IMG Acquires Mutua Madrid Open And Acciona Open de España

IMG, an Endeavor company and global leader in sports, events, media and fashion, today announced it has completed its purchase of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament and the Acciona Open de España golf tournament from Super Slam Ltd and its affiliates.

One of nine ATP Masters 1000 and four WTA 1000 Mandatory events, the Mutua Madrid Open joins IMG’s roster of leading tennis tournaments, including the Miami Open and several other ATP and WTA events.

With the close of the acquisition, Madrid Trophy Promotion SLU (MTP), the Spanish entity that operates the tournament, is now part of IMG, with MTP’s CEO and tournament director Gerard Tsobanian serving as Senior Vice President, Tennis Events, IMG. Tsobanian and his team continue to oversee the day-to-day running of the Mutua Madrid Open as part of IMG’s global tennis events division led by Gavin Forbes.

Sam Zussman, Co-President of Media and Events at IMG, said: “We are proud to add the Mutua Madrid Open and Acciona Open de España to our portfolio. Drawing on our long history in tennis and golf and the MTP team’s expertise, we will build these events into even more unique and remarkable experiences for players, partners, and fans.”

The 20th anniversary edition of the tournament takes place this year from 26 April – 8 May at Caja Mágica in Madrid, Spain. The Mutua Madrid Open is one of two key clay court events leading up to Roland Garros and boasts an illustrious list of winners that includes Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, Petra Kvitová and Novak Djokovic.

MTP also runs the European Tour’s Acciona Open de España golf tournament, which IMG’s golf events division will now support. Founded in 1912, The Acciona Open de España (formerly the Spanish Open) is rich in history and typically takes place in October at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid where it is broadcast to more than 120 countries.

Minnesota Vikings And Fanatics Lock Up Exclusive 10-Year Omnichannel Merchandise Partnership

The Minnesota Vikings and Fanatics, a leading provider of licensed sports merchandise and global digital sports platform, today announced an exclusive, 10-year omnichannel merchandise and retail partnership to create a new, best-in-class shopping experience for Vikings fans worldwide. As a part of the new deal, Fanatics will assume operations of the organization’s e-commerce, mobile and physical retail efforts.

The team’s new online shopping destination, shop.vikings.com, is now live and powered by Fanatics’ in-house developed Cloud Commerce Platform (CCP). The rapid, state-of-the-art online shopping platform is optimized for fans browsing desktop, tablet, or phone, and features hi-res product landing pages and displays, expanded payment options at checkout, and real-time access to the latest high-quality Vikings products across all categories.

“As the leader in licensed sports merchandise, with a strong track record in the NFL, Fanatics will provide Vikings fans with an enhanced fan experience both online and in team stores,” said Vikings Chief Marketing Officer Martin Nance. “Fans will see a deeper selection, increased availability and the most up-to-date trends in all Vikings gear whether shopping online, at the game or at additional store locations.”

A key aspect of the new partnership is Fanatics’ commitment to significantly invest in the renovation of all three Vikings Locker Room team store locations. Stores at U.S. Bank Stadium, the Viking Lakes campus in Eagan, and the Mall of America will receive fresh upgrades to create an elevated and connected experience for fans. The integration of online and brick-and-mortar locations will create a mirrored shopping experience with the ability to seamlessly shift inventory and remain readily in stock with products wherever fans choose to shop.

“The Minnesota Vikings are one of the NFL’s historic franchises with an incredibly passionate fanbase, and Fanatics is thrilled become the official omnichannel merchandise partner of the team,” said Ed O’Brien, Fanatics SVP of Business Development and Strategy. “We’ve worked closely with the team to create a comprehensive retail offering that will provide fans everywhere with the widest assortment of on-trend, quality merchandise regardless of shopping online, on phones, at the game or at additional team stores around the Twin Cities.”

