REG - M&C Saatchi PLC - Acquisition of The Women’s Sports Group

M&C SaatchiAnnouncement

Tue 07:00

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RNS Number : 2718C  M&C Saatchi PLC  07 October 2025

7 October
2025

 

M&C SAATCHI PLC

 

Acquisition of The Women's Sports Group 1  (#_ftn1)

 

Transaction further strengthens our leading sport and entertainment offering

M&C Saatchi plc (the "Company" or "M&C Saatchi") is pleased to
announce its skill enhancing acquisition of The Women's Sports Group Limited
("WSG"), funded by available cash on the balance sheet (the "Acquisition").

 

WSG is a leading specialist advisory and media rights consultancy in women's
sport. The business delivers services across media rights, broadcast strategy,
brand partnerships, production, data and insights, and communications. Its
client roster includes leading federations, clubs, broadcasters, brands, and
government bodies, including Barclays Women's Super League, Premiership
Women's Rugby, the Billie Jean King Cup, Arsenal FC and DAZN. WSG has advised
on landmark deals such as the FA Women's Super League media rights and
SailGP's Women's Pathway programme.

 

As referred to in the Company's H1 2025 results, the improving pipeline
momentum continues to accelerate in H2 and has recently delivered multi-year,
multi-specialism and multi-million-dollar wins. The Company's integrated
regional-first strategy is delivering increased traction with growing momentum
in the US, including a prime tv spot at a key US sporting event for a leading
global company as well as long-term partnerships with the US Soccer Federation
and the Harlem Globetrotters. Outside of the US, recent wins include framework
agreements with Formula E and with Coca Cola for their Premier League
partnership as well as a Formula 1 campaign for the Gates Foundation in the
UK, while in the Middle East the Group has secured deals with a major US
basketball team, Dubai Basketball, and the Global Champions Tour.

 

The Acquisition is in line with the Company's strategy to selectively invest
in higher margin growth areas, further strengthening M&C Saatchi's leading
sport and entertainment capabilities within its Passions & PR specialism.
This follows on from the acquisition of Dune 23 Sport & Entertainment
Sports Events Marketing Co. L.L.C 2  (#_ftn2) in May 2025 and the recent
launch of M&C Saatchi Football partnering with Jamie Redknapp, further
enhancing the group's ability to deliver end-to-end services across sports
rights, marketing, representation, and partnerships.

 

Zaid Al-Qassab, Chief Executive Officer, said:

"The acquisition of The Women's Sports Group adds significant expertise in
sports rights to our fast-growing sport and entertainment platform and I am
delighted to welcome the team to M&C Saatchi. The transaction further
strengthens our proposition and positions us well to capitalise on one of the
most dynamic areas of growth in our industry, whilst our recent global wins
demonstrate the strength of our regional-first strategy as we focus on
delivering on the improving pipeline momentum in H2."

 

FURTHER INFORMATION

 M&C Saatchi                                                                    +44 (0)20-7543-4500
 Zaid Al-Qassab, Chief Executive Officer
 Simon Fuller, Chief Financial Officer
 Thomas Fahey, Head of Investor Relations

 Headland Consultancy                                                           +44 (0)20-3805-4822
 Rob Walker / Charlie Twigg / James Waters

 MCSaatchi@headlandconsultancy.com (mailto:MCSaatchi@headlandconsultancy.com)

 Panmure Liberum - Nominated adviser and joint broker                           +44 (0)20-3100-2000
 Max Jones, Edward Mansfield, Will King

 Deutsche Numis - Joint broker                                                  +44 (0)20-7260-1000
 Nick Westlake, Iqra Amin

 

About M&C Saatchi: M&C Saatchi is a creative solutions company with
specialist expertise and creativity in helping our clients grow by maximising
the reach and potential of their brands. It does this through its
regional-first operating model with five core specialisms - Advertising,
Issues, Passions & PR, Consulting and Media - which it leverages in an
integrated go-to-market approach. It has significant global reach, with major
hubs in the UK, Europe, Middle East, APAC and the Americas and is supported by
global shared services.  M&C Saatchi is headquartered in London and
listed on the FTSE AIM index of the London Stock Exchange.

 1  (#_ftnref1)    Prior to the acquisition by M&C Saatchi of 100% of
the issued share capital of WSG, Dame Heather Rabbatts owned c25% of the
shares in WSG. Following this transaction, Dame Heather does not maintain any
ownership in WSG nor does she have any contractual obligations with WSG.

 2  (#_ftnref2) Announced on 26 May 2025.

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