Investcorp acquires Italy’s Vivaticket
Bahrain-based Investcorp, an alternative investment specialist, has acquired Italian ticketing software provider Ticket Holding, known as Vivaticket.
Investcorp, which acquired a minority stake in United Talent Agency last year, is buying Vivaticket from co-founders Luca Montebugnoli and Luana Sabattini, as well as board members Giuseppe Camillo Pilenga and Stefano Landi.
Financial details for the transaction, which is expected to close by the end of the year, have not been disclosed.
Both co-founders and the Vivaticket management team will remain involved in the company, holding “a meaningful stake”.
The Bologna-headquartered company works with more than 2,100 clients across 50 countries, including Disney World and FC Barcelona, and has provided ticketing services for live events including Vasco Rossi’s record-breaking show in Modena Park (225,000 tickets sold) and tour dates by ACDC, Queen, Bruce Springsteen and Renato Zero.
“Vivaticket is a formidable customer-oriented software solutions provider with an impressive and entrepreneurial management team,” says Daniel Lopez-Cruz, head of Investcorp’s European private equity group.
“Investcorp […] will be able to further accelerate the growth of Vivaticket with the aim of competing amongst the top three players globally”
“As global demand for entertainment and experiential content continues to increase, Vivaticket is ideally positioned to capitalise on multiple growth opportunities that directly align with Investcorp’s investment expertise.”
Lopez-Cruz states the partnership will support Vivaticket’s “international growth” alluding to “add-on acquisitions” that will “expand the company’s geographic footprint and further strengthen its presence in existing markets.”
“Investcorp is a distinguished and highly professional partner that, together with the existing management team, will be able to further accelerate the growth of Vivaticket with the aim of competing amongst the top three players globally,” comments Vivaticket co-founder Montebugnoli.
The Vivaticket executive stresses that the company’s “ethical and professional principles”, “technological innovation” and the “ability to attract talent” will remain at the core of the business.
Vivaticket, formerly Best Union, is one of three leading primary ticketing companies in Italy, along with CTS Eventim’s TicketOne and Live Nation’s Ticketmaster Italy. The company absorbed rival BookingShow in 2018.
With established operations in ten countries across Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia Pacific, the company has offices in Italy, Spain, Australia, UAE, UK, France, the Unites States and Singapore.
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TM Italy expands with festival promoter partnership
Ticketmaster Italy has announced a partnership with Italian independent festival promoter Home Entertainment, as the ticketing giant continues its expansion in the southern European country.
Treviso-based Home Entertainment produces festivals including Home Festival (Aphex Twin, Pusha T, Jon Hopkins), brand new event Core festival, rhythm and blues festival Elvis Days and Ireland-themed festival Fiera d’Irlanda.
Ticketmaster Italy will provide end-to-end ticketing services for all of Home Entertainment’s festivals and events, providing technology solutions including digital ticketing. The ticketing company will also have an on-ground presence at the festivals, deploying fan engagement events and marketing activities.
“We are confident that Ticketmaster’s experience, technology and international reach will help us to enhance our festivals in the best way possible,” says Amedeo Lombardi, founder of Home Entertainment. “Our fans are our number one priority and with Ticketmaster we will be able to provide them with the best experience imaginable.”
“Together we share a passion for live and providing the best fan experience”
Daniele Bei, who was appointed managing director of Ticketmaster Italy in June, says the company is “thrilled to welcome our very first independent festival promoter to the Ticketmaster Italy family.”
“Together we share a passion for live and providing the best fan experience. We look forward to a long and rewarding relationship, one with great potential for future growth in Italy as well as internationally,” adds Bei. “This is just another step forward for the Ticketmaster team into the vibrant entertainment market in Italy.”
The announcement follows Ticketmaster Italy’s partnership with Zed Entertainment in October. Zed is one of Italy’s largest venue operators and promoters of major events.
According to the International Ticketing Yearbook 2018, CTS Eventim’s TicketOne has been the market leader in the country for more than a decade. The launch of Ticketmaster Italy in 2017, “brought to an inevitable conclusion the long-term partnership between [CTS Eventim’s] TicketOne and Live Nation.”
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Ticketmaster signs Italy’s Zed Entertainment
Ticketmaster Italy has partnered with with Zed Entertainment, one of the largest venue operators and promoters in Italy, to provide ticketing services for its ten venues.
The first major venue deal for Ticketmaster Italy, which launched last November, the partnership will see the company ticket the Gran Teatro Geox (2,500-seat) in Padua, Gran Teatro Morato (1,800-cap.) in Brescia, Kioene Arena (3,916-seat) in Padua, Zoppas Arena (4,000-cap.) in Conegliano, PalaGeorge (5,500-cap.) in Montichiari, Stadio Euganeo (32,420-cap.) in Padua, Arena Spettacoli Padova Fiere (4,000-cap.) in Padua, Arena di Mantova and Teatro Mantova (6,000-cap., ex Palabam) in Mantua and Festival Estivo Padova in Padua.
Daniel Bei, since June managing director of Ticketmaster Italy, says: “Having opened our doors just last year, this is a significant win for Ticketmaster Italy as our first major venue deal. Our mission is to support the local live music industry with our world-class service, to help venues connect with fans wherever they may be.
“This is a significant win for Ticketmaster Italy as our first major venue deal”
“We share Zed’s passion for live entertainment, and look forward to collaborating closely to grow our business together.”
Valeria Arzenton, Zed’s co-founder, adds: “We are constantly investing in ideas, innovation and quality in our venues to ensure every single attendee has a unique and enjoyable experience.
“Through this partnership with Ticketmaster we will be able to upgrade our ticketing service, and make the live experience much more fulfilling for fans.”
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Ticketmaster launches in Italy
Ticketmaster has confirmed to IQ its long-rumoured expansion into Italy, with the world’s largest ticketing company today launching in the sixth-biggest live music market.
The launch of Ticketmaster Italia (ticketmaster.it), headquartered in Milan, follows the end of the exclusive long-term online partnership in Italy between Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation, and CTS Eventim-owned TicketOne, which wrapped up this year and was replaced by an ongoing agreement.
According to the International Ticketing Yearbook 2017, Live Nation had already registered the new entity with the Italian chamber of commerce, with an official launch rumoured for this month.
Ticketmaster’s primary-market debut in Italy – it already has a presence in the secondary market with a local version of Seatwave – represents its third new venture in Europe in 2017 alone, following launches in Switzerland (with Tixtec) in August and the Czech Republic (via Ticketpro) in February.
“Italy [is] undoubtedly one of the world’s most vibrant and popular destinations for live entertainment and cultural events”
“We look forward to providing the best ticketing experience for clients, artists and fans across Italy – undoubtedly one of the world’s most vibrant and popular destinations for live entertainment and cultural events,” says Ticketmaster International president Mark Yovich.
“This was an organic move for the business. This is an exciting moment for fans of live music, theatre, sport and cultural events, not just in Italy, but across all our global markets as we continue our strategic expansion.”
In Live Nation Italy festival news, meanwhile, Firenze Rocks today announced Iron Maiden, Foo Fighters, Ozzy Osbourne and Guns N’ Roses as its 2018 headliners. Tickets for each show are on sale on 15, 16, 17 and 18 November, respectively, from ticketmaster.it.
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