Through Fanatics’ widespread manufacturing capabilities – including designing, manufacturing, and distributing all Nike NFL fan apparel sold at retail – and leading catalogue of officially licensed merchandise, Vikings fans everywhere will now be able to shop the widest assortment of team products ever available, including jerseys, headwear, hardgoods and lifestyle items. Products will be available across hundreds of officially licensed brands, such as Fanatics, Nike, Mitchell & Ness, New Era, WinCraft, WEAR by Erin Andrews and the NFL x Darius Rucker Collection by Fanatics.

Fanatics is the NFL’s official e-commerce partner and has separate e-commerce deals with 27 NFL teams. The Vikings will become the company’s 10th omnichannel merchandise partner.

Jack Buckner Confirmed As UK Athletics CEO

Jack Buckner has been announced as the new Chief Executive of UK Athletics following the conclusion of an open recruitment process.

Buckner, who is currently the Chief Executive of British Swimming and previously the British Triathlon Federation, will take the reins at UK Athletics as the sport commences build-up towards a fast approaching Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As swimming’s CEO he oversaw a hugely successful Team GB performance at the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2021, the Olympic team claiming a best-ever haul of eight medals including 4 gold and the Paralympic team was the most successful sport competing for ParalympicsGB with 26 medals won at the Aquatics centre.

Previous to his role at British Triathlon, Buckner worked as Strategic Lead for National Governing Bodies and Market Development for Sport England. Most notably however he is a 1987 World Athletics Championships Bronze medallist, and 1986 European Gold and Commonwealth Silver medallist over 5000m.

On returning to the sport where he originally made his competitive mark, Buckner said:

“I’m incredibly excited to continue my sporting journey at UK Athletics where I know there are so many great people doing amazing things in Olympic and Paralympic sport. Many thanks to Ian Beattie and the Board at UKA for giving me this opportunity.

“Athletics has been a huge part of my life since I was a teenager and I can’t wait to be trackside later in the year. Taking on the CEO role will be an exciting challenge and one I feel privileged to have been offered. I am looking forward to getting started.”

UK Athletics Chair Ian Beattie said:

“I am delighted to announce Jack as our new CEO. We were impressed with the range and quality of applicants for the role at this exciting time for athletics, but Jack was the standout candidate with his feel for the sport and knowledge as an athlete.

“Both the Board and I look forward to working with Jack, starting with this very busy and exciting summer and looking ahead to the fast-approaching Paris Olympics and Paralympics.

“I’d also like to thank Mark Munro in his role as interim CEO and his commitment to leading the senior team over the last few months. I’m pleased to confirm that Mark will continue working for UKA in a senior role and has been appointed to the position of Chief Operating Officer in a crucial role alongside our new CEO. I’ve no doubt we’ve got some great talent in the senior leadership team and organisation and I’m looking forward to working with them in the coming years.”

Esports Industry Set To Come Together For The Inaugural ESIC Global Esports Summit In London This April

The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) in collaboration with key stakeholders from the global esports industry, is preparing for the inaugural ESIC Global Esports Summit (EGES) 2022 which is taking place at the ExCeL, London on the 13th to 14th of April 2022. 

The EGES 2022 will bring together various key stakeholders from the esports industry including the top esports publishers, tournament organisers, teams, non-endemics, mainstream media and more. The conference was established by ESIC to become the meeting place and knowledge share hub for the global esports industry. In addition to subject matter expert speakers delivering highly specialised insights across two content streams, the EGES will host a collection of closed-door industry meetings designed at achieving tangible progress in key challenge areas. 

This year, the EGES will begin on the 13th of April 2022 with an invitation only ESIC Masterclass on Crime, Fraud and Esports featuring guests from law enforcement and governmental bodies as well as ESIC Anti-Corruption Supporters who will delve into the experiences they have had within the industry. After the conclusion of day 1, the main conference day, on the 14th of April 2022, will feature two specialised content streams: Main Stage keynote sessions and Think Tank expert deliberations and collaborations as well as various closed door industry meetings. 

KEY SPEAKERS ON THE MAIN STAGE 

The EGES will be a landmark esports industry event and will give attendees an opportunity to hear from the industry’s top thought leaders. The Main Stage will be the centrepiece of the conference with over 15 high profile esports thought leaders from  around the world coming together to present meaningful keynote presentations on important esports topics, sharing the depth of their background and personal experiences. 

