling within the Group’s target range of 2.0 times to 2.5 times by the end of 2017.
Completion is expected by early March.
On 6 March, Informa will announce full-year results for the 12-month period ending 31 December 2016.
