Arc Acquires Rural and Leisure Portfolio from Fortem International
LONDON, November 29th, 2021 – Arc, the global events, data, and media platform backed by investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital, announced today it has acquired five rural sector events from Fortem International. These events will become part of Arc’s Agriconnect business (Farmers Guardian Ltd. and LAMMA Ltd.), adding additional depth and reach across the expansive UK agriculture sector.
The five co-located events in the portfolio connect UK farmers and land owners who are seeking alternative sources of income.
Sanjeev Khaira, who leads Agriconnect, said, “We are excited to add the rural and leisure portfolio to Agriconnect, which is already one of the UK’s largest agricultural information and events platforms. The addition of this portfolio, which includes leading events Farm Business Innovation and Holiday Park and Resort Innovation, gives us more opportunities to empower and inspire people and businesses in agriculture. We view this transaction as the beginning of a long term partnership.” The existing team at Fortem International will continue to run the portfolio through the next edition, November 2nd and 3rd 2022.
Tom Borthen, CEO of Fortem International said, “We are pleased to be entering into a partnership with the Arc team, and are excited for the growth potential of the rural and leisure portfolio as it becomes part of Agriconnect and Arc. We see this as a tremendous opportunity to learn from each other and leverage our collective content and events experience in order to develop more opportunities for our customers to come together and make the connections they need.”
This is Arc’s second acquisition as it continues to develop its position as a next generation events and media platform for B2B communities around the world. Canson Capital Partners (“Canson”), a participant in the partnership since its inception, served as financial adviser to Arc.
Contact
Caitlin Read, [email protected], +44 (0) 7727 860756
Additional Notes
Events in the Rural and Leisure Portfolio
Farm Business Innovation is designed to provide expertise, advice and resources to innovate, diversify and make more money from land. Whether it is diversifying into glamping, looking into alternative crops or livestock, starting a spa, running events, weddings, farm shops, or revitalising rural retail, there is an abundance of ideas for landowners looking to expand.
Holiday Park & Resort Innovation provides expert advice and an abundance of ideas for holiday park owners looking to grow, develop or improve their business. Collocated within Rural Entrepreneur, there is an endless number of opportunities to expand and diversify their holiday park or resort.
Family Attraction Expo is the trade event designed to provide their visitors with the most exciting entertainment products and services to transform their commercial leisure or holiday parks.
Country House Business Innovation - under one roof, over two days this will be the most illustrious place in the UK where an estate, manor, or country house owner can source information and advice on funding, grants, planning, new products, new services, new ideas, troubleshooting, business tips, marketing tools, networking, inspiring keynote sessions, likeminded professionals, potential partnerships and so much more. Visitors go into their next venture full equipped.
Leisure Food & Beverage Expo - the UK’s leading event for leisure, tourism, sports and entertainment venues to find all the products and services they need to enhance their on site customer offering.
About the businesses
Arc
Arc is a B2B platform backed by investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital that intends to redefine business networks by building the next generation events and media business. With a customer-centric approach, guided by data and intelligent insight, Arc seeks out ways to connect communities, wherever, whenever, or however, people need to come together to meet, network, learn, and grow their businesses.
Agriconnect
Agriconnect is a talented team of people who produce the information, events, and digital platforms that bring together the UK agriculture community. Agriconnect is the UK’s largest agricultural information business, has been the trusted source of information for farmers since 1844. Today, Agriconnect continues that legacy of quality information, while also serving as a connection hub for people, ideas, and inspiration for the entire agriculture industry.
Agriconnect is part of the Arc network.
EagleTree Capital
EagleTree Capital is a leading New York-based middle-market private equity firm with assets under management of $4.8 billion as of December 31, 2020. The firm has completed over 35 private equity investments and over 75 add-on transactions over the past 20+ years. EagleTree primarily invests in North America in the following sectors: media and business services, consumer, and water and specialty industrial. For more information, visit www.eagletree.com or find EagleTree on LinkedIn.
Canson Capital Partners
Canson Capital Partners is a leading Alternative Capital focused Advisory and Merchant Banking firm. Providing senior advice and principal to principal engagement, we seek to connect sources of Alternative Capital with specific opportunities enabling our clients to achieve their long-term strategic objectives. Canson has advised on over $54 billion of transactions since inception, with a strong track record of partnership focused transactions, and have c. $500m AUM invested alongside our clients. Notably, Canson advised Providence on its £600m sale of Clarion Events to Blackstone. Canson Capital Partners is the trading name of Canson Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. For more information, please visit www.cansoncp.com.