A must-see session on the agenda is that of Michał Blicharz, the VP Pro Gaming at ESL who will be recounting his experiences in managing and developing the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) tournament, the world’s oldest and most prestigious pro gaming tour, watched by 55 million people across 180 countries each year.

Michał will be sharing his personal journey with IEM and how it survived the COVID 19 pandemic in the session ‘Katowice: The Making of an Event’. 

Commenting on what you can look forward to at his session, Michał said: 

“In 2013 the prospect of a stadium event hardly looked like a guaranteed slam dunk. Today, you could say that the history of ESL is divided into two distinct eras: what came before Intel Extreme Masters Katowice and what came after. Join me at the ESIC Global Esports Summit as I talk about the lessons, we’ve learned between founding the event, transitioning the main tournament from League of Legends to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and navigating it through the COVID-19 pandemic” 

Another notable speaker presenting to the EGES attendees will be David Harris, the Managing Director of Guinevere Capital. David will be sharing his personal experiences on the Main Stage with his session on ‘Investing in Esports’. 

Speaking on his session and attendance at the conference, David commented: 

“After 2 years of disruption with the pandemic, I’m really looking forward to joining an in-person event focused on the esports sector. There will be much to discuss with investment and consolidation in the esports and gaming sector reaching new heights over recent months, along with the increased focus on the metaverse and web 3.0. It’s an exciting time for the industry with both new challenges and opportunities arriving”. 

For more information about the Main Stage content at the EGES, visit: https://www.eges.gg/mainstage 

KEY SPEAKERS ON THE THINK TANK 

The EGES will also feature the unique and insightful ESIC Think Tank content track. The ESIC Think Tank is a debate style panel session where subject matter experts  discuss a topical issue relevant to their area of expertise with the aim of progressing  the industry’s understanding of the issue. One of these topics includes ‘Tournaments in a Post COVID-19 World’ in which the leading esports tournament operators will join  the moderator to discuss how COVID-19 has affected their tournaments as well as exploring the ongoing ramifications of the pandemic on the future of esports.  

The all-star cast joining this think tank discussion include: Michele Attisani, the Co Founder and CEO of FACEIT, Valentyn Shevchenko, the Head of Business Development at WePlay Esports and Andrew Haworth, the Commissioner of BLAST  Premier.

Andrew Haworth shares a brief statement about what attendees can look forward to at the conference: 

‘Firstly I’m excited to be getting back to in person conferences and being able to hear from colleagues across the industry on the challenges, success stories and learnings from the Covid era. Secondly I’m looking forward to sharing our experiences of delivering a range of tournaments during that era, what we’ll take from this going forward and what mistakes we’ve made and hopefully what we learnt from those mistakes’ 

The Think Tank will also bring other interesting topics to the EGES such as the ‘Trends in Commercialising Esports: A Team’s Perspective’ session. In this session, top esports teams such as Fnatic and OG Esports discuss the importance of developing strong brands to create sustainable businesses. Edward Gregory, the Senior Partnership Manager at Fnatic will be sharing how he authentically connects brands to fans, through innovative content and activations to leave a lasting impression, with Edward adding: 

“I am incredibly excited to be speaking at the ESIC Global Esports Summit this year, the work they are doing in the space to bring legitimacy to all aspects of the industry is brilliant. Having worked in traditional sports as well as esports I look forward to sharing some of the insights I have gained as well as showcase the significant positive  trajectory the industry is on, leaning on experiences I have gained from our industry leading partnership at Fnatic”  

For more information about the Think Tank content at the EGES, visit: https://www.eges.gg/think-tank 

About the Esports Integrity Commission 

The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) is a non-for-profit, independent, industry member’s association with the mission to protect the integrity of esports by resolving  key issues including match-manipulation, betting fraud and cheating in esports. Since its establishment in 2016 ESIC has slowly risen to be the guardian of integrity for the esports industry. 

