Formula One Group#Allsport Management
{{Short description|Motorsports company}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Formula One Group
| logo = F1 (registered trademark).svg
| logo_caption =
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| trading_name =
| native_name =
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| former_name = Formula One Constructors Association
| type = Subsidiary
| traded_as = {{Nowrap|{{NASDAQ|FWONA}} (Series A)
{{OTCQB|FWONB}} (Series B)
{{NASDAQ|FWONK}} (Series C)
{{FWB|LM0D}} (Series A)
{{FWB|LM0F}} (Series C)
Russell 1000 components (FWONA, FWONK)}}
| ISIN = {{ISIN|sl=n|pl=y|US5312298707}}
{{ISIN|sl=n|pl=y|US5312298541}}
{{ISIN|sl=n|pl=y|US5312297717}}
{{ISIN|sl=n|pl=y|US5312297550}}
| industry = Motorsport
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| founder = Bernie Ecclestone
| defunct =
| location_city = 2 St. James's Market, London, U.K.
| locations =
| area_served = Globally
| key_people = {{ubl
| Stefano Domenicali
{{small|(President and Chief Executive Officer)}}
| Chase Carey
{{small|(Non-executive Chairman)}}
}}
| products =
| brands = Formula 1
Formula One Paddock Club
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| owner = Liberty Media
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| subsid = Dorna Sports, S.L. (86%) (Pending)
Formula One World Championship Limited
Formula One Promotions and Administration
Formula One Management (FOM)
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}}{{Formula One|orgs}}
The Formula One Group is a group of companies responsible for the promotion of the FIA Formula One World Championship, and the exercising of the sport's commercial rights.{{cite web|title=Merger Procedure Article 6(1)(b) Decision|url=http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/decisions/m4066_20060320_20212_en.pdf|publisher=European Commission|date=20 March 2006|access-date=20 February 2011}}
The Group was previously owned by Delta Topco, a Jersey-based company owned primarily by investment companies CVC Capital Partners, Waddell & Reed, and LBI Group, with the remaining ownership split between Bernie Ecclestone, other investment companies, and company directors. It was bought by Liberty Media in 2017.{{cite web | title=Bernie Ecclestone removed as Liberty Media completes $8bn takeover | work=BBC Sport | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/38723001 | date=23 January 2017 | access-date=23 January 2017}}
Ecclestone, a former Formula One team boss, spent 40 years as chief executive of the company after gaining control of the commercial rights. {{As of|2021|1}}, the group is run by Stefano Domenicali as president and chief executive officer. Chase Carey, who previously ran the group from 2017 to 2020, is non-executive chairman.{{cite web |url=https://corp.formula1.com/team/ |title=Senior Management |date=January 2021 |website=corp.formula1.com|publisher= |access-date=2021-01-08 |quote=}}
History
In 1974, the Formula One Constructors' Association (FOCA) was founded in order to increase commercial organisation of Formula One for the benefit of the racing teams. In 1978, Bernie Ecclestone became the executive of FOCA, and fought the Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile (FISA) for control of the commercial rights of F1. Disputes were settled by March 1981 when the Concorde Agreement gave FOCA the right to negotiate TV contracts. Under previous arrangements, TV contracts were risky and not very lucrative.{{cite web|last1=Buckton|first1=Christopher|title=As he faces ransom demands from mother-in-law's abductors, who is Bernie Ecclestone?|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/faces-ransom-demands-mother-laws-8499533|website=Mirror.co.uk|date=26 July 2016 |access-date=5 December 2016}}
When the second Concorde Agreement was agreed in 1987, Ecclestone ceased being a team owner and established Formula One Promotions and Administration (FOPA) to manage TV rights for the teams. FOPA would later become known as Formula One Management (FOM). FOPA received 49% of TV revenues: 1% went to the teams, and 50% to the FIA. FOPA also received all the fees paid by promoters and paid prize money to the teams. The third Concorde Agreement was signed in 1992.
When the fourth Concorde Agreement was signed in 1995, the FIA decided to grant the commercial rights of F1 to Formula One Administration (managed by FOM) for a 14-year period. In exchange, Ecclestone would provide an annual payment. With FOM having exclusive rights to popular team names like McLaren, Williams, and Tyrrell, the aforementioned teams protested by rejecting the following Concorde Agreement in 1997. A compromise was reached and a new Concorde Agreement was signed by all teams in 1998.
