AEG Purchases All Outstanding Shares of AXS

Company Now Owns 100% of Leading Global Ticketing Platform. Transaction Allows AXS to Expand International Operations, Increase Market Share of Rapidly Growing Industry, and Deliver New Innovative Solutions to Clients and Fans

AEG Purchases All Outstanding Shares of AXS
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AEG, the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company, announced today that the company has purchased all outstanding shares in AXS, a industry leading ticketing and data solutions provider, bringing its ownership stake to 100%. The transaction will allow the company to capitalize on the projected growth of the global online event ticketing market which is expected to reach more than $67 billion by 2025.* AEG, which was a founding partner in the ticketing platform from its inception in 2011, acquired the outstanding shares from former partners Dan Gilbert and TPG Capital, the owner of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group.

One of the fastest growing ticketing platforms, AXS currently operates in North America and Europe and recently expanded into Japan, where it is a joint venture partner with Yahoo Japan Corporation and Avex Entertainment in Passrevo, the ticketing entity behind Yahoo! Tickets. Today, AXS provides ticketing services to over 167 professional sports teams around the world, and over 300 venues.

AXS’ patented Mobile ID technology offers consumers and clients an innovative, mobile-first identity-based ticketing solution. The platform allows fans to efficiently manage their season-seat inventory or single-event tickets; sell tickets in a safe, verified online marketplace; easily transfer tickets to anyone -- anytime, anywhere; and helps eliminate lost, stolen and counterfeit tickets. Additionally, through its full-event lifecycle solution set, AXS manages every aspect of the ticketing, in-event and post-event experience and provides clients with fully trackable data as tickets pass from primary to secondary markets and from one fan to the next.

“In just over eight years, AXS now sells nearly 50 million tickets annually around the world and this acquisition positions both AEG and AXS for continued growth,” said Dan Beckerman, President and CEO of AEG. “As a team owner, music promoter and venue owner/operator, ticketing is core to AEG’s business and this transaction allows us to more closely align our global asset portfolio. As an AXS client, we are focused on delivering innovation and product development that enhances the fan experience and creates opportunities to integrate data and generate new revenue streams for all AXS clients.”

“This transaction aligns AXS with the strength of AEG’s global assets and operations to further expand our footprint and product offerings,” said Bryan Perez, CEO of AXS. “AEG’s significant investment is a clear endorsement of our business strategy, technical expertise and growth potential. Since 2011, our mission has been to transform the ticketing industry through innovative products, delivering the right ticket to the right fan and the right price and this transaction provides us the opportunity to accelerate that vision globally.”

LionTree Advisors acted as financial advisor to Cirque Du Soleil, Outbox Holdings and Flash Seats in connection with the transaction.