Marine Money, the leading brand for ship finance events and publications, has been sold by International Marketing Strategies, Inc. (IMS) to Diversified, a global B2B events and media company headquartered in Portland, Maine. The Fusion team was led by Paul Kelly, Director at Fusion. The terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Founded by Jim Lawrence in 1987, Marine Money informs and supports networking and business development opportunities for C-Suite attendees in the global shipping finance industry. An organizer of events across the globe, and producer of newsletters, research, and industry reports, Marine Money complements Diversified’s existing Commercial Marine portfolio of events and publications serving the marine industry, including the International Workboat Show, Pacific Marine Expo, National Fisherman, and Workboat Magazine.
Speaking about the sale, Fusion’s Paul Kelly said, “I first met Jim Lawrence and Matt McCleery many years ago and worked with them in 2018 on IMS’s sale of the CMA Shipping Conference and Exposition to Knect365, Informa PLC’s Knowledge & Networking Division. I was delighted to be invited back to work with them on this new project. Beyond their scale and infrastructure, Diversified’s family-owned culture and client-first approach make them a natural fit for Marine Money. The entire Marine Money team is remaining with the business and is highly energised by the opportunities ahead. They are a great team of people, and I wish them every success in the future.”
“This is a transformational opportunity for us, and we couldn’t be more excited about it,” stated Matt McCleery. “Diversified’s family-owned culture and client-focused approach are a perfect fit for Marine Money, and with the support of Diversified’s expertise and resources, we plan to take Marine Money to the next level in terms of client service and digital technology, as well as training, content, data and networking.”
Group Vice President Wes Doane, who leads Diversified’s Commercial Marine team, commented, “This acquisition represents a highly strategic step forward in expanding and deepening our Commercial Marine portfolio,” said Doane. “Just as important, we are gaining exceptional partners in both Matt and Mike, whose decades of industry leadership, trusted relationships, and commitment to the shipping finance community will be instrumental as we invest in growth, innovation, and long-term value for our customers.”
The next Marine Money event will be the 2026 London Ship Finance Forum, which will take place on January 22, 2026, at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House on Park Lane, London.
Stamford, CT and Portland, ME
Fusion Corporate Partners 