To date ESIC is recognised in several jurisdictions across internationally. ESIC has also acquired over 50+ industry members such as ESL, BLAST, WePlay Esports, and more. 

How to get involved: 

The inaugural ESIC Global Esports Summit 2022 is now less than a month away,  and will be a landmark conference for the esports industry. Whether you will be  attending with your colleagues, your friends or by yourself, be sure you don’t miss  out! 

For iSportConnect readers only, ESIC will be providing 20% off current ticket prices – https://registration.gesevent.com/survey/12c2ac8prjsw0?actioncode=ESIC20 

Secure your EGES ticket now! 

If you are looking for more details about the event including our list of speakers and agenda, please head to EGES website: https://www.eges.gg/

If you have any further questions pertaining to this release, please contact us at press@esic.gg OR info@eges.gg.

Netflix And A.S.O. Announce A Docuseries On The Tour De France 2022

Netflix is partnering with A.S.O. to create a documentary series on the Tour de France 2022, with the participation of France Télévisions. Produced by Quadbox, a joint venture between QUAD and Box to box Films (Drive to Survive), the series will follow the journey of 8 teams taking part in the most difficult cycling race.

Consisting of 8 episodes of 45 minutes, the series will follow as closely as possible all the actors of the Tour de France, from cyclists to team managers to understand the multiple stakes of a race that has become a true international symbol, broadcasted in 190 territories.

The backstages of eight iconic teams will be unveiled, from the preparation phase to the finish line: AG2R Citroën Team, Alpecin-Fenix, BORA-hansgrohe, EF Education-EasyPost, Groupama-FDJ cycling Team, Ineos Grenadiers, Team Jumbo-Visma and Team Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl.

Filming will run from March to July 2022 for a release on Netflix in the first semester of 2023. In addition, France Télévisions will broadcast a 52′ documentary a few days before the start of the Tour de France 2023.

Dolores Emile, Manager, EMEA Unscripted & Doc Series (France) at Netflix:

“We are very proud to unveil new aspects of the emblematic Tour de France. This is a unique opportunity to dive into the stories of its inspiring characters!”

Yann Le Moënner, Managing Director of A.S.O.:

“We are proud of this partnership with Netflix, France Télévisions and the Tour de France teams, which will offer fans a unique immersion behind the scenes. Through a narrative approach, which is additive to the competition itself, the public will be able to discover how the Tour de France represents the ultimate challenge for the competitors ; in particular in terms of suffering, pushing their limits and team spirit. This project is part of our overall ambition to make our sport more accessible and meet an even wider audience.”

Laurent-Eric Le Lay, Sports Director at France Télévisions:

“As the historic partner and broadcaster of the Tour de France, we are delighted to participate in this project which will allow everyone to experience part of the daily life of champions and teams. It is additive to what we do every year during the race and we believe that it will attract an even larger audience to this beautiful event.”

Cazoo To Sponsor Snooker’s British Open

Cazoo, Europe’s leading online car retailer, which makes ordering a car as simple and seamless as buying any other product online today, is expanding its snooker partnership with the World Snooker Tour to become the main sponsor of the British Open for the first time.

The 2022 Cazoo British Open will run from September 26th to October 2nd at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes and will see prominent Cazoo branding on the main set, players’ waistcoats and interview and media conference backdrops and will have extensive live coverage on ITV and a range of broadcasters across the globe.

This deal extends Cazoo’s portfolio of prestigious snooker sponsorships, which also includes the Cazoo Masters, Cazoo UK Championship, Cazoo Champion of Champions and the trio of Cazoo Series events.

Cazoo is now one of the biggest sports sponsors in the UK with a portfolio that includes football (Everton, Aston Villa & the EFL), cricket (The Hundred), rugby (Welsh Rugby Union & 2021 Rugby League World Cup), golf (European Tour), horse racing (Epsom Derby & St Leger) and darts (PDC). Cazoo will also sponsor Spanish LaLiga football teams Real Sociedad and Valencia FC and French Ligue 1 side Olympique de Marseille, from the start of next season.

