Arena Leisure : Intention to Float

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This announcement is an advertisement and not an admission document or a prospectus. It does not constitute or form part of, and should not be construed as, an offer to sell or issue, or a solicitation of any offer to buy or subscribe for, any securities, nor should it or any part of it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract or commitment whatsoever. Investors should not subscribe for or purchase any securities referred to in this announcement except on the basis of information in the admission document (the 'Admission Document') to be published by Arena Events Group plc (the 'Company' and, together with its subsidiaries, the 'Group') in due course in connection with the proposed admission of the ordinary shares in the capital of the Company (the 'Ordinary Shares') to trading on AIM, a market operated by London Stock Exchange plc (the 'London Stock Exchange'). Copies of the Admission Document will, following publication, be available during normal business hours on any day (except Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays) from the registered office of the Company and on the Company's website at www.arenagroup.com

11 July 2017

Arena Events Group plc

('Arena Group' or 'the Company')

Intention to Float on AIM

Arena Events Group plc announces its intention to apply for admission to trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange ('Admission'). The Company is raising approximately £60 million through a placing of new and existing ordinary shares and it is expected that Admission will take place on 25 July 2017. Cenkos is acting as the Nominated Adviser and sole Broker to the Company.

The Arena Group is a provider of temporary physical structures, seating, ice rinks, furniture and interiors. The Group services major sporting, outdoor and leisure events, providing a managed solution from concept and design through to the construction and integration of the final structure and interior. The Group has operations across Europe, the US, the Middle East and Asia, earning the majority of its revenue from sporting events in the UK and US. The key customer focus is on blue chip, annual events with a reputation for quality. Arena has established long term relationships with events such as Wimbledon, The Open Championship, Cheltenham Races, HSBC Abu Dhabi Golf Championships, the US Open and the PGA Championship with each of whom the Group has multi-year contracts.

The Group, with origins dating back over 250 years, has developed from being a predominantly UK based business in 2012 to a company with 14 operational bases in seven countries. In addition to this core recurring and contracted customer base, the Group also generates revenue from major periodic events, such as the Summer Olympics, The Commonwealth Games, the Rugby World Cup and the Football World Cup.

Key Strengths

Staff Quality and on time delivery

· Developed an enviable reputation for its strong customer service

· Loyal and long term employee team who are familiar with the customers

Quality/variety of product

· Delivers modern and properly maintained products fit for the customers' requirements

· Significant capex spend ensures that products are maintained in a very good condition

· Ongoing investment in new products to ensure the product offering is in line with, or ahead of, the Company's competitors

Quality of customers and length of relationship

· Targets Tier 1 customers around the world, delivering multi-year (typically 3/5 year) contracts

· A very robust and secure revenue base - approximately 70 per cent. of annual budgeted revenue for 2017 either contracted or recurring at the start of the 2017 financial year

International footprint

· The growth of the Group's international presence enables it to offer a standard level of service throughout its global network that has become known as the ''Arena Standard''

· The international growth of the business improves brand exposure, furthering the reputation of the Arena brand into territories with which the Group has historically been less involved

Greg Lawless, Chief Executive Officer, commented:

'I am delighted to announce that our plans to apply for Admission to Aim are moving ahead as it marks a key milestone in the development of the Group. We believe the Listing will not only raise our international profile but will also enable us to provide additional incentives, by way of a share option scheme, for our senior executive team around our global operations.

The new funding leaves us with a significantly stronger balance sheet and provides us with the necessary funding (as well as access to further capital) that will help us to continue to grow the business both organically and by way of potential acquisitions. We are very fortunate to have a loyal and dedicated workforce of 750 employees across our 14 international bases and the successful floatation of the Group is a testament to their hard work and support going back many years.

We look forward with confidence to this next stage in Arena Group's development.'

For further Information please contact:

Arena Group plc Greg Lawless (CEO) Piers Wilson (CFO) Cenkos Securities (Nomad and Broker)	[phone] [phone]
Max Hartley / Harry Pardoe (Corporate Finance) Julian Morse (Sales)
Alma PR (Financial PR)	[phone]
Josh Royston / John Coles / Helena Bogle

About Arena Group plc

The Arena Group plc is a provider of temporary physical structures, seating, ice rinks, furniture and interiors. The Group has operations across Europe, the US, the Middle East and Asia, and current clients include Wimbledon Tennis, The Open, PGA European Tour and Ryder Cup.

The Group services major sporting, outdoor and leisure events, providing a managed solution from concept and design through to the construction and integration of the final structure and interior. Contracts range in size and complexity from a simple equipment rental for a local outdoor event, to an integrated solution of multiple structures and interiors for a major international sporting event.

