London-based Arc, a global B2B events, data and media platform, is expanding its U.S. footprint with plans to purchase two major portfolios from LRP Media Group, serving business and education professionals worldwide.

Arc signed an agreement to acquire LRP Media Group’s event and related media assets serving the HR technology (HR tech) and education technology (ed tech) sectors. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

The acquisition, which will be the sixth and largest for Arc in the 14 months since the company’s inception, is intended to add substantial scale to the overall Arc platform. The new assets will also significantly expand the Arc network in the U.S., creating a robust complement to Arc’s European business, according to Simon Foster, group CEO of Arc.

“This is a major development for Arc,” Foster said. “The acquisition will expand our capabilities and operations in the U.S. and bring an experienced team, strong brands and more high-growth verticals into the network.”

Foster applauded LRP Media Group’s HR tech and ed tech teams for their impressive track record of launching and developing their nine brands, which include two prominent events: HR Technology Conference and Expo, which recently held its 25^th annual in-person show at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, and the National Future of Education Technology Conference, set to hold its 43^rd annual show Jan. 23-26 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

“We’re looking forward to working with our new colleagues to grow these portfolios and to further develop Arc in the United States,” Foster added.

According to Ken Kahn, president and founder of LRP Media Group, the teams responsible for the nine brands in the HR tech and ed tech portfolios have done a fantastic job transforming and expanding them into best-in-class offerings over many years.

“We are incredibly proud of the teams and brands and believe that we have found a great home for them with Simon and the Arc team,” Kahn said. “We look forward to watching them succeed in this new era.”

The new portfolios reflect Arc’s strategy to connect business communities wherever, whenever and however they need, according to Foster, providing a diverse range of engagement solutions for facilitating networking and business growth. Professionals are brought together through networking and educational events including the HR Technology Conference and Expo and the Future of Education Technology Conference, as well as through content platforms such as HR Executive, District Administration and University Business.

With the acquisition, Arc, which is backed by investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital, now boasts more than 120 events per year and content platforms in HR technology, agriculture and food, financial services, investing technology and education technology. 

Other Arc Investments

The LRP Media Group deal comes on the heels of several other acquisitions by Arc this year and last year, including the following.  

• In August, Arc purchased its first U.S.-based business, HighQuest Group, which produces media and events for the agribusiness sector worldwide under four brands: Global AgInvesting, Women in Agribusiness, Unconventional Ag and Ag Clubs.
   
• In May, Arc made its first investment in Europe, partnering with Netherlands-based Bridge2Food, a global leader in the plant-based foods and alternative proteins sector that produces summits and academy courses around the world.
   
• In November 2021, Arc acquired five rural and leisure sector U.K. events from Fortem International: Farm Business Innovation, Holiday Park & Resort Innovation, Family Attraction Expo, Country House Business Innovation and Leisure Food & Beverage Expo.
   
• In August 2021, Arc acquired the U.K. agriculture portfolio of AgriBriefing, which includes LAMMA, the U.K.’s leading farm machinery, equipment and services exhibition, and Farmers Guardian, an editorial platform and digital services company.

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