Cazoo was founded in 2018 by renowned British entrepreneur Alex Chesterman and has already sold over 60,000 cars in the UK since its launch as consumers have embraced the selection, value, transparency and convenience of buying and selling used cars fully online. Cazoo has grown its team to over 4,250 across the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Portugal.

Snooker’s British Open was first staged in 1985 and remained on the calendar until 2004, then returned in 2021 after a 17-year gap. Mark Williams is the defending champion having beaten Gary Wilson 6-4 in the final in Leicester.

It’s the only tournament on the WST circuit to include a random ‘FA Cup style’ draw for each round. Last year, matches in the early rounds were the best of five frames, but this year that has been increased to best of seven for the early rounds, best of nine for the quarter-finals, best of 11 for the semis and best of 19 for the showpiece final on Sunday October 2nd. 

Alex Chesterman OBE, Founder & CEO of Cazoo said:

“We’re excited to extend our partnership with WST and Matchroom to include the 2022 Cazoo British Open. This deal will grow our audience as we continue to build Cazoo into a household brand and deliver the best car buying and selling experience across the UK and Europe.”

Steve Dawson, Chairman of WST said:

“We are thrilled to join forces once again with Cazoo for the fantastic British Open which proved a great success when we brought it back on to the calendar last season. Cazoo have an outstanding set of snooker properties across the season, bringing massive global exposure for their brand. With extensive free to air coverage on ITV and the best players in the world competing for the title, the Cazoo British Open will once again reach a vast audience of snooker fans. We are excited to work with the Cazoo team on building this far-reaching partnership.”

Getir Becomes The Official Partner Of The Schneider Electric Marathon De Paris

Getir, the pioneer of ultrafast grocery delivery, has become a sponsor and an official partner of the biggest running challenge in France, the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris, which will take place on April 3. The marathon will bring together both professional and amateur athletes from all walks of life.

“We are very pleased to participate in the great challenge of the Paris Marathon which is one of the biggest and prestigious marathons in the world, as much for sizes of its field as the performance of its runners. At Getir, we embrace health, sports, nature and it is our great pleasure to support and stand by the side of sports and athletes, we will continue to respect and value them. As we believe in the power of sports, we aim to invest in sports organizations in other countries where Getir services are available. We are particularly happy to support City of Paris and one of Paris’s signature organizations, in line with our objective be a good citizen of this great city we serve.”, underlines Alec Dent, General Manager of Getir France.

“We are delighted to welcome Getir to the family of sponsors of the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris for the first time. Through this sponsorship, Getir will also conduct actions for the protection of the environment along with us and our other sponsors. Getir will also be contributing to the festive aspect, which is essential in marathon events, by offering the large audience of the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris entertainment during the Run Experience and the race. We welcome Getir to the marathon.” Confirms Julien Goupil, Medias & Sponsorship director.

MORE THAN EVER, GETIR ACCOMPANIES FRENCH PEOPLE IN ALL THEIR SHOPPING RUNS

To celebrate this partnership, Getir will make available on its app a list of products for athletes in order to prepare all participants before the run (feed bar, oatmeal cereal quaker oats and etc.).

From March 31 to April 2, Getir will invite runners to its booth at Run Experience when they pick up their race number. They will be able to discover Getir’s delivery service and live entertaining experiences (photobooth, virtual reality). At Run Experience, Getir will also organize a contest with runners experiencing the photobooth to allow 30 of them (through a draw) to win well-deserved post-race products, delivered right after the finish line.

Approximately 30 Getir employees from several European countries, including riders and pickers from our gstores in France, will be running the Marathon. In order to make a positive contribution to local communities and act as a custodian for the environments, Getir will also organize a team who will support to the organizers to clean the streets of Paris right after the marathon.

Las Vegas To Host Formula 1 Night Race From 2023

The world-famous neon lights of Las Vegas will provide the backdrop to Formula 1’s newest race when the American city hosts a night event from 2023.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix will take place on a Saturday next November and be one of three races in the United States, joining Miami and Austin.

