Perform acquires leading German digital sports media companies

Perform Group plc ("Perform"), the global market leader in the distribution and commercialisation of sports content across connected digital platforms, announces that it has acquired two related German businesses Spox Media GmbH ("Spox") and mediasports Digital GmbH ("mediasports") that will significantly enhance its presence in Germany, the largest digital market in Europe.  This acquisition is in line with the stated strategy for growth through acquisitions announced at the time of the IPO.  The two businesses are being acquired for initial cash consideration of €3.65 million, with a maximum deferred cash consideration of €12.35 million payable.  The deferred consideration will be based on an agreed multiple calculation of the full year reported EBITDA results of the businesses for the years ending 31 December 2012, 2013 and 2014. 

The businesses were owned by management and the private equity firm Cresces Sports Media AG.  The combined businesses are expected to be accretive to earnings in 2012 and beyond.

Spox, founded in September 2007, owns and operates one of Germany's leading independent sports websites spox.com.  In 2011 spox.com averaged over 1.6 million monthly unique users, 15 million monthly visits and over 70 million monthly page impressions.  The site is also available via a range of smartphone and Connected TV applications.  In the year to 31 December 2010 Spox reported revenues of €4.1 million and a pre-tax loss of €0.1 million.  Gross assets at 31 December 2010 were €1.74 million.

Mediasports, established in February 2010, is the largest independent digital sports advertising sales agency in Germany with a combined audience of over 6 million unique users.  It represents the advertising inventory of spox.com and a number of other premium sports websites including comunio.de, Germany's largest online fantasy football management game, kicktipp.de, Germany's largest match prediction game, and formel1.de, Germany's largest independent Formula 1 website. In the period to 31 December 2010 mediasports reported revenues of €2.3 million (€1.8 million were related to spox.com) and a pre-tax loss of €1.2 million, reflecting start up costs.  Gross assets at 31 December 2010 were €0.7 million.

Following the completion of the acquisition, Spox and mediasports founder and Managing Director, Manuel Lopez, will become Managing Director of Perform Deutschland.

Oliver Slipper, joint CEO of Perform commented: "We are delighted to have announced the acquisition of Spox and mediasports.  We have set out a growth strategy focused on augmenting Perform's strong organic growth with selective acquisitions including 'local champions' and today's announcement is an excellent example of us executing this strategy."

"Spox and mediasports bring a strong and experienced local management team in Germany, Europe's largest digital media market.  Furthermore they provide us with the opportunity to improve the monetisation of our existing German ePlayer and Goal.com businesses, grow video and display advertising revenues as well as delivering operational and technology synergies." 

Manuel Lopez, Managing Director of Perform Deutschland, commented: "We are excited to become part of Perform.  This combination creates a true market leader in the German digital sports sector and provides the opportunity to capitalise on the numerous commercial opportunities in this exciting market."

About Perform

Perform is a global market leader in the commercialisation of multimedia sports content across multiple platforms.  Perform owns one of the largest portfolios of digital sports rights in the world, through contracts relating to more than 200 sports leagues, tournaments and events.  The management is focused on driving profitable, organic, earnings growth through leveraging its content across new digital platforms, new products and across new geographies, taking advantage of favourable technology trends such as growth in digital media consumption and online video viewership.  In April 2011, Perform floated on the London Stock Exchange.