Background to the Company

The origins of the Group can be traced back over 250 years to 1761 when a company was set up by Sir Richard Edgington to manufacture and sell tents, flags, banners, ship ropes and decorations for public events. The company grew by a series of acquisitions in the UK throughout the late twentieth century, allowing it to secure major customers including the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (Wimbledon), the Ryder Cup and the Jockey Club. Under new ownership, this business formed part of Arena Structures, which alongside Arena Seating, was bought by Greg Lawless and Dermot Divilly in 2007, by way of a management buy-in, becoming the first subsidiaries of the Arena Group as it stands today. Further acquisitions in 2008 diversified the Group's product offering further, allowing Arena to offer an integrated structures, seating and furniture service.

In February 2012, MML Partners and Sports Investment Partners took a significant stake in the Group, injecting additional equity to the business and reducing Group leverage. This investment the Group with the necessary financial resources to deliver over £30 million of services and products for the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games, including a number of iconic, temporary venues such as the 14,000 seat temporary grandstand at Horse Guards Parade. Since 2012, the Group has continued to be acquisitive, adding complimentary businesses in the UK and establishing significant operations in Asia and the US with the acquisitions of Asia Tents and Karl's Events respectively. These businesses have benefited from being part of the larger Arena Group and both have been able to secure significant customers such as the USGA, the PGA Tour, the Presidents Cup and the EurAsia Cup. In recent years, acquisitions domestically and internationally have allowed the Group to grow revenue through geographic expansion, reduce seasonality and increase awareness of the Arena brand around the world.

The Group currently has operations across Europe, the US, the Middle East and Asia, earning the majority of its revenue from sporting events in the UK and US. The Group's product range consists mainly of temporary structures (74%), temporary tiered seating (10%), design, furniture and interiors (13%) and ice rinks (3%). This product mix varies from region to region with both the US and Middle East and Asia divisions still largely dependent on temporary structures for the bulk of their revenue.

Customer Profile

Arena has a diversified customer base with the Group's top 10 contracts accounting for only approximately 20 per cent. of the Group's annual revenue. The sectors where Arena has a particularly strong presence are sports events, music events, festivals & cultural events and corporate hospitality. The Group's largest sector is the sports sector, with approximately 50 per cent. of the Group's revenue coming from sporting events.

The Group has a number of longstanding relationships with high profile customers. These annually recurring contracts with major event organisers underpin the Group's annual revenues and support the reputation for quality that is associated with the Arena brand. Examples of some of the Group's longstanding relationships is shown below:

Customer Length of relationship

All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (Wimbledon) 67 years

The Open Championship 38 years

Jockey Club (Cheltenham and Aintree) 33 years

PGA European Tour 21 years

Ryder Cup 20 years

Party Planners West (Super Bowl Structures) 12 years

Strategy

Product expansion

The UK division has the most extensive and varied product set in the Group and, the Directors believe, a significantly broader offering than most, if not all, of the Group's competitors in the UK. The Group will continue to review and expand its product range and service capabilities to ensure that it is creating the maximum value for its clients and is capturing a growing proportion of the value chain. The Directors plan to extend the product mix in the US, Middle East and Asia over the next few years to more closely reflect the breadth of the UK offering. The extension of product mix enables the business to offer a more extensive and fully integrated product solution to its customers.

Product innovation

The Group's divisions work with their suppliers and in-house design teams to continually improve and innovate their product offerings. Product improvements and enhancements ensure the Group are offering a premium product, a factor which has played an important part in the Group's customer retention record. The event rental market continues to demand more sophisticated and technically advanced solutions, particularly in the areas of both structures and seating. The Group will continue to invest in its products to ensure that they can best meet the needs of their prospective customers.

Geographic expansion

The Group has developed a significant international platform over the last few years, but there remains a number of specific regions that offer significant opportunity for future geographic expansion of the Group. The Directors expect future geographic expansion to be initially focused in the US where the Group currently has an approximate one per cent. market share, with a predominantly Midwest and East Coast presence. An improved presence on the West Coast is expected to bolster the business's national tenting reach and allow the servicing of national customers across the entire North American continent on a more economic basis.

The Group will also continue to look at expanding its Asia presence in order to complement its existing presence in Malaysia and Hong Kong. The Group has experienced significant organic growth from these existing bases as more and more international sporting events are held in these regions. The Directors will look to take advantage of this market momentum by establishing Arena as a leading pan-Asian events solution provider.

As the Group grows geographically, the Directors believe that the Group will benefit from economies of scale and improved asset utilisation, both of which are expected to have a positive effect on the profitability of the Group.