Las Vegas hosted races in 1981 and 1982 but this will be the first time F1 cars will race on the iconic Las Vegas Strip, with the circuit sweeping past famous hotels and casinos.

The 14-turn track will run for 3.8 miles (6.12km) with top speeds expected to hit around 212mph (342km/h).

The design features three straights, a high-speed cornering sequence and a single chicane section, with the Grand Prix to be run over 50 laps.

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F1 and Liberty Media will work together to promote the race in partnership with Live Nation Entertainment and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), as well as Founding Partners Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, and Wynn Las Vegas and Presenting Partners MSG Sphere, Resorts World Las Vegas and The Venetian Resort.Play VideoLas Vegas to join 2023 Formula 1 calendar

The news was announced at a glittering event in Las Vegas on Wednesday evening, with Liberty Media President and CEO Greg Maffei and F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali in attendance.

They were joined by local stakeholders including Nevada Governor, Steve Sisolak, CEO and President of the LVCVA, Steve Hill and President and CEO of Live Nation Entertainment, Michael Rapino.

“Iconic Las Vegas and Formula 1, the pinnacle of motorsport, is the perfect marriage of speed and glamour,” said Maffei. “Our confidence in this unique opportunity is evident in our decision to assume the promoter role for the Las Vegas Grand Prix in partnership with Live Nation.

Circuit Reveal.jpg

“We could not be more excited to work with our local partners to create a marquee event. The potential of Formula 1 has been well demonstrated over the last several seasons and the Las Vegas GP will only take it to the next level.”

Domenicali added: “This is an incredible moment for Formula 1 that demonstrates the huge appeal and growth of our sport with a third race in the US. Las Vegas is a destination known around the world for its excitement, hospitality, thrills, and of course, the famous Strip.

“There is no better place for Formula 1 to race than in the global entertainment capital of the world and we cannot wait to be here next year. I want to thank everyone who helped deliver this event, especially Governor Sisolak, the Clark County Commission, Steve Hill at the LVCVA, and our local partners.”

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Hill added: “We eagerly anticipate the moment when the history, energy and momentum of Formula 1 will culminate in an unforgettable Saturday night on the Las Vegas Strip. Spectators will experience the unrivalled thrill of watching these world-class drivers race through what is sure to become one of the most iconic racetracks in the world.

“Formula 1 and Liberty Media have been incredible partners, and we look forward to November 2023 when we once again showcase that Las Vegas is ‘The Greatest Arena on Earth’.”

FIBA And Two Circles Form D2C Strategic Venture With Courtside 1891

FIBA, the International Basketball Federation, and sports marketing and data technology company Two Circles today announced a long-term strategic venture that will revolutionize the direct-to-consumer market for basketball content globally.

Aligning with FIBA’s vision to make basketball the world’s most popular sports community and the strategic objective to enlarge the FIBA family, the partnership will see FIBA and Two Circles develop, market and commercialize a completely new direct-to-consumer offering under the Courtside 1891 brand. 

The new Courtside 1891 product aggregates scores, streams and schedules from a wide variety of basketball events and leagues across the globe. This comprehensive content offering, combined with a fresh and unique new brand, represents a bold and innovative departure from the typical digital offerings of sports federations. 

The initial launch product for Courtside 1891 was made available on limited release for the recent FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 second window of qualifiers, played in February across the FIBA regions. 

The Courtside 1891 venture will enable FIBA to develop direct, long-term fan relationships worldwide and build a greater understanding of global basketball fan behaviors and attitudes to help create new products and strategies. It will also create opportunities to deliver greater exposure and visibility for FIBA competitions alongside pan-regional and domestic leagues worldwide.  

Andreas Zagklis, FIBA Secretary General, said: “We are delighted to embark on this venture with Two Circles. Growing the global profile of basketball and unifying the basketball community is a fundamental piece of our vision. With Two Circles’ expertise in digital strategies that engage audiences and grow direct relationships with fans, this partnership has already provided a new digital platform that all members of the FIBA Family will benefit from and will create unprecedented levels of engagement with our basketball fanbase.”

