Olswang Completes Sale of Global Defence Exhibitions for Reed

Reed Exhibitions exits defence sector through sale of three global exhibitions.

Olswang has acted for the leading organiser of trade and consumer events, Reed Exhibitions Limited ("Reed Exhibitions"), on its complex pre-sale group reorganisation and its subsequent sale of three defence exhibitions, DSEi (Defence Systems & Equipment International), ITEC (International Training Equipment Conference) and LAAD (Latin American Aerospace and Defence), to Clarion Defence Ltd ("Clarion Defence").

The sale of DSEi, the world's largest fully integrated defence and security exhibition; ITEC, the training and simulation exhibition held every year in different European cities; and LAAD, the biannual Rio de Janeiro conference, completes Reed Exhibitions' withdrawal from the defence exhibitions sector. The deal also marks a move into defence shows for Clarion Defence, an independent event organiser which arranges conferences and exhibitions across Britain, Europe, America, the Middle East and Asia.

Reed Exhibitions will continue to focus on maximising business and networking opportunities through conferences and events, in a variety of sectors including construction, energy, aerospace, entertainment and healthcare.

Olswang Corporate Partner, Tony Leifer, said "This is a significant transaction for Reed Exhibitions, which has now fulfilled its business objectives of exiting the defence industry market. Olswang's corporate expertise fits squarely with Reed Exhibitions' growth plans and we continue to build on our commitment to working with our longstanding client."

Olswang has been advising Reed Exhibitions for over five years and the sale of DSEi, ITEC and LAAD follows a transaction in 2007 in which Olswang advised on Reed Exhibitions' acquisition of six events from the Aviation Division of international events organiser UKIP Media & Events. The acquisition gave Reed Exhibitions entry into the specialised markets of Aircraft Interiors and Aerospace Design and Testing.

Tony Leifer led the Olswang team with assistance from Corporate Associate James McIntyre-Brown and Trainee Oliver Ellington, Media, Communications and Technology Associate Victoria Chandler, Real Estate Associate Catherine Maxwell and Employment Associate Dominic