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Monaco boat show organizer bought operator of three major American boat shows

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Monaco boat show organiser Informa Exhibitions has bought the operator of three major US boat shows, Yachting Promotions. Informa has secured the rights to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Miami Yachts Miami Beach Boat Show and the Palm Beach International Boat Show with the acquisition of Yachting Promotions for $133 million. Informa will also host several smaller events such as the St. Petersberg Boat Show and the Suncoast Boat Show in Sarasota.

Informa Exhibitions CEO Charlie McCurdy said «acquisitions and building up verticals will continue to be part of the company's growth strategy»

«We are looking for events that complement what we do in the vertical markets we have identified as attractive»," McCurdy said.

U.S. Boat Show organizer and president of Active Interest Media » Efrem «0 Skip «Skip» Zimbalist III will be an advisor to Informa during the transition period.

«There is no better buyer than Informa Exhibitions, with its global resources, to focus on the continued growth and success of these excellent boat shows and continue to exceed exhibitor and visitor expectations»," he said.

The largest boat show in Informa's portfolio will be the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. The show has been held in Florida every year for 57 years and is the largest boat show of its kind in the world. The 1,300 exhibiting companies at the boat show display more than 1,200 boats that attract more than 100,000 visitors each year.

The South Florida Marine Industry Association recently signed a 30-year contract with the organizers of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, but its head Phil Purcell assured reporters that the contract remains in effect after the event changes ownership.

Informa's other biggest acquisition is Yachts Miami Beach, whose organizers recently introduced an admission fee - the first in the show's 30-year history.
Cindy Sailor, executive director of the Florida Yacht Brokers Association, which co-owns the Miami Boat Show, sees the deal with Informa «as a great opportunity» for the event to gain access to a broader international client base and better exhibition expertise.

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