Gareth Balch, CEO of Two Circles, added: “Direct relationships with fans has become a valuable currency as sports properties transition from the analogue age of broadcast TV to the era of digital consumption and distribution. As an international federation, FIBA has a track record of innovation, and we are excited with the impact our data-driven approach can have in pushing the boundaries and initiating FIBA’s next phase of media distribution and digital fan engagement.”

FIBA and Two Circles’ partnership, which will initially run until 2029, has seen Two Circles invest substantial capital to develop new digital platforms and create a dedicated team covering product strategy, sales, marketing, data management and analytics. 

Live streaming via Courtside 1891 is available in all key markets through free and paid subscriptions via all major browsers and operating systems. While fans can currently subscribe to live streams of FIBA’s national team events, access live scores from almost all leagues around the world and view highlights from a growing number of competitions, the ultimate vision is to create a truly personalized content feed for each individual basketball fan.

As part of priority developments planned for the service, Courtside 1891 will also become a hub to discover live content on other platforms, becoming the easiest place for fans to discover where and when they can watch live basketball from a range of competitions. Through this, FIBA will be supporting its broadcast partners in delivering FIBA action to the widest audience possible.

Nielsen Enters Into Agreement To Be Acquired By Evergreen- And Brookfield-Led Consortium For $16 Billion

Nielsen Holdings plc today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by a private equity consortium led by Evergreen Coast Capital Corporation, an affiliate of Elliott Investment Management L.P., and Brookfield Business Partners L.P. together with institutional partners for $28 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $16 billion, including the assumption of debt.

The Nielsen Board of Directors voted unanimously to support the acquisition proposal, which represents a 10% premium over the Consortium’s previous proposal and a 60% premium over Nielsen’s unaffected stock price as of March 11, 2022, the last trading day before market speculation regarding a potential transaction. The Board reached this determination following a comprehensive review of the proposal, with the assistance of its independent financial and legal advisors. 

“After a thorough assessment, the Board determined that this transaction represents an attractive outcome for our shareholders by providing a cash takeout at a substantial premium, while supporting Nielsen’s commitment to our clients, employees and stakeholders. The Consortium sees the full potential of Nielsen’s leadership position in the media industry and the unique value we deliver for our clients worldwide,” said James A. Attwood, Chairperson of Nielsen’s Board of Directors.

“After months of deep market analysis, industry diligence and management reviews, we are firmly convinced that Nielsen will continue to be the gold standard for audience measurement as it executes on the Nielsen ONE roadmap,” said Managing Partner Jesse Cohn and Senior Portfolio Manager Marc Steinberg on behalf of Evergreen and Elliott. “Having first invested in Nielsen nearly four years ago, we have a unique appreciation for the Company’s ongoing relevance to the global, digital-first media ecosystem. Today’s outcome represents a significant win for Nielsen’s shareholders and for the business itself, as our multibillion-dollar investment will help Nielsen reinforce its transformation at this critical inflection point. We are pleased to partner with David and the existing management team to lead Nielsen after the transaction is completed.”

“Nielsen is deeply embedded in the media ecosystem and a trusted service provider to its customers. As a private company, Nielsen will be even better positioned to deliver the best measures of consumers’ rapidly changing behaviors across all channels and platforms,” commented Dave Gregory, Managing Partner, Brookfield Business Partners. “We are pleased to invest in this iconic company and help lead the industry into the next generation of audience measurement.”

The Consortium has secured fully committed debt and equity financing, including an approximately $5.7 billion equity commitment from the Consortium consisting of Evergreen and Brookfield. There are no financing conditions to the closing of the transaction.

The transaction is subject to approval by Nielsen shareholders, regulatory approvals, consultation with the works council and other customary closing conditions. The transaction will also be subject to UK court approval pursuant to a scheme of arrangement. Alternatively, pursuant to the agreement, the parties may elect instead to complete the transaction pursuant to an agreed-upon tender offer. If the closing conditions are met, the transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2022.

The Company no longer intends to commence share repurchases under the Board’s previously approved authorization.