MYS Organizer Buys Major Boat Shows for $133 Million

Informa’s Global Exhibitions division has purchased Show Management/Yachting Promotions Inc., operator of some of the largest yachting and boat shows in the U.S., for $133 million.

The acquisition brings three of the world’s largest in-water boat shows – the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Yachts Miami Beach and the Palm Beach International Boat Show – into the Informa Exhibitions portfolio along with the St. Petersburg Power and Sailboat Show and Suncoast Boat Show in Sarasota.

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, which draws 100,000 attendees, 1,300 exhibitors and more than 1,200 boats each November, is the largest of its kind in the world and complements Informa Exhibition’s Monaco Yacht Show, the world’s leading event dedicated to the superyacht industry.

Denison has participated in every Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show since it started in 1961, and will be participating in the Palm Beach International Boat Show again this month with a variety of new and brokerage boats.

“With this acquisition Informa Exhibitions becomes the world’s leading yacht show organizer,” said Charlie McCurdy, CEO of Informa’s Global Exhibitions division. “Combining the world’s premiere show, based in Europe, with these five shows in North America … further strengthens our relationship with leading yacht brokers and builders, providing good opportunities for cross promotion and extending customer relationships.”

Founded in 1976, Show Management was purchased by Active Interest Media in 2006. Efrem “Skip” Zimbalist III, chairman of Active Interest Media, said, “We can think of no better company than Informa Exhibitions, with its global resources, to focus on the continued growth and success of these excellent boat shows while continuing to exceed the expectations of their exhibitors and attendees.”

Zimbalist will advise Informa Exhibitions in the transition, and the rest of the YPI team will continue with the company as it moves forward.