UTA confirms TAG acquistion

The United Talent Agency has acquired The Agency Group, Under the deal, The Agency Group will merge with UTA's existing music division, which will then be headed up by TAG founder and President Neil Warnock, who takes over as the firm's Head Of Worldwide Music. TAG's CEO Gavin O'Reilly will leave the company. The acquisition has been enabled by a new investment into UTA by Jeffrey Ubben of San Francisco-based ValueAct Capital, Ubben is investing in a personal capacity and joins the UTA board as a non-voting member.

UTA in talks to acquire TAG?

Billboard reports that United Talent Agency is in advanced negotiations to acquire The Agency Group, in a move that would vastly boost UTA's profile in music, while paying dividends for a rapid expansion strategy by TAG. TAG's roster of about 2,000 clients includes the Black Keys, Deep Purple, Guns N' Roses, Muse, Paramore, Nickelback, Bullet for My Valentine, The Kills, Gotye, Tegan and Sara, Merle Haggard and many others. While TAG has a presence in virtually all genres of music, including pop, rock, metal, country and EDM, the agency's urban business declined in May when VP of urban music Peter Schwartz and international agent James Rubin left TAG for WME.

UPDATE

the sale was confirmed on Friday 21st August: Neil Warnock, who founded TAG 35 years ago, becomes UTA’s head of worldwide music. TAG CEO Gavin O’Reilly is leaving the business. The Agency Group (TAG) brings over 90 agents and more than 2,000 acts into the business, such as Alice Cooper, Dolly Parton and Status Quo. They join UTA’s clients including Mariah Carey, Ice Cube and Kanye West.

http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/6664161/uta-in-negotiations-to-buy-the-agency-group