UK: Arena Group, the international turnkey event design and delivery business, has announced that it will be listing its shares on the London Stock Exchange. The company is raising a total of approximately £60 million from UK and international institutional investors and listing will help fund the future growth plans of the business.
Arena Group provides managed solutions from concept and design through to the construction and delivery of temporary structures, seating and interiors for a host of major sporting, outdoor and leisure events around the world. Contracts range in size and complexity – from a simple equipment rental for a local outdoor event to an integrated solution of multiple structures and interiors for a major international sporting event.
Arena Group is a global business with operations in the UK and Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas, and current clients include The All England Tennis Club (Wimbledon), The R&A, Henley Regatta, the Jockey Club, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the European Tour, The Ryder Cup, the US Open and the PGA Championship. The Group provides a wide range of services from temporary demountable seating and project management to the installation of ice rinks as well as the provision of high-end catering equipment and event furniture.
To support the listing on the London Stock Exchange Arena Group has boosted its Board of Directors. Kenneth Hannah – the Chairman of Aggreko and Inchcape – has been appointed to the same role at the Group. Ian Metcalfe, Chairman of the Commonwealth Games, has also joined the Group’s Board as a non-executive Director.
Commenting on the listing, Arena Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Greg Lawless, said: “I am delighted to announce that our plans to apply for Admission to Aim are moving ahead as it marks a key milestone in the development of the Group. We believe the listing will not only raise our international profile but will also enable us to provide additional incentives, by way of a share option scheme for our senior executive team around our global operations.
“The new funding leaves us with a significantly stronger balance sheet and provides us with the necessary funding – as well as access to further capital – that will help us to continue to grow the business both organically and by way of potential acquisitions. We are very fortunate to have a loyal and dedicated workforce of 750 employees across our 14 international bases and the successful floatation of the Group is a testament to their hard work and support going back many years.
“We look forward with confidence to this next stage in Arena Group’s development.”