Acquisitions

The global event rental industry is highly fragmented and siloed and in the vast majority of cases, companies in the sector only offer a single product line. The Directors have identified both additional geographic acquisition opportunities and opportunities to acquire complimentary services and products that can be added to the Group's existing product offering across its existing international platform. The Group's acquisition strategy will vary from region to region with the initial focus on extending its geographic reach in the US.

The general lack of product integration within the industry presents a significant opportunity right across the Group. Opportunities that allow the Group to offer a broader, more integrated service, as they can in the UK, will be pursued, whether organic or inorganic

Reasons for the placing and use of proceeds

The Company is raising approximately £59.3 million gross in the Placing (approximately £54.7 million net of expenses). In addition, approximately £0.7 million is being raised in the Placing for the Selling Shareholders. Of the Placing proceeds raised for the Company, approximately £31.0 million will be used to repay the Group's outstanding loan notes and loan note interest and a further £13.2 million will be deployed to pay down senior debt. This de-leveraging will significantly reduce the Group's annual interest charge and will create a more stable balance sheet from which to pursue growth.

The remaining funds raised under the Placing will be used as growth capital for the Group to pursue organic or inorganic growth and to pay fees associated with the Placing and Admission. The Company will not receive any proceeds of the Placing of Existing Ordinary Shares which is paid to the Selling Shareholders.

The Directors believe that the Placing and Admission will:

* strengthen the Company's balance sheet;

* raise the profile of the Group;

* improve the Group's ability to recruit, retain and incentivise staff;

* provide the Board with the strategic freedom to maximise the Group's growth potential; and

* provide the necessary funding platform from which to pursue international growth.

Dividend Policy

The Directors recognise the strong cash profile of the Company following Admission and believe that Arena will be well placed to pay a regular dividend to shareholders in the future. At the same time, the Directors believe that there is significant opportunity to grow the business and win market share; establishing Arena as a market leader in local and international geographies. The Directors will therefore look to strike the appropriate balance between capital investment and dividend payment by implementing a progressive, but measured, dividend policy going forward.

High Quality Board

Executive Directors

Gregory (Greg) Lawless, Chief Executive, age 57

Greg qualified as a Chartered Accountant in Deloitte in 1982 and subsequently worked with KPMG in both Minneapolis and Dublin. He joined Davy Stockbrokers in 1987 and was a director of Davy Corporate Finance until 1992. In 1993 he joined Allegro Limited, an Irish distribution business, and was part of the senior executive team that carried out a buy-out of the business later that year. He left the business in 2000 shortly after the business was sold. He held a number of posts during 2000-2004, mainly on a consultancy basis and he acquired his first business in the event rental sector in 2004 called Hireall along with his former Allegro business partner, Dermot Divilly. Together they subsequently acquired other event rental businesses in Ireland and the UK, culminating in the acquisition of Arena Structures and Seating in 2007. Mr Divilly disposed of his interest in the Arena Group in 2012 as part of the investment by MML Equity Partners and Sports Investment Partners. Greg became Group chief executive officer of the Arena Group in 2011.

Piers Wilson, Finance Director, age 49

Piers has been Finance Director of Arena since May 2012, overseeing all financial matters including reporting, risk management, insurance, banking, acquisitions and fundraising. Piers joined the Group from Managed Support Services plc, an AIM quoted company where he was group finance director. Prior to that he worked at ED&F Man Ltd, Cable & Wireless Communications plc and Two Way TV Ltd. Piers qualified as an accountant with Arthur Andersen and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Non-Executive Directors

Kenneth (Ken) Hanna, Non-Executive Chairman, age 64

Ken has international experience, bringing financial and leadership expertise from his role as the Chairman of Aggreko plc, which he has held since 2012. He possesses knowledge of many different business sectors and is an experienced senior executive and leader, promoting robust debate and a culture of openness in the boardroom. Ken is also currently Chairman of Inchcape Plc and Chairman of Shooting Star CHASE Charity. Until 2009, Ken spent five years as Chief Financial Officer of Cadbury Plc. He has also held positions as Operating Partner for Compass Partners, Group Chief Executive at Dalgety Plc, Group Finance Director of United Distillers Plc and Group Finance Director of Avis Europe Plc and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Ian Roland Metcalfe, Non-Executive Director, age 59

Ian brings significant experience with sporting organisations to the Board. He is currently Chairman of Commonwealth Games England, having held the position since December 2014. Ian is a member of the Rugby Football Union (''RFU'') Council, having represented Cambridge University RUFC for eleven years, and has recently stepped down from the Board of the RFU, after nine years in the role. He was also Chairman of the Professional Game Board of the RFU for five years and was a non-executive director of England Rugby 2015 Limited, the organising body of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Ian is a qualified solicitor who retired as Managing Partner of International law firm Wragge & Co in April 2014 after eight years in post. Prior to managing the business, Ian was a corporate partner at the firm for fourteen years. Ian has an MA in Law from Cambridge University.

