|
MUMBAI:
Asian sports marketing agency Total Sports Asia (TSA) has
raised $15 million (around Rs 733 million) from UK-based private
equity fund Nectar Capital.
TSA
is eyeing acquisitions in the mobile aggregation space. The
amount raised will also be utilised to fund the company's
growth plans.
Says
TSA CEO Marcus Luer, "After 10 years of tremendous organic
growth, this marks the beginning of a new chapter for the
company. We are excited about the opportunities and possibilities
which will come out of this new relationship. Nectar brings
a substantial financial clout to TSA which will be used wisely
to aggressively expand the business. We are already in negotiations
with various rights holders for sports like soccer, tennis
which have a pan regional presence and look forward to making
an impact at the upcoming Sportel Monaco."
Adds
Nectar Capital managing partner Scott Rudmann, "TSA has
a strong track record in sports media rights, along with a
thriving sponsorship and events business. We appreciate TSA's
focus on delivering value to their international partners
and local clients. TSA's operations in Southeast Asia, India,
China and Japan/Korea have been established for years, and
the company is attracting the top talent in the industry.
Total Sports Asia is perfectly positioned for exponential
expansion in the world's fastest growing markets in the business
of sports and entertainment."
TSA's
focus in India will be on sponsorship and licensing businesses.
Earlier this year the marketing agency inked a deal with Nirmal
Lifestyle to bring the concept of a US Open residential lifestyle
to India. Nirmal lifestyle will begin constructing a series
of sports-themed Lifestyle Cities that will include US Open-branded
housing enclaves and US Open-branded tennis facilities in
select Indian cities beginning next year. This marks the first
USTA real estate partnership anywhere in the world.
TSA
has also worked with the Delhi Fashion Week. The focus of
TSA going forward will rest on seeing how brands can be associated
with sports in ways that are mutually beneficial for the company
and for the sports body, adds Luer.
|
