Ari Emanuel, the Hollywood power broker who is building a live events company that already has holdings in visual art, wrestling, tennis, collector cars and theater ticketing, announced on Tuesday that his venture had agreed to acquire ATG Entertainment, a British company that operates theaters on Broadway and in London’s West End.
Emanuel’s company, MARI, reached a deal to buy ATG from the American private equity firm Providence Equity Partners, which has owned a controlling stake since 2013. No financial terms were disclosed, but The Financial Times reported in June that the price tag was expected to be about $6 billion.
The acquisition will require regulatory approval.
ATG is the smallest of the big three Broadway landlords, controlling seven of the district’s 41 theaters. It has also become increasingly active as a producer of Broadway shows, including a Dolly Parton musical that is scheduled to open in January. (ATG is facing litigation from an investor over its production of a 2024 Broadway revival of “Cabaret,” which said it had lost all its money despite grossing $90 million at the box office.)
The company is a bigger player in London, where it operates 10 theaters in the West End. It has a global footprint, operating 70 venues in Britain, the United States, Germany and Spain. It also has a financial affiliation with a production company run by the London-based Sonia Friedman, who is one of the more prolific producers in the West End and a significant player on Broadway.
MARI already has a foothold in the theater business: Last year, the company acquired TodayTix, a growing player in the theatrical ticketing business in the United States, Britain and Australia.
Emanuel said in a news release that “this is a long-term bet on where live goes next.” MARI, in the same news release, said that “ATG will continue under its existing brand and leadership.”
In New York, ATG has long owned the Lyric, one of Broadway’s largest venues, which has for years housed “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” The company also owns the Hudson, one of Broadway’s smallest venues. That theater has been home to some recent successes, including two starring Daniel Radcliffe: a revival of “Merrily We Roll Along” and the one-performer play “Every Brilliant Thing.”
ATG assumed control of five theaters previously operated by Jujamcyn in 2023. The former owner of Jujamcyn, Jordan Roth, has retained a minority stake in ATG.
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