Important Notice

The contents of this announcement, which have been prepared and issued by, and are the sole responsibility of the Company, have been approved by Cenkos Securities plc ('Cenkos') solely for the purposes of section 21(2)(b) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ('FSMA').

Neither this announcement nor any copy of, as amended, it may be taken or transmitted, directly or indirectly, into the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa or to any persons in any of those jurisdictions or any other jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the relevant securities laws of such jurisdiction.

This announcement does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe for any shares or other securities to any person in the United States or any other jurisdiction nor shall it (or any part of it) or the fact of its distribution, form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, or act as an inducement to enter into any contract or commitment whatsoever. The Placing and the distribution of this announcement and other information in connection with the Placing and Admission in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law, and persons into whose possession this announcement, or any document or other information referred to herein comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

The Ordinary Shares have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 'Securities Act') or with any regulatory authority or under applicable securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, and may not be offered, sold, resold, pledged, delivered, distributed or transferred, directly or indirectly, into or within the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and otherwise in compliance with any applicable state and local securities laws. There will be no public offering of securities in the United States or elsewhere.

The Ordinary Shares have not been and will not be registered under the applicable securities laws of Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa and, subject to certain exceptions, may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa. There will be no public offering of securities in Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa or elsewhere.

This announcement is only addressed to, and directed at, persons in member states of the European Economic Area who are 'qualified investors' within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive ('Qualified Investors'). For these purposes, the expression 'Prospectus Directive' means Directive 2003/71/EC, as amended, and includes any relevant implementing measure in each member state of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive. In addition, in the United Kingdom, this announcement is addressed and directed only at Qualified Investors who (i) are persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the 'Order'), (ii) are persons who are high net worth entities falling within Articles 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, and (iii) to persons to whom it may otherwise be lawful to communicate it to (all such persons being referred to as 'relevant persons'). Any investment or investment activity to which this announcement relates is available only to relevant persons in the United Kingdom and Qualified Investors in any member state of the European Economic Area (other than the United Kingdom), and will be engaged in only with such persons. Other persons should not rely or act upon this announcement or any of its contents.

Any purchase or subscription of Ordinary Shares in the proposed Placing should be made solely on the basis of the information contained in the Admission Document to be issued by the Company in connection with Admission. None of the Company, Cenkos or any of their respective affiliates, their respective directors, officers, partners, employees, advisers or agents or advisers or any other person, accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for, or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy, completeness or fairness of the information or opinions contained in, in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from this announcement) or of any other information relating to the Company, its subsidiaries or associated companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this announcement or its contents, or otherwise arising in connection therewith. No reliance may or should be placed by any person for any purpose whatsoever on the information contained in this announcement or on its completeness, accuracy or fairness. The information in this announcement is subject to change and does not purport to be full or complete. Neither the Company nor Cenkos undertakes to provide the recipient of this announcement with any additional information, or to update this announcement or to correct any inaccuracies, and the distribution of this announcement shall not be deemed to be any form of commitment on the part of the Company to proceed with the Placing or any transaction or arrangement referred to herein. This announcement has not been approved by any competent regulatory authority.

Cenkos, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting exclusively for the Company and no one else in connection with the Placing and Admission, and will not regard any other person (whether or not a recipient of this announcement) as a client in relation to the Placing and Admission, and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the Placing, Admission or any transaction, arrangements or other matters referred to in this announcement.

Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any, which may be imposed on Cenkos by FSMA or the regulatory regime established thereunder, Cenkos does not accept any responsibility whatsoever, and makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, in relation to the contents of this announcement, including its accuracy, completeness or for any other statement made or purported to be made by it or on behalf of it, the Company, the Directors or any other person, in connection with Admission or the Placing, and nothing in this announcement shall be relied upon as a promise or representation in this respect, whether as to the past or the future. Cenkos accordingly disclaims all and any liability whatsoever, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to above), which it might otherwise have in respect of this announcement or any such statement.

The date of Admission may be influenced by factors such as market conditions. There is no guarantee that the Admission Document will be published or that the Placing and Admission will occur, and you should not base your financial decisions on the Company's intentions in relation to the Placing and Admission at this stage. Acquiring investments to which this announcement relates may expose an investor to a significant risk of losing all of the amount invested. The value of shares can decrease as well as increase. This announcement does not constitute a recommendation concerning the Placing. Persons considering investment in such investments should consult an authorised person specialising in advising on such investments.

Certain figures in this announcement, including financial information, have been subject to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, in certain instances, the sum or percentage change of the numbers contained in this announcement may not conform exactly to the total figure given.