Date Announced: 27 Jul 2009 -- Acquisition Increases Capacity to Meet Sports Signage and Marketing Industry's Growing DemandPURCHASE, N.Y. -- Celeritas Management announced today its acquisition of a majority stake in ANC Sports Enterprises, a leading provider of team and venue services for over 200 professional, collegiate and amateur sports organizations and events. The transaction is part of Celeritas' strategy to build a diversified set of assets in the sports, entertainment and marketing services businesses. Jerome Cifarelli will remain the president and chief executive officer of ANC Sports while retaining a minority share of the business. "Celeritas is delighted to welcome Mr. Cifarelli and his talented team to our family," said Del Wilber, president and chief executive officer of Celeritas Management. "Together, we look forward to building the premier on-site sports marketing company for teams and corporate clients." "ANC looks forward to collaborating with Celeritas' highly experienced operating team to accelerate our growth in the sports marketing and signage businesses," said Cifarelli. "This strategic alliance will boost our ability to handle multiple large-scale signage projects for our professional and collegiate partners, as well as expand our marketing programs for corporate sponsors. The new partnership will also support our ongoing efforts to develop new innovative products that drive revenue while enhancing the live event experience." ANC Sports is a leading marketing solutions provider for sports organizations and venues. As an innovator in digital signage for sports venues, ANC Sports installs and operates high-definition and rotational displays for sports facilities such as Nationals Park, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Quicken Loans Arena, Wachovia Center, Yankee Stadium, and Verizon Center, among others. Additionally, the company has established innovative on-site marketing solutions for corporate partners such as State Farm Insurance. ANC Sports was founded in 1997 by Cifarelli and Alan N. Cohen, former co-owner of the Boston Celtics and the New Jersey Nets. Formed in 2008, Celeritas seeks to build and acquire complementary businesses in the sports, entertainment and marketing services industries. Led by sports and entertainment marketing veteran Del Wilber, Celeritas helps companies grow through collaboration and oversight, strategic input, corporate resource support, and capital investment. ANC Sports is the second company to be added to the Celeritas umbrella. Celeritas first acquired the Spanish Beisbol Network (SBN), a premier Spanish-language sports media broadcasting and content company. Celeritas is backed by affiliates of Palladium Equity Partners, LLC.About ANC SportsANC Sports Enterprises, LLC is the industry leader in team and venue services, providing integrated signage, design, and marketing solutions for sports and commercial facilities. ANC Sports and its divisions: ANC Technologies, ANC Design, and ANC Marketing, offer Light Emitting Diode (LED), rotational and fixed visual displays; advanced media control systems; signage operation and maintenance; advertising sales and marketing consultation; graphic design; and printing production. ANC Sports provides signage solutions for 200 plus venues/stadiums in North America. For more information on ANC Sports, please visit its web site at www.ancsports.com.About Celeritas ManagementBased in Virginia, Celeritas Management, Inc. is a company funded by Palladium Equity Partners, LLC that builds and acquires complementary organizations in the sports, entertainment, and marketing services industries. Celeritas was founded with the mission of creating value by bringing together innovative assets with talented management in the sports, entertainment, and marketing fields. Driving the Celeritas operating approach is the strategic integration of a variety of disciplines for investment and acquisition, as well as governance and operational management. For more information on Celeritas Management, please visit its web site at www.celeritasmgmt.com. About Palladium Equity Partners, LLCPalladium Equity Partners, LLC and its affiliates ("Palladium") advise funds targeting investments in media companies as well as in financial and business services, consumer/retail, food/restaurants, healthcare, and manufacturing businesses. Palladium has a focus on companies that are well-positioned to capitalize on the fast-growing U.S. Hispanic market. The principals of Palladium have directed investments of over $2.5 billion of equity in more than 65 portfolio companies over the last two decades. For more information on Palladium, please visit www.palladiumequity.com.
Contact
Michael Hopkins, Public Relations ANC Sports Enterprises 2 Manhattanville Road Suite 402, Purchase, NY 10577 mobile. 516.643.5751 FAX .914.696.2101
E-mail:[email protected]
Web Site:www.ancsports.com
