St. Louis, Mo. -- Meeting and incentive giant Maritz Inc. today announced plans to sell controlling interest in its European meetings business to U.K.-based The Grass Roots Group. The largest meetings firm in Europe, Grass Roots will take control of Maritz Europa while Maritz assumes a minority interest in Grass Roots."This alliance enhances our capabilities and resources outside of North America, which we can leverage on behalf of our U.S. customers seeking global solutions," said Christine Duffy, chief executive of Maritz Travel Company, Maritz's meetings-management subsidiary."This alliance doesn’t change our existing client agreements or our leadership position," Duffy added.Maritz's operations in Britain, Germany, France, and Spain will become part of Grass Roots. The Maritz brand will continue in Britain and Germany while the Maritz operations in France and Spain fall under the Grass Roots brand.The deal, terms of which were undisclosed, does not include Maritz's market research business.