CyberRisk Alliance Acquires InfoSec World Conference And Expo

The Leading Trade Show for the Information Security Industry

Chicago, IL, February 26, 2019 – CyberRisk Alliance (“CRA”), a business intelligence company serving the cybersecurity and information risk management marketplace, today announced the acquisition of InfoSec World Conference and Expo, the industry’s leading trade show, along with other cybersecurity events and services – collectively known as InfoSec World – from Southborough, Mass.-based MIS Training Institute (“MISTI”).

The deal is the first acquisition for CyberRisk Alliance, which was founded by Growth Catalyst Partners and Doug Manoni in November 2018 to serve the rapidly expanding cybersecurity and information risk management marketplace.

Recognized as “The Business of Security” conference, InfoSec World Conference and Expo is celebrating 25 years of service to information security professionals from every industry, government agency, healthcare and academic organization. The must-attend event held each April in Orlando, Fla. draws over 1,300 professionals from around the world and has over 10,000 square feet of exhibition space.

In addition to its flagship conference, InfoSec World provides other events and services for the cybersecurity and information risk management market, including the Security Leadership Exchanges, invitation-only networking and educational forums for Chief Information Security Officers and senior cybersecurity professionals, produced in partnership with nGage Events. InfoSec World also provides marketing services that connect leading technology and service companies with the community of cybersecurity and information risk management professionals.

“InfoSec World has an extraordinary history serving the information security marketplace through a unique combination of education, training, peer networking and engaging dialog with leading technology and service providers,” said CyberRisk Alliance chief executive Doug Manoni. “We are excited to bring InfoSec World into our swiftly developing portfolio, to partner with the exceptional team of professionals that have driven its rapid growth and success over the years, and to support its ongoing development with organic and acquisition investment funding going forward.”

“It has been a great privilege to have led MISTI’s cybersecurity conference and marketing services business through a period of rapid expansion and growth, and to have worked with such a dedicated and talented group of individuals in that objective,” said Tony Keefe, chief executive of MIS Training Institute. “I am proud of everything that they have achieved under MISTI’s ownership and excited by what lies ahead as a result of CyberRisk Alliance’s investment in the business. I believe CRA’s strategy and capital resources will allow this business to continue to flourish. MISTI will now focus its talent, resources and investment on growing its core information security and audit related training and education businesses.”

Scott Peters, co-founder of Growth Catalyst Partners, said “This is an important milestone for CyberRisk Alliance, and it exemplifies our commitment to aggressively build a powerful and influential business intelligence company serving this market of vital importance to our national and global security and economy.” Peters added, “We are extremely excited to consummate this transaction and by the broader opportunity to serve this marketplace. We look forward to further developments and making quick strides with our promising strategy.”

Corporate Solutions of Westport, Conn. was the exclusive advisor to MIS Training Institute in arranging,
structuring, and negotiating this transaction.

About InfoSec World Conference and Expo
For 25 years information security professionals have recognized InfoSec World Conference and Expo as “The Business of Security” conference. Now produced by CyberRisk Alliance, InfoSec World assembles information security professionals from every market and field of study around the world by providing high-quality distinctive content, training, peer networking and engagement with leading technology and service companies. For more information, visit www.infosec.misti.com.

About CyberRisk Alliance
CyberRisk Alliance is a business intelligence company created to serve the high-growth, rapidly evolving
cybersecurity and information risk management marketplace. The company brings together leading brands and is comprised of a diversified portfolio of business information products and services with a shared mission of informing, educating and training business professionals, while building community and facilitating industry commerce. The company is pursuing an aggressive growth strategy through a combination of organic product development and a series of highly targeted acquisitions and partnerships, and it is led by a collaborative and highly accomplished team of entrepreneurs, operators and investors. For more information, visit www.cyberriskalliance.com.

About Growth Catalyst Partners
Growth Catalyst Partners ("GCP") is a lower middle-market private equity firm focused on information,
marketing, and tech-enabled services businesses. GCP’s strategy involves targeting growth segments of
industries and identifying market leading companies with breakout potential. GCP partners with top executives within those industries and provides capital and expertise to the incumbent management teams of the targeted businesses. GCP was founded by veteran private equity investor Jim TenBroek and leading investment banker Scott Peters, who have led hundreds of transactions and successful investments in services businesses for over 20 years, and is currently investing out of Growth Catalyst Partners I. For more information, visit www.growthcatalystpartners.com.

About MIS Training Institute
MIS Training Institute is the international leader in information security, audit, and IT audit training. MISTI has trained more than 200,000 delegates across five continents, offering conferences, on-site training, and seminars in Information Security, Internal and IT Auditing, SOX Compliance, Network Infrastructures, Operating Environments, and Enterprise Applications, as well as Web-based training. For more information, visit www.misti.com.