KEY POINTS IN THE GROUP'S HISTORY:

1986: Group Founded by Jon Smith

1986 to 2001: Highlights

• Managed commercial interests of the English Football team, developing the Team England concept which still exists today
• Commercial agents for the England cricket and Welsh Rugby team
• Hosted and promoted many major events including the Horse of the Year Show, Mikhail Gorbachev’s lecture tour (1993), Golden Jubilee celebrations on behalf of HM’s Government for VE and VJ day (1995), World Sports Awards (2001) as well as being responsible for promoting US sports into the UK.

2001: Company admitted to Ofex market

2002: Group’s shares admitted to AIM market and acquisition of leading European Football representation business FIMO AG and its subsidiary Promosport srl.

2004: Acquired business and assets of player management agency Team Sport Management

2005:
July    Acquisition of ABG Financial Management for a maximum consideration payable of £3 million.
September    Acquisition of The Finishing Touch (Corporate Events) for a maximum consideration of £3.36 million
November    Launch of in-house entertainment and corporate speaking division First Artist Entertainment
 
2006:
June    Joint venture signed between Finishing Touch and Lord Coe’s, Complete Leisure Group
July    Acquisition of Scandinavia’s leading football management agency, later renamed First Artist Scandinavia, for a maximum consideration of £2 million
July    Acquisition of entertainment representation business, NCI Management for a maximum consideration of £1.75 million and merger with group’s own entertainment division.
August    Acquisition of Sponsorship Consulting for a maximum consideration of £0.75 million
October   Joint venture between financial services group H.W.Fisher and Optimal Wealth Management (formerly ABG Financial Management)
December    Acquisition, through a reverse takeover of the UK’s leading theatre and entertainment marketing services group Dewynters and its US merchandising subsidiary Dewynters Advertising Inc. and front of house display business Newman Displays one-for-ten share consolidation.
 
2007:
April   Acquisition of event and delegate management business Yell Communications for a maximum consideration of £1 million
September   First Artist moves into new West-End offices.
 
2008:
October   Acquisition, through a reverse takeover of Spot and Company of Manhattan, Inc (“SpotCo”), a leading US based live entertainment advertising agency and major presence in Broadway advertising for a maximum consolidation of US $18.86 million.
 
2009:
March         Sponsorship Consulting LTD put in to liquidation.
 
2010:
February   Sale of Optimal Wealth Management to Conforto Financial Management Limited for a total consideration of £1.5M.
February    Sale of the business and assets of First Artist Management Limited to James Grant Group for a total consideration of £200,000.