Hamburg / October 5, 2006 – SPORTFIVE is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Sports Marketing Division of Formation Group PLC.
The sale is subject to the approval of Formation Group PLC shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting scheduled for 24 October 2006. The completion is likely to take place on 31 October 2006.
The Sports Marketing Division is one of the UK’s leading football marketing businesses. It comprises five subsidiaries: Fox Sports Limited; RC&A Sports Management Limited, Bermitz Sports Advertising Limited, Sponsormatic ApS and Active Sports Marketing Limited. Together they provide outdoor advertising, media and marketing services, and have agreements with over 30 Premiership and Championship clubs.
The Sports Marketing Division advises a large number of UK and international companies on the outdoor advertising requirements of their brands. It is the UK’s leading football outdoor advertising company. It has recently acquired the first portable LED system in the UK, which is currently being used at the majority of live Championship games on SKY.
The Sports Marketing Division also provides sports marketing services, such as sales promotion, brand consultancy, sports PR and event management, to companies and individual athletes. These services are provided through Active Sports Marketing Limited, one of the leading independent agencies within the UK advising companies on their positioning within the sporting landscape.
Philip Cordes, CEO Germany and International TV, said: “It is central to our strategy for growth that we have a significant presence in the UK, one of the strongest sports markets in the world. We have very mature football businesses in Germany and France, and this will allow us to grow our UK business and to offer companies and clubs a broad range of very attractive services.”
Andrew Croker, International Executive Vice President, commented: “These businesses perfectly complement our current core business in television rights. The key management of Jim Foxcroft, Richard Carpenter, Richard Bermitz and Chris Rawlings bring unique experience and relationships. Combining these businesses with our existing relationships with the Football Association, BSkyB and various clubs puts us in a unique position.”
We will be happy to provide further information upon request.
Caroliene Götz
Vice President Corporate Communications
SPORTFIVE GmbH & Co. KG
Phone: +49 40 376 77-110
Fax: +49 40 376 77-115
E-mail: mailto:caroliene.goetz@sportfive.com