New Division
18 Febrero 2003 - 1:00AM
UK Regulatory
RNS Number:6121H
First Artist Corporation PLC
18 February 2003
Embargoed until 0700 18 February 2003
FIRST ARTIST CORPORATION PLC LAUNCHES NEW CORPORATE AND
FINANCIAL SERVICES DIVISION
("First Artist" or "The Company")
Significantly expanding business platform and
management services
First Artist Corporation plc (LSE: FAN), the leading global football management
and representation company, announced today that it has launched a corporate and
financial services division called, First Artist Wealth Management. Clients of
First Artist will be able to obtain access to a range of wealth management
services through Woolhouse Douglas (representing St James's Place, a leading
wealth management group), which specialises in the sports and media sector of
the market.
The new division will run alongside First Artist's core football and media
management services and will offer clients, accountancy, taxation, financial
services, mortgage and insurance services. With an expert team at Woolhouse
Douglas, which already has 80 soccer clients, to manage the new division, the
joint agreement ensures that First Artist is well positioned to grow organically
and harness a renewable income resource, which will contribute throughout the
year.
The deal represents a further strategic step for First Artist, which is
continuing to leverage its core skills into non-football sectors, through
targeted acquisitions and collaborations.
Jon Smith, Chief Executive of First Artist Corporation commented, "I am very
excited about the new division; we have always believed it is important not to
be solely agents, but also to provide a total management service. First Artist
Wealth Management demonstrates our commitment to supplementing and improving our
management programme for clients, while increasing our market share within the
player management industry.
"It is a further fulfilment of our fundamental objectives undertaken when the
Company listed on AIM in December 2001."
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For further information, please contact:
First Artist Corporation plc 020 8900 1818
Jon Smith, Chief Executive
Jonathan Lees, Finance Director
WMC Communications 020 7591 3999
Scott Learmouth / Jo Livingston
About First Artist Corporation plc:
First Artist Corporation plc was founded in 1986 by Jon Smith. Its primary
business activity is representing the commercial interests of leading
personalities in the UK's football market. First Artist is already one of the
largest independent agencies in the world, representing some 426 managers and
players.
Among its existing client base are players such as James Beattie (Southampton),
Kevin Phillips (Sunderland), Fredrik Ljungberg (Arsenal, Halmstad), Darren
Huckerby (Man City), Chris Perry (Spurs), Dean Richards (Spurs), Tore Andre Flo
(Sunderland), Nwankwo Kanu (Arsenal), Celestine Babayaro (Chelsea), and Lee
Hendrie (Aston Villa). In addition the Company represents Mark McGhee (Manager
of Millwall) and commentators Andy Gray, Andy Townsend, Clive Tyldesley.
The company also has a media division, which was formed in September 2001 which
represents over 20 media personalities including, Ruud Gullit, Sir Geoff Hurst
MBE.
About Woolhouse Douglas and St James's Place:
Woolhouse Douglas provides wealth management services to its individual and
corporate clients, specialising in the sports and media sector of the market.
Woolhouse Douglas is a member of the St. James's Place Partnership, the
marketing arm of St. James's Place.
St. James's Place, the wealth management group, is listed on the London Stock
Exchange and has funds under management of #5.9 billion.
Mike Wilson, Chief Executive of St. James's Place commented:
"We are delighted to be working with First Artist to supply wealth management
services to their clients through Woolhouse Douglas".
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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