McLaren, Williams, Ferrari and Renault formed GPWC Holdings, and threatened to form a rival racing franchise in 2008 when their contracts ended in 2007.{{Cite news|url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/gpwc-appoints-consultants-5067396/5067396/|title=GPWC Appoints Consultants|date=26 October 2004|access-date=8 August 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240808113525/https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/gpwc-appoints-consultants-5067396/5067396/|archive-date=8 August 2024|url-status=live|agency=Reuters|via=Autosport}}
=CVC acquisition=
In November 2005, CVC Capital Partners announced it was to acquire the 25% and 48% shares of Bambino and BayernLB in SLEC, and acquired the shares of JPMorgan Chase in December 2005. This deal was given approval by the European Commission on 21 March 2006 and finalised on 28 March.{{cite web|title=Case No COMP/M.4066 - CVC / SLEC|url=http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/decisions/m4066_20060320_20212_en.pdf|work=REGULATION (EC) No 139/2004 MERGER PROCEDURE: Article 6(2) NON-OPPOSITION|date=20 March 2006|publisher=The European Commission (In electronic form on the EUR-Lex website under document number 32006M4066)|access-date=13 June 2019}}{{cite web|title=Mergers
The Formula One Group planned an initial public offering on the Singapore Stock Exchange in June 2012, valuing the company at $10 billion.{{cite news|title=F1 flotation boosted by £4.4bn 'guarantee'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/9233613/F1-flotation-boosted-by-4.4bn-guarantee.html|work=Daily Telegraph|date=28 April 2012|access-date=29 April 2013}} Up to 30% of the company would be listed, with most of the stock coming from the shareholding owned by the creditors of the bankrupt Lehman Brothers. However, the flotation was delayed until October 2012, with Ecclestone citing volatile markets and problems in the Eurozone.{{cite web|last=Neville|first=Simon|title=Bernie Ecclestone signals delay to F1 flotation as another Asian IPO fails|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/may/31/bernie-ecclestone-delay-formula-one-flotation|work=The Guardian|date=31 May 2012|access-date=29 April 2013}} CVC sold part of its stake in the company to three investment companies: Waddell & Reed, BlackRock and Norges Bank; reducing its holding to 35.5%, and making Waddell & Reed the second-biggest shareholder.{{cite web|last=Blitz|first=Roger|title=Formula One left floating as IPO on hold|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9c1c1dda-c466-11e1-a98c-00144feabdc0.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211231203/https://www.ft.com/content/9c1c1dda-c466-11e1-a98c-00144feabdc0|archive-date=11 December 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|work=Financial Times|date=20 July 2012|access-date=29 April 2013}} The planned flotation was kept on hold throughout 2012, until it was revived in April 2013 when Ecclestone announced it would take place within the year.{{cite web|last=Sylt|first=Christian|title=F1 shakes up prize money and prepares for £6.5bn float|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/10023977/F1-shakes-up-prize-money-and-prepares-for-6.5bn-float.html|work=Daily Telegraph|date=28 April 2013|access-date=29 April 2013}}
=Liberty acquisition=
In late 2016, Liberty Media agreed to buy controlling interest in the Formula One Group for $4.4 billion (£3.3 billion).{{Cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37303230 |title= US media firm Liberty Media to buy Formula 1 |date= 7 September 2016 }} The deal was approved by regulators and completed on 23 January 2017. Chase Carey subsequently became chief executive of the Group and Ross Brawn was appointed to the newly created role of managing director, Motor Sports and technical director. In September 2020, it was announced that former Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali would become the new chief executive of the Formula One Group.{{Cite news |url= https://www.bbc.com/sport/amp/formula1/54259817 |title= Stefano Domenicali: Ex-Ferrari boss to head Formula 1 |date= 22 September 2020 }} On 28 November 2022 Ross Brawn confirmed he was retiring from F1.{{Cite web |title=Ross Brawn on a stellar 2022 season, pride at seeing F1 'as strong as it's ever been' and his next chapter {{!}} Formula 1® |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.ross-brawn-on-a-stellar-2022-season-pride-at-seeing-f1-as-strong-as-its-ever.43dwj2yDBu3Yat85cwz4qL.html |access-date=2022-11-28 |website=www.formula1.com |language=en}}
The Formula One Group is listed in the Nasdaq as a tracking stock under the ticker FWONA and FWONK.[https://www.forbes.com/sites/csylt/2017/01/29/exclusive-formula-one-group-doesnt-own-f1s-commercial-rights/ Exclusive: Formula One Group Doesn't Own F1's Commercial Rights] - Christian Sylt, Forbes, 29 January 2017
Group companies
The Formula One Group was controlled by its shareholders through the Delta Topco holding company,{{cite web|last1=Sylt|first1=Christian|last2=Reid|first2=Caroline|title=F1 debt is $3bn but returns are so good, hedge funds want in|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/f1-debt-is-3bn-but-returns-are-so-good-hedge-funds-want-in-460297.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509021811/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/f1-debt-is-3bn-but-returns-are-so-good-hedge-funds-want-in-460297.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 May 2008|work=The Independent|publisher=Independent Print|date=5 August 2007|access-date=11 June 2011}}{{cite web|last=Saward|first=Joe|title=News Corporation and Exor bid for F1|url=http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2011/05/03/news-corporation-and-exor-bid-for-f1/|work=Joe Saward's Grand Prix Blog|date=6 April 2011|access-date=11 June 2011}} which through a number of holding companies registered in the United Kingdom, Jersey and Luxembourg controls the SLEC Holdings company, the Formula One Group's immediate owner.{{cite web|last=Saward|first=Joe|title=Some numbers from the F1 world|url=http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2011/04/06/some-numbers-from-the-f1-world/|work=Joe Sawards Grand Prix Blog|date=3 May 2011|access-date=11 June 2011}} The Formula One Group comprises several subsidiary companies which control the various rights, management, and licensing operations of the Formula One World Championship.{{cite web|title=Bernie restructures|url=http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns01013.html|publisher=Grandprix.com|date=17 March 1997|access-date=11 May 2011}}
The commercial rights of Formula One are controlled by Formula One World Championship Limited (FOWC), which received the rights to Formula One for a period of 100 years from the FIA.{{cite web|title=F1 commits to terrestrial TV|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/1295708.stm|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=25 April 2001|access-date=12 June 2011}} Formula One World Championship's control of the rights began from the beginning of 2011, where it took over from sister company Formula One Administration (FOA), which controlled the rights for a 14-year period beginning in 1996. FOWC, as the commercial rights holder, negotiates the contracts for holding F1 Grands Prix, organising television contracts with broadcasters, and receiving licensing fees for use of Formula One material. The company also has a seat on the FIA World Motor Sport Council, the body responsible for regulating international motorsport.{{cite web|title=World Motor Sport Council|url=http://fia.com/en-GB/the-fia/governance/Pages/wmsc.aspx|work=Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|publisher=FIA.com|access-date=11 June 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003154716/http://fia.com/en-GB/the-fia/governance/Pages/wmsc.aspx|archive-date=3 October 2011}} Formula One Licensing BV is a related Dutch registered company of the Formula One Group which claims ownership of the trademarks of Formula One; the F1 logo, "Formula 1", "Formula One", "F1" and the "Sweeping Curves device" shown before Grands Prix.{{cite web|title=Legal Notices|url=http://www.formula1.com/termsandconditions.html|work=Formula1.com|publisher=Formula One World Championship|access-date=29 April 2013}}
Formula One Management (FOM) is the main operating company of the group,{{cite web|title=Bernie's company reshuffle|url=http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns02040.html|publisher=Grandprix.com|access-date=11 June 2011}} and controls the broadcasting, organisation and promotional rights of Formula One.{{cite news|title=Grand prix, grand prizes|url=http://www.economist.com/node/6012?story_id=6012|newspaper=The Economist|date=13 July 2000|access-date=12 June 2011}} The company produces the televised feeds of all Grand Prix sessions, which are then supplied through the Eurovision satellites network (EBU) to broadcasters who provide commentary and distribute the feed in the authorised region(s) of said broadcasters. The production arm of FOM is based at Biggin Hill Airport, London, for easy travel of the equipment needed to broadcast the race.{{cite web|title=Companies at Biggin Hill|url=http://www.bigginhillairport.com/companies-at-biggin-hill|work=Biggin Hill Airport|access-date=11 June 2011|archive-date=21 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121094522/http://www.bigginhillairport.com/companies-at-biggin-hill|url-status=dead}} Financially, FOM provides partial investment for new tracks and teams, to allow them to establish themselves in the sport and grow Formula One's presence in new markets.{{cite news|title=New teams to get financial support|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74950|last=Straw|first=Edd|work=Autosport.com|publisher=Haymarket Publications|date=30 April 2009|access-date=10 June 2011}} The season calendar for the championship is structured by FOM, with the WMSC having oversight. Payments to the teams are determined by the Concorde Agreement, which gives the teams 50% of the television money in Constructors' Championship order, and awards a prize fund to teams based upon their results, which is drawn from the fees Grand Prix promoters pay for staging the race. The logistics of moving equipment and personnel from each race is also handled by FOM, which provides the teams with a set amount of transport for the races outside of Europe.
The Formula One Group is also used to refer to several related companies, which although not part of the Group, are controlled by the Delta Topco holding company, and have business related to Formula One.
= Allsport Management =
Allsport Management S.A. is a Swiss registered company based in Geneva, which manages the sale of almost all Formula One trackside advertising, and the Formula