Lonsdale's Ocean Media bolts on two competitors

Katharina Semke
13 September 2016

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Lonsdale Capital Partnersт portfolio company Ocean Media has acquired British event organisers Mercury Events and LMC.

The acquisitions form part of Ocean Media's buy-and-build strategy to add complementary divisions to the core business. The company claims its revenues increased by 40% over the last four years from £12.2m in 2012 to a forecast of £17m in 2016. It plans to continue its acquisition strategy.

By taking over Mercury Events, Ocean Media hopes to consolidate its market position as a provider of wedding shows, as well as broadening its reach through expansion into the baby and toddler shows market. The acquisition of LMC adds a company in the stationery market to the group.

Previous funding
Lonsdale backed the MBO of Ocean Media in October 2015. The deal included a debt package from Santander, which stated it would be open to providing additional credit facilities to support bolt-on acquisitions in the future.

Companies
London-based Mercury Events provides business-to-customer wedding shows in the UK.

Bromley-based LMC, also known as The London Stationery Show, exhibits writing and paper products.

Ocean is a provider of media, events and marketing covering three sectors: bridal, weddings and social housing. The London-headquartered company was founded in 2003 as a carve-out from UK-based publishing group Trinity Mirror, though the history of its publications goes back three decades.

People
Lonsdale Capital Partners – James Knott (director).
Ocean Media – David Watt (CEO).