Korean online media giant Kakao has bought an almost 10% stake in major K-pop agency SM Entertainment, whose clients include Aespa and SuperM. The acquisition of a 9.05% stake for an estimated $172.8m makes Kakao – which has interests in social media, banking and technology development – the second largest shareholder of SM Entertainment. The …
Warner Bros France subsidiary acquires talent agency Les Visiteurs du Soir
Warner Bros France subsidiary Décibels Productions has acquired a majority stake in French talent agency Les Visiteurs du Soir. Live entertainment and concert production company Décibels said it will run the agency, whose clients include domestic and international artists, in collaboration with existing stakeholder Morgane Production, while Olivier Gluzman remains managing director. Les Visiteurs du …
PIA Corporation backs VIP hospitality company Daimani Group
Tokyo-headquartered PIA Corporation has acquired a minority stake in Daimani Group, a global marketplace for VIP hospitality packages. Marketscreener reported that PIA invested around CHF 1.6m (£1.4m/€1.6m/$1.7m) and will hold a 5% stake in the Swiss start-up. PIA acquired the minority stake through a growth financing round. The two companies are active in the entertainment …
Deezer targets livestreaming growth through Driift expansion
UK livestreaming business Driift has acquired tech group Dreamstage in a deal backed by global music streaming giant Deezer. The partners said the deal will bring together Driift’s production capabilities with Dreamstage’s technology and commerce platform. The combined business will continue under the Driift name as an independent entity, run by chief executive Ric Salmon …
Secret Sounds acquires Spilt Milk operator Kicks Entertainment
Secret Sounds Group has expanded its leading role in the Australian festival sector after acquiring Spilt Milk operator Kicks Entertainment. Live Nation-backed Secret Sounds, which already operates Splendour In The Grass and the Secret Sounds festival, has now taken over the group which is behind the multi-city Spilt Milk, which is held in Canberra, Ballarat …
Private equity giant acquires stake in UTA agency
Private equity group EQT has become a strategic investor in United Talent Agency (UTA), which represents major artists such as Guns N Roses, Dolly Parton and Muse. EQT, which has around $100.0bn in assets under management, said the acquisition of the undisclosed stake recognises Beverly Hills-headquartered UTA’s recent growth trajectory and will help fuel future …
See Tickets acquires Exhibition Architect
Independent ticketing company See Tickets has acquired exhibitor manual and marketplace provider, Exhibition Architect (EA). The acquisition confirms See Tickets’ ambitions in the exhibition and conference industry, after acquiring LiveBuzz, a provider of services to the UK exhibition sector including event registration, event websites and event staffing, in October last year. Rob Wilmshurst, global chief …
SALTO enhances facial recognition tech through acquisition
Gantner Technologies owner SALTO Group is to enhance facial recognition technology within its ticketing and access control systems after the acquisition of Cognitec. SALTO said the acquisition comes in the wake of changing expectations across the events industry, with digital credentials, digital identities and facial recognition becoming the new standard. The group said the deal …
TodayTix completes Goldstar acquisition – TheTicketingBusiness News
TodayTix Group has continued its M&A spree through the acquisition of Goldstar, the North American live events discovery and ticketing platform. Financial details have not been released, but TodayTix said in a statement that the deal more than doubles its North American audience to over 20 million, expands its reach beyond theatre to include sports, …
See Tickets acquires LiveBuzz – TheTicketingBusiness News
Independent ticketing company See Tickets has acquired LiveBuzz, a provider of services to the UK exhibition sector. See Tickets, which is owned by French global media company Vivendi, believes the acquisition will compliment its existing activities. The transaction is immediately accretive to earnings. Global chief executive at See Tickets Rob Wilmshurt said: “We are delighted …