News Wiggin has advised Perform on the creation of a new media business – Perform Sporting News Limited

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Wiggin has advised long-standing client, Perform Group, on a venture with American City Business Journals (ACBJ) to create a new media company, Perform Sporting News Limited. Perform is the global market leader in the distribution and commercialisation of sports content across connected digital platforms and the new company will enhance its direct to consumer scale and presence in the US and Canada.

ACBJ is a division of Advance Publications and one of the US’s premier print and digital publishers of local business news. The new venture, Perform Sporting News Limited, brings together Perform’s US and Canadian consumer and advertising businesses, and the digital assets of ACBJ’s consumer web division Sporting News, which includes www.SportingNews.com, one of the largest sports websites in the US.

Oliver Slipper, joint CEO of Perform, said: “This is a really exciting time for us, as this partnership represents the opportunity to significantly grow our presence in the US and Canada. In establishing Perform Sporting News Limited, we will be able to offer a truly market-leading service, bringing the best news, editorial, video and data content to millions of sports fans.”

The Wiggin team was led by partner Michael Brader, co-head of Wiggin’s Corporate Group and head of the Sports Group. Michael was assisted by senior associate, and media specialist, Ross Sylvester.

Michael has also advised Perform Group on its acquisition of goal.com, the world’s largest football website; its IPO on the main market of the London Stock Exchange; and on its acquisition of Mackolik, Turkey’s leading sports website provider, and Runningball A.G, a worldwide sports data provider. His other sports clients include Manchester United, the International Cricket Council, IMG and IEC in Sports.