Clearwater advises ECI Partners on its investment in TAG

Transaktion

ECI Partners on its investment in TAG

Buy-side

Undisclosed

Rolle

Adviser to ECI Partners on its investment in TAG

Sektor

Consumer

Region

Großbritannien

Clearwater has advised ECI Partners (ECI) on its investment in TAG, the market leading high-touch travel management company to the entertainment and corporate markets. The transaction marks a successful exit for investor Apiary Capital.

TAG was founded in 1988 and now employs more than 450 people across the globe. As an award-winning travel and event management company, TAG has redefined the standards for travel in the entertainment industry with specialists providing bespoke, high-end service to some of the biggest names in music, film and TV production, as well as top C-suite and corporate executives.

With a track record of eight successful acquisitions during Apiary’s ownership, TAG is poised for further expansion with ECI's backing, bolstering its platform and enhancing its bespoke offering to its client base around the world.

The transaction is Clearwater’s fourth completed travel sector transaction since June 2023, evidencing the robust outlook for the sector. These transactions (Direct Ferries, Diversity Travel, TrustedHousesitters and TAG), reinforce Clearwater’s position as the leading mid-market M&A adviser to the travel sector.

Clearwater’s Debt Advisory team have secured attractive debt financing packages for three of these transactions, an encouraging vote of confidence for the travel industry, which bodes well for the future.

We are excited to be partnering with TAG and leveraging ECI's experience of investing in the travel industry to propel this global leader to new heights in the global entertainment and corporate travel markets. We are looking forward to working with the management team to continue innovating TAG’s service model, investing in technology and supporting the next stage of growth in its global footprint.
George Moss, Partner, ECI

Clearwater was a great partner to ECI on this deal. Their deep travel sector expertise in combination with our own was key to winning the chance to invest in TAG - a top tier, global market leader. Their advice was excellent throughout, and on both M&A and debt they put in the hard yards alongside us. We were supported by high quality people across their teams, who were also a pleasure to work with. We are delighted to be backing TAG and to have another travel deal on our shared track record with Clearwater.
Rory Nath, Investment Director, ECI

Today is a fantastic milestone in our evolution, as we proudly announce the investment by ECI. With our entertainment and corporate clientele and the incredible TAG team, we are very confident that this partnership will deliver a host of new benefits and opportunities as we're poised to elevate our standards even further, ensuring unparalleled service for our clients as we continue to shape the future of entertainment and high-end corporate travel management. We would like to thank Mark, Jess, Nicki and the team at Apiary for their support and commitment over the past six years and we look forward to the journey ahead and growth with ECI as our new partner.
Jens Penny, CEO, TAG

TAG is a fantastic business that we have been close to for many years. We thoroughly enjoyed working with the team at ECI on this transaction, helping them to bring one of the leading global specialist travel management companies into the ECI stable. TAG’s end markets provide it with compelling growth prospects and we have little doubt that it will continue to thrive under ECI’s stewardship. This is also the fourth travel deal that our team have completed with ECI Partners – a testament to both our and their enduring commitment to the sector through the cycle.
Christopher Jones, Managing Partner, Clearwater

It was a pleasure to work with ECI and TAG to secure a funding package which provides operational flexibility, as well as aligning with the business’ future growth plans. This is a great example of Clearwater’s M&A and Debt Advisory teams working together to secure a fantastic result for our client, and we are delighted to have been involved. It is also the tenth debt advisory transaction we have completed in 2024.
Richard Clark, Partner, Clearwater