Events. London-based exhibition and conference organiser CloserStill Media has acquired a majority stake in the US-based Learning Conference from Masie Productions, for an undisclosed sum. The event, which attracts around 2,000 delegates and 40 sponsors focused on the use of technology in corporate training, was founded more than 10 years ago Elliott Masie, who is credited with coining the phrase “e-learning”. The JV between Masie and CloserStill is expected to lead to international diversification for the Learning brand. CloserStill is a fast-growing, much-awarded exhibitions business, focused on technology and healthcare. It operates almost 40 exhibitions in the UK, USA, France, Germany, Singapore and Hong Kong and including The Vet Show, The Pharmacy Show, The Dentistry Show, CloudExpo, DataCentre World, and Learning Technologies. It has annual revenues of some £40m and industry-best EBITDA margins of almost 50% and prodigious annual growth rates. The go-go company was created by media veteran Phil Soar, one-time CEO of the former Blenheim Exhibitions which soared in the 1990s before being acquired by UBM. CloserStill, (now part-owned by Inflexion private equity) is 10 years old and looking ready for a big deal – as buyer or seller. Context: Reed Exhibitions may be sold
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CloserStill in US Learning Conference JV
