Former ownership group buys out Wellington International

Former majority owners of Palm Beach International Equestrian Center Mark Bellissimo, Marsha Dammerman, Lisa Lurie and Roger Smith (the “Partners”) formed a new company called WI FL Acquisition, LLC (the “Company”) to acquire Wellington International. . The company announced today that it has signed a binding agreement to acquire Wellington International from Global Equestrian Group (“GEG”). Following completion of the transaction, Murray S. Kessler will lead Wellington International as Chief Executive Officer.

“This is an exceptional opportunity to invest in existing show grounds, undertake major expansion and bring in new executive leadership to ensure Wellington remains a leading equestrian destination for show jumping, hunting and dressage at all levels of competition,” said Bellissimo of VI FL Acquisition Ltd. . “We are committed to long-term ownership, ensuring the Wellington showgrounds thrive for generations to come, as well as welcoming new riders and new families to the sport.”

“When we invested in Wellington International, we promised to take this place to the next level and I am pleased to conclude that this has been achieved. This sale is evidence that Wellington International is now ready for its next chapter,” says Andreas Helgstrand, CEO of Global Equestrian Group.

New CEO Murray Kessler is a former CEO of three Fortune 500 companies, former President of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), former President of the North American Riders Group, father of Reed Kessler, a show jumper at the 2012 London Olympics, and stepfather of a dressage rider. Bebe Davis. He is a 48-year-old resident of Wellington, where he currently resides with his wife Sarah.

“I am thrilled to work with Wellington International President Michael Stone and his world-class management team to capitalize on this exciting growth opportunity,” said Kessler. “We will immediately be reaching out to community leaders, governing bodies, exhibitors and partners as we develop and implement our plans, which include significant investments in upgrading existing facilities and building new world-class facilities on expanded exhibition grounds.”

“Wellington International and its horse shows are the anchor of Wellington and a key component of what makes our great community unique,” ​​Kessler said.

Wellington International is the largest and longest-running equestrian competition series in the world, hosting 42 weeks of competition each year across the equestrian disciplines (jumping, hunt, dressage and para-dressage) and attracting over 350,000 spectators, 15,000 horses and 7,500 competitors. Each season, Wellington International hosts the Winter Equestrian Festival (“WEF”), as well as the sport’s many competitions, divisions and competitors, contributing approximately $400+ million to the economic impact of Palm Beach County.

Wellington International President Michael Stone said: “I look forward to working with Murray and the partners who know business and the community so well to make Wellington International’s exhibition venues the standard by which all venues are judged.”

“This is a great opportunity for me to deliver the sustainable, long-term success we all want for the showgrounds and the Wellington community,” concluded Lisa Lurie, partner and also founder of SpyCoast Farm, one of the country’s largest sport horse farms. breeding operations. “We all want the showgrounds to be world-class places where we can enjoy sport in the community we love, and our partnership is committed to achieving this.”