Jeremy Clarkson highlights the challenges facing the agricultural community today
Speaking exclusively to the British Farming Awards after receiving a special award for Flying the Flag for British Agriculture, farming’s most famous partnership praised the drive and integrity demonstrated by farmers across the industry.
“We shouldn’t be the country’s most popular farmers because all farmers should be popular,” said Jeremy Clarkson, who described himself as a ‘trainee farmer’.
“Every time you sit down to eat something you are eating something that is made by British farmers.
“If there is a Red Tractor on your food packaging it was grown in Britain so buy that because if it has not come a long way to get here.”
Reflecting on the heavy criticism farmers often face from the wider public in their role as food producers, Kaleb Cooper was insistent at the willingness to embrace sustainable farming practices.
“If anyone thinks that a farmer is out there to make food as cheap as possible and abuse that role, they are wrong,” he said. “Farmers care and they care so much.”
And Mr Clarkson utilised his platform to highlight the bureaucracy piled on farmers by the Government, which he believed was stopping farmers from ‘just getting on and doing their job.’
“The Government is stopping subsidies and grants so if they are not going to pay us to grow food they have now lost their right to tell us what to do,” he added.
“They have to back off and allow us, I say us but I am still learning, but allow people like Kaleb and Charlie, people like everyone in that awards room to make decisions that are best for where they live.
“If the Government is not paying they can hardly object. We cannot allow them to dictate anymore. I have met people in Government now and they are not impressive.”
On winning their award last Thursday, Mr Cooper said he felt like a ‘little kid’ to have won the award, but he also praised the great team he worked with.
“Behind every good farm is a great farming team.,” he added.
Mr Clarkson agreed and praised his young farmer ‘teacher’ as being the real star of the show.
“I could not have done this without you, you are the star of the show, apart from Gerald,” he added.
“But what was great, and I’m sure everyone in the room would say the same thing, every farm has a Gerald, every farm has a Charlie, every farm has a Kevin, every farm has an Ellen, every farm has a landowner and every farm has a Kaleb.”
British Farming Awards 2021: Winners announced
The farming community came together in their hundreds last week as 18 winners of the British Farming Awards were announced.
Sponsored by Morrisons and organised by Farmers Guardian, the sell-out event was attended by more than 700 farmers and industry professionals from as far as Orkney to Cornwall, and took place at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham.
Now in its ninth year, the event celebrated innovative, determined and extraordinary farmers across all sectors, along with the diversity and adaptability of the UK’s farming community, no matter the size or scale of their businesses.
Alongside farming’s core sectors, including dairy, beef, sheep, arable and machinery, there was also recognition for students, family farms, sustainable businesses, new entrants, new agri-technology and the huge number of diversifications, which are now so crucial to many businesses.
With 18 categories up for grabs, a panel of 68 judges interviewed 63 finalists over the summer before eventually deciding on this year’s winners.
Outstanding Contribution to British Agriculture (Sponsored by NSF)
Kicking off the evening was the Outstanding Contribution to British Agriculture award, which was presented to NFU president, Minette Batters.
As the first female president in the organisation’s 112-year history, Minette worked her way up the ranks to become a much admired and respected leader who now represents more than 50,000 farmers and growers in England and Wales since it was founded in 1908.
In her role she has taken farming’s fight to Government and tirelessly campaigned on the major issues affecting the industry at a crucial time in its history, including advocating the ambitious goal of reaching net zero across the whole of agriculture by 2040.
Outside of agri-politics, she is a mixed farmer from Wiltshire and has also diversified into weddings and catering.
Farmers Guardian’s Farming Hero (Sponsored by Fullwood Packo)
The winner of this year’s Farmers Guardian’s Farming Hero award is Scottish chilli farmer, Sheena Horner, who spearheaded a campaign to improve mental health in the throes of the pandemic, galvanising the farming community to achieve it with her.
Launched last October to coincide with #AgMentalHealthWeek, teams from the four nations of the UK and one representing ‘the rest of the world’ were tasked to run 1,000 miles by the end of this January.
Smashing their target, the teams, which saw 1,200 farmers and industry professionals take part, went on to run just short of 65,000 miles, the equivalent of two-and-a-half times around the world.
With each participant paying a £20 joining fee, #Run1000 event raised more than £60,000 for five farming charities and plans are already in place to do it again next year.
Sophie Throup, Morrisons head of agriculture, fisheries and sustainable sourcing, reflected on what has been ‘a monumental time’ for the agricultural industry.
She said: “The last 18 months have challenged us as a farming and food sector like never before. It is therefore even more important to have the chance to stop, reflect and celebrate some of the amazing innovation, care, best practice and creativity these British farming champions embody.
“At Morrisons, we are so proud to be British farming’s biggest direct customer and to help bring great British products to our customers’ tables. We look forward to continuing to grow, innovate and champion the work farmers do, now and every day.”
What can CropTec do for your business?
Reducing costs
- Agro-ecologists Jonathan Storkey & Mark Topliff reveal truths and myths on yields and variables and what effects your bottom line in the Cost Management Hub
- Making better use of available nitrogen to make profitable solutions with Dr Daniel Kindred, ADAS, in the Crop Nutrition Seminar
Becoming sustainable
- Does Regenerative agriculture stack up on on farm? Four leading experts and farmers will share their experiences in the NEW Lunchtime debate
- Practical steps you can take to build a healthy soil system that taps into agri-environment financial support and boosts productivity in the Soil Helth seminar
- Charles Wright delves into a sustainable compromise between optimising crop inputs and protecting the genetics in the Plant Breeding Hub
Boosting your crops
- How you can optimise Nitrogen use with Senior Environmental Scientist James Holmes in the Cost Management Hub
- How new approaches could be sufficient to ensure crops are protected safely and profitably with AIC’s Hazel Doonan in the Crop Protection seminar
Navigating policies
- Navigating pesticides regulation post-Brexit and how you can offset the changes with James May, Sentry, in the Crop Protection seminar
- Get the latest policy updates, regulation advice and expert opinion from Barkwith Associates, AHDB and more in our exhibition halls
Adopting ag-tech
- Learn about the next wave of robotic inventions in the Transforming Food Production Hub with UKRI
- See the latest Sprayer technology in the Sprayer Demo area, with 10 of the latest models on display for you to test-drive
- Get advice and see the latest agri-tech from Unversity of Lincol, ARWAC, Muddy Boots, Landmark Syste
New CropTec Knowledge Hubs focus on cost management, food production tech and plant breeding
Three new Knowledge Hubs at The CropTec Show this year will bring visitors up to date with the latest news, research and innovation across the industry.
The Hubs, which are held across both days of the Show (November 24 and 25) each provide a dedicated place for specialist seminars and discussion, with industry experts on hand to answer questions throughout the day.
Subjects addressed by the Hubs this year are Cost Management, Transforming Food Production and Plant Breeding. Each has its own timetable of seminars (separate to the main CropTec seminar programme) which will be available online and in the show guide.
The Cost Management Hub (sponsored by AHDB) will provide insight into reducing unit costs of production, new technology and cutting-edge agronomy. Visitors to the AHDB stand will be able to meet with technical teams and learn about the latest research and opportunities to get involved in knowledge exchange. AHDB farm economics and technical experts will share practical solutions to reduce unit costs of production, new technology and cutting-edge agronomy.
The seminar programme includes:
· What really effects your bottom line? Mark Topliff, AHDB lead analyst, and Prof Jonathan Storkey, agroecologist from Rothamsted Research will discuss the key drivers of yield and whether it is possible to quantify the effect of environmental factors and crop management.
· Why carbon matters to your money? Harley Stoddart, senior agri-environment scientist (policy and resources) for AHDB will address why carbon matters to your finances and what farmers need to know about upcoming policies and schemes.
· How to optimise nitrogen use and reduce your carbon footprint: AHDB senior environmental scientist James Holmes will talk about optimum use of nitrogen to reduce variable costs and carbon footprint.
· Is it possible to cut costs through investing in machinery? Harry Henderson, AHDB knowledge exchange manager (cereals and oilseeds) will highlight what farmers should consider when investing in system change on their farm.
“There are many challenges facing the farming industry, from price pressures to responding to an ever-changing climate,” said Emily Pope, senior knowledge transfer manager (cereals and oilseeds). “Unpacking what the road to resilience looks like on-farm has never been more pressing. Reductions in BPS payments start this year, so a wait-and-see approach isn’t an option for farmers and growers who rely on this income. That is why AHDB is pleased to host the Cost Management Hub at CropTec.”
The Transforming Food Production Hub (sponsored by UKRI) will showcase recent and ongoing research and innovation funded by UKRI. Seminar sessions will be led by UKRI’s Tom Jenkins and Chris Danks with additional expertise and specialisms from a selection of guest speakers over the two days:
· The Hands Free Farm concept: Clive Backer, head of arable and produce at Map of Ag.
· Taking UK innovation to international markets: The second session with Clive Backer, head of arable and produce at Map of Ag.
· The Robot Highways project: Dan Sargent, head of plant sciences, Saga Robotics.
· Driving research-based innovation towards industry and sector-focused challenges: Simon Pearson, Professor of Agri-Food Technology and Director of the Lincoln Institute of Agri-Food Technology at the University of Lincoln.
· Autonomous weed detection methods and concepts: Greg Cielnak and Shaun Coutts of the Lincoln Agri-Robotics Centre
· A smart long life trap for codling moth monitoring: Heather Sanders, director of Science at Agsenze Ltd.
The Plant Breeding Hub, sponsored by Limagrain, will bring visitors up to date with the latest genetic technology. Seminars will be given by members of the Limagrain research team as well as independent experts in the field of plant breeding:
· The importance of plant breeding in a regenerative ag system: Jonathan Hodgson.
· How does varietal resistance impact on agronomic decision making: Charles Wright, Pharmacy
· Breeding diverse disease resistance in wheat: Rachel Goddard, Limagrain
· What could gene editing mean for plant breeding in the UK? Emma Wallington, NIAB
· Increasing pulse crop yields through plant breeding: Will Pillinger, Limagrain
· Trait progression in oilseed rape breeding: Liam Wilkison, Limagrain
As well as the seminars Limagrain’s technical experts will be on hand to answer questions throughout the two days.
Will Charlton, arable crops marketing manager for Limagrain said: “We’re delighted to host the Plant Breeding Hub at CropTec 2021. We will showcase the latest developments in plant breeding, how they can be adopted on-farm and incorporated within wider agronomic best practice.”
Entry is free to CropTec – to register visit: https://registration.gesevent.com/survey/3fib6vrsgs9ko
Other highlights include:
· Seminar programme: Hear the latest on soil health, crop nutrition, crop protection and join in with our regenerative agriculture debate.
· Sprayer demos: Compare 10 sprayers first-hand with our fantastic line up of manufacturers offering working demonstrations.
· Careers Corner: Discover career options and training opportunities to put you on the road to success.
Tickets now available as LAMMA prepares to celebrate 40th year
“To celebrate this important milestone in LAMMA’s history, we are not only looking at our past, but focussing on the future of our event and the UK farming industry,” says Kate Walsh, Event Manager of LAMMA. “We are planning some exciting new features at the show and re-inventing others. LAMMA’s beginnings are deeply rooted in bringing the best of farm machinery innovation under one roof and looking to the future; something we aim to continue for the next 40 years and beyond.”
The Farm Safety Zone, sponsored by Safety Revolution, returns to the show for the fourth consecutive year. Key organisations, charities and industry figures will raise awareness on vital aspects of farm safety and how to minimise risk and accidents on farm.
The Farming 4.0 Trail is centralised around the theme of “The Future of Agriculture”, highlighting the role data, robotics and other devices will play in achieving Net Zero. Exhibitors already on the 2022 Trail include Airial Robotics, Crop4Sight, Agrifac, Bayer, and more.
Also with an eye on the future, LAMMA has partnered with the Institution of Agricultural Engineers to offer the 2021 Young Engineer Award, celebrating upcoming agricultural engineers. The award winner will be announced at the show.
“We are delighted to be part of LAMMA’s celebration of this historic moment,” says Sanjeev Khaira, Director of Arc Media, which recently acquired LAMMA from previous owners AgriBriefing. “The show’s longevity and success are testament to the vision of its founders, evolving and growing from strength to strength and bringing the industry together year after year. We look forward to seeing its continued growth and support for the industry through future challenges.”
Over 700 manufacturers, dealers and distributors will fill 11 halls at the NEC, showcasing the latest products, knowledge and services available for farmers and producers in all corners of agriculture, including potatoes, barley, dairy, poultry, horticulture and much more.
Sponsored by Kramp, registration for LAMMA 2022 is free of charge; visitors are strongly encouraged to pre-register at lammashow.com
LAMMA and IAgrE launch award for young, promising agricultural engineers
“From the very beginning, the LAMMA Show was dedicated to promoting and educating young agricultural engineers,” explains Kate Walsh, LAMMA Event Manager. “LAMMA celebrates its 40th year in 2022, and as we reflect on our past, we also look to the future and what it will bring to the industry. The opportunity to champion the best and brightest agricultural engineers is the perfect way to celebrate that legacy while also supporting the future of British farming.”
The award showcases engineers who have created or made changes to a piece of agricultural machinery, equipment or technology and, by doing so, improved efficiency, profitability or sustainability on-farm.
“We recognise agricultural engineering can reduce the environmental footprint of farming through reducing carbon emissions and better fuel efficiency, and by partnering with LAMMA for this award, IAgrE can recognise and reward practical, environmentally efficient and sustainable agricultural engineering solutions,” says IAgrE CEO Charlie Nicklin, who is one of the award judges.
“I will be looking for entries that demonstrate creativity and profitability, a finished product, prototype or concept that will help a farm or business’s profitability and how it contributes towards sustainability.”
Those interested in applying can do so at LAMMA365.com. Entry is free, both individuals and groups are eligible to apply, and the award is open to engineers 35 years of age and under as of 1st January 2022.
The winner will be determined by a combination of judges’ scores and a public vote. The winner will be announced at the LAMMA Show in January 2022. The winner’s prize will be announced in the coming weeks. For further details, please visit LAMMA365.com.
Arc acquires Farmers Guardian and LAMMA trade show from AgriBriefing
Arc Acquires Farmers Guardian and LAMMA Trade Show from AgriBriefing
First Acquisition for the Arc Platform
LONDON, August 19th, 2021 – Arc, the global events, data, and media platform backed by investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital, today announced it has acquired Farmers Guardian Ltd and LAMMA Ltd, the UK agriculture division of AgriBriefing. The businesses are leaders in the agriculture sector, delivering content and connections to over 130,000 members of the British farming community.
Robert Gray, EagleTree Capital Operating Partner, said “We are very pleased with this first acquisition for Arc. These are strong multiplatform brands and a highly appealing sector to have as the starting point for building the next generation events and media platform for B2B communities around the world.”
Sanjeev Khaira will lead the Arc team for this acquisition and work in partnership with existing Managing Director, Warren Butcher, and the management team to support and continue the strategic growth plans of each business. Together, they intend to accelerate the growth and prominence of the LAMMA and CropTec events, and expand the reach and influence of Farmers Guardian, Dairy Farmer and Arable Farming print and online brands.
After a decade of guiding and building these businesses, AgriBriefing has evolved its strategy to focus more on its global pricing, analytics, forecasting, market data and consulting units.
Rory Brown, CEO of AgriBriefing, said, “We are enormously proud of the job the teams of Farmers Guardian and LAMMA have done, but our strategic focus has changed. We could not have found a better home for our brands, and the teams who work on them. We cheer their future success from the sidelines as these businesses enter their next phase.”
Simon Foster, Arc CEO, said, “We are excited about this first step in the development of Arc. These two businesses are a strong foundation from which to start, and we look forward to building out the Arc network with similar businesses to create a platform to facilitate the future of networking, connecting, and supporting business communities.”
Canson Capital Partners (“Canson”), a participant in the partnership since its inception, served as financial adviser to Arc.
More information
Contact
Caitlin Read, [email protected], +44 (0) 7727 860756
Arc is a B2B platform backed by investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital that intends to redefine business networks by building the next generation events and media business. With a customer-centric approach, guided by data and intelligent insight, Arc seeks out ways to connect communities, wherever, whenever, or however, people need to come together to meet, network, learn, and grow their businesses.
About Farmers Guardian and LAMMA
The agriculture portfolio includes; Farmers Guardian, at the heart of UK agriculture since 1844 serving the community with editorial content and digital services, LAMMA, the UK’s leading farm machinery, equipment and services exhibition, CropTec, the leading UK knowledge exchange for progressive arable farmers and agronomists, and the British Farming Awards, the premier recognition event for the UK agriculture industry. In addition, the portfolio also has specialist information and media brands and services, such as Arable Farming and Dairy Farmer, as well as an integrated marketing agency, Insightful.
About EagleTree Capital
EagleTree Capital is a leading New York-based middle-market private equity firm that has invested approximately $2.8 billion of equity capital since inception. The Firm has completed over 35 private equity investments and over 70 add-on transactions over the past 20+ years. EagleTree primarily invests in the following sectors: media and business services, consumer, and water and specialty industrial.
About Canson Capital Partners
Canson Capital Partners (Canson) is a leading Alternative Capital focused Advisory and Merchant Banking firm. Providing senior advice and principal to principal engagement, we seek to connect sources of Alternative Capital with specific opportunities enabling our clients to achieve their long-term strategic objectives. Canson has advised on over $54 billion of transactions since inception, with a strong track record of partnership focused transactions, and have c. $500m AUM invested alongside our clients. Notably, Canson advised Providence on its £600m sale of Clarion Events to Blackstone. Canson Capital Partners is the trading name of Canson Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
About AgriBriefing
AgriBriefing (www.agribriefing.com) employs more than 200 people across London; Preston, UK; Paris, France; Toulouse, France; and Tom’s River, New Jersey, USA.
The management team includes CEO Rory Brown, CFO Rupert Levy and Non-Executive Chairman Gehan Talwatte.