7 October 2025
M&C SAATCHI PLC
Acquisition of The Women's Sports Group [1]
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] 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
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M&C Saatchi |
+44 (0)20-7543-4500 |
| Zaid Al-Qassab, Chief Executive Officer |
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| Simon Fuller, Chief Financial Officer |
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| Thomas Fahey, Head of Investor Relations
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| Headland Consultancy |
+44 (0)20-3805-4822 |
| Rob Walker / Charlie Twigg / James Waters
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| Panmure Liberum - Nominated adviser and joint broker |
+44 (0)20-3100-2000 |
| Max Jones, Edward Mansfield, Will King |
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Deutsche Numis - Joint broker |
+44 (0)20-7260-1000 |
| Nick Westlake, Iqra Amin |
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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] 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] Announced on 26 May 2025.
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