12 February 2019 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal
AEG Facilities, the venue management subsidiary of AEG, and SMG, a stadium and sports arena management company, have signed a definitive agreement to merge.
This combination will create a new, standalone global facility management and venue services company that will operate as ASM Global (ASM).
Onex and AEG's subsidiary will each own 50 per cent of the company following the completion of the transaction.
The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
ASM will be headquartered in Los Angeles in the US, with key operations based in West Conshohocken, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia.
The company will operate "a diversified portfolio of arenas, stadiums, convention centres and performing arts centres, with more than 310 venues across five continents".
Wes Westley, chief executive officer and president of SMG, said: "This merger is a major step for our industry We plan to accelerate innovation by combining our expertise to deliver increased value and offer enhanced capabilities to municipalities and venue owners worldwide. At the same time, we expect that this transaction will offer employees at both our corporate headquarters and field operations tremendous new opportunities."
Bob Newman, current president of AEG Facilities and formerly a regional vice-president at SMG, said: "This transaction draws upon the depth of our combined talent and resources to create an organisation that will deliver value and long-term success, as well as innovative services to our clients around the world."
Following the completion of the transaction, Newman will be named president and CEO of ASM. Westley will join ASM's board of directors, where he will support the merger integration.
AEG will retain ownership of its real estate holdings outside of this venture, including its entertainment districts and owned venues in Los Angeles, London, Hamburg and Berlin, as well as its extensive development, sports, music and sponsorship divisions. Onex is contributing its entire equity investment in SMG into the merger. The transaction is set to be completed later this year subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.