Key Brand Entertainment acquires Live Nation's North American Theatrical Company

On January 24, 2008, Key Brand Entertainment, Inc., announced that is had acquired Live Nation, Inc.'s North American Theatrical Company. As part of the acquisition, Key Brand will assume control of Broadway Across America, the premier promoter and producer of live theatrical events in the United States, and its Broadway Across Canada subsidiary. Key Brand is a private investment company dedicated exclusively to the development, production and distribution of live theater and is led by British theatre producer John Gore, who serves as the CEO, and entertainment industry veteran Thomas B. McGrath who is Chairman. Key Brand has also partnered with Dancap Productions, a large Canadian theatre producer and Tokyo Broadcasting System, Inc., a major Japanese television network. Key Brand was advised on the Canadian aspects of this transaction by a team from Fasken Martineau led by Barbara Miller and that included Jamie Pennell (corporate/M&A); Douglas New (competition and Investment Canada); Paul King and Dan Law (real estate); and Mitchell Thaw (tax). They were assisted by paralegals Merilyn Thompson, Gina Croce, Linda Caldwell and Patty Bogumil.