ENK International, the producer of fashion trade shows including The Collective and Fashion Coterie has purchased WSA Global Holdings LLC, producer of the WSA footwear shows in Las Vegas.

The purchase was the first transaction since Forstmann Little’s investment in ENK in 2006, and signals the company’s intention to be a much more significant player on the national trade show scene. Most ENK shows to this point were headquartered in New York, with some also taking place in Los Angeles.

“Both ENK and WSA have very strong market positions, excellent management teams and significant potential for growth,” said Theodore J. Forstmann, Forstmann Little & Co. Senior Founding Partner. Continued Elyse Kroll, Chairman of ENK, “The strength of the ENK and WSA brands and the value we bring to our customers provide many avenues for growth, and we intend to leverage this remarkable platform to significantly grow the business while maintaining continuity and stability of our valuable customer relationships.”

According to Skip Farber, WSA’s chief executive, who will continue to be a shareholder of the combined company, “The market knowledge and trend leadership for which ENK is renowned combined with the strategic and customer focus, organizational and operational expertise we have built at WSA will enable us to deliver maximum value to both sets of customers.”

ENK International, which was founded in 1981 by Elyse N. Kroll, conducts 22 events per year, 16 of which are held in New York City, and five in Los Angeles. Among the ENK shows are The Collective, Fashion Coterie, Sole Commerce, Accessories Circuit, Children’s Club and Blue. In addition to its investment in the fashion business through ENK, Forstmann Little also has a substantial ownership interest in IMG worldwide, the producer of New York Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.