Showtime for Arena
Article Date: Feb 23 2007An event specialist that has provided services for Wimbledon, The Ryder Cup and the MTV Europe Awards has been bought by a team led by the company’s chief executive David Walley.
Supported by two new investors, Walley has taken control of Arena Group with four of his fellow directors. The company, which provides seating, structures, hospitality boxes and temporary support systems to sporting and music events as well as exhibitions, was sold by event services group Evenser.
Walley was supported by managing directors Grahame Muir and Joe O’Neill, plus sales director Dave Withey and finance director Mike Seaman.
Joining Walley in the deal are Greg Lawless and Dermot Divilly, who list other event companies among their investments. Under the terms of the deal, Lawless and Divilly join Arena’s board as non-executive directors.
The buy-out team was advised by law firm Wedlake Bell, led by head of corporate services Chris Putt.
Birmingham-based Arena trades through four divisions: Arena Structures, Arena Seating, Arena Scene and Arena Scaffolding.
