Mari, the global events and experiences company led by Ari Emanuel, has entered a definitive agreement to acquire ATG Entertainment, the operator of some of the most prominent theatres in the West End, Broadway and across Europe. The transaction — announced on Tuesday and subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions — would place ATG’s portfolio of venues under Mari’s ownership while allowing the two businesses to continue operating separately.
Scale of the acquisition
ATG runs a mix of major commercial playhouses and regional stages, comprising a portfolio of 70 venues across the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany and Spain. Among those are seven Broadway theatres and ten West End theatres. Together the venues stage more than 16,000 performances annually and attract in excess of 18 million audience members each year. The company also produces and co-produces West End and Broadway work, including long-running productions such as The Lion King, Wicked and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
| Metric | Figures |
|---|---|
| Venues | 70 |
| Broadway theatres | 7 |
| West End theatres | 10 |
| Annual performances | 16,000+ |
| Annual audience | 18 million+ |
What Mari says it will do
According to the announcement, Mari intends to act as a long-term custodian of ATG’s theatres, investing in their preservation and modernisation and seeking to enhance audience experience while supporting new productions. The company’s existing portfolio already spans sports, art, entertainment and lifestyle events, including Frieze, the Miami Open and several UK festivals such as Hyde Park Winter Wonderland.
"I've spent my whole career in entertainment, and I started out in theatre... This is a long-term bet on where live goes next," Mari founder and principal investor Ari Emanuel said.
ATG’s management will remain in place and the company will continue to operate under its current brand, the statement said. Melanie Smith, ATG’s global chief executive, welcomed the fit, saying Mari understood “what matters most to ATG: our theatres, the people behind them and the relationships we have built with producers, artists and audiences.”
Financials and industry context
Financial terms were not disclosed in the announcement. The Financial Times has previously reported a valuation figure for ATG at around £4.5 billion (approximately $6 billion), but the companies involved did not confirm that amount in their release. ATG was sold by private equity owner Providence Equity Partners.
The deal places much of the commercial theatre supply chain within the orbit of a single international events operator. For producers and creatives, assurances that ATG will retain creative independence and that leadership will stay in place will be of particular interest, as will Mari’s promises to invest in regional venues — a sector often cited as the nursery for new work and local talent.
- Operational continuity: ATG to remain under its current brand and leadership.
- Investment pledge: Mari plans capital spending on preservation and modernisation.
- Access and development: Mari says it will support regional theatres and new productions.
The announcement will be closely watched by theatre professionals, producers and cultural policymakers. The potential effects include changes to how touring schedules are organised, how theatres are maintained and marketed, and how new work is funded and nurtured across regional circuits. Any future plans will also be scrutinised by regulators, given the size and reach of the assets involved.
For now, the transaction marks another step in the consolidation of live-entertainment assets under large global operators, and a notable return to the theatre sector by an executive with roots in the business. The coming months should clarify the regulatory timetable and the practical implications for audiences, staff and artists who work in ATG venues.
