Finelight Group, the Norwich-based B2B media, events and intelligence group, has bought a majority stake in Business Show Media GH Ltd (BSM), the organiser of The Business Show, The International Franchise Show and the White & Private Label Expo. Finelight announced the deal on 28 October 2026 and calls it the largest acquisition in its history. Neither side has disclosed the price.
What was announced
According to Finelight’s announcement, BSM runs its exhibitions and a set of smaller co-located events across the UK, Europe, North America, Singapore and Australia, and its shows bring together more than 1,500 exhibitors and 45,000 business owners, entrepreneurs and decision-makers a year. Finelight says the deal gives it a substantial international exhibitions platform inside its Business & Professional Services sector, which until now has been built mainly around media and membership brands.
Christian Yandell stays on as BSM’s chief executive, working with his existing leadership team. Finelight says BSM will keep its entrepreneurial leadership and specialist market knowledge, while getting access to the group’s shared technology, operations and investment. Its plans for the business are investment in the existing events, expansion into new markets, new products and services, and more year-round engagement with BSM’s audiences through digital platforms, data and what it describes as new intent-data capabilities.
Andrew Schofield, Finelight’s founder and chief executive, said: “BSM is a great business with established international brands, scaled audiences and a strong track record of organic growth. We are delighted to welcome Christian and his team to Finelight.” He added that the deal is “closely aligned with our strategy of building leading, specialist platforms around the industries and communities we serve.”
Christian Yandell said joining Finelight “marks an exciting new chapter for Business Show Media”, and that the company will “retain the entrepreneurial culture and focus on our customers that have been central to our success.”
Finelight lists its advisers as Birketts, Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff, CMS (Singapore), Loopstra Nixon, Macpherson Kelley, RSM UK, Collingwood Advisory and Plural Strategy Group. The sellers were advised by Grimes, McGovern & Associates, Clarke Willmott and Kingscott Dix.
The Business Show in London
The UK show most people will know is The Business Show London, which the organiser describes as the world’s largest business event for SMEs and start-ups. Its next edition runs on 11–12 November 2026 at Excel London, with around 500 exhibitors listed by the organiser across AI, technology, HR, insurance, finance and marketing, plus seminars, masterclasses and speed networking. Nothing in the announcement suggests any change to that edition, which is now less than two weeks away.
Part of a busy year for show sales
Finelight has been buying steadily. Its own news page lists recent deals including Crosby Associates Media, four US industry media brands, and the events portfolio of Transform Industry, bought through its A-Team Group division. Exhibition News reports that the group arranged an HSBC debt financing package in September 2026 to fund its acquisitions.
It is one of several UK event deals this autumn. Events Review has covered CloserStill Media buying ROAR B2B and its five event brands, Nineteen Group buying FIT Show from Montgomery Group, and Naboo’s purchase of meetings procurement specialist pro-ven.
What it means for exhibitors and visitors
This is Events Review’s reading, not a statement from either company. For exhibitors already booked into a BSM show, the practical position is unchanged: the same chief executive and team are in place, and existing contracts sit with BSM. Over the next year it is worth watching for the things Finelight says it wants to add, such as more digital and data products sold alongside stands, and new editions in other markets. If you are booking 2027 space, it would be sensible to check whether stand packages, lead-capture data or sponsorship formats are changing before you sign.
Other recent show moves at the same venue are covered in UK Construction Week London bringing nine shows to Excel London in May 2027 and Excel London’s figures on events from US organisers. More industry news is on our news page.
Sources
- Finelight Group: Finelight Group acquires Business Show Media GH in its largest acquisition to date
- Finelight Group: News & insights
- The Business Show London
- Exhibition News: Finelight Group acquires Business Show Media GH Ltd in its largest acquisition to date
Sources read on 31 October 2026. Deal details and quotes are from Finelight Group’s announcement; show dates and exhibitor numbers are from The Business Show’s own website; the HSBC financing is as reported by Exhibition News. The notes for exhibitors are Events Review’s analysis. Desk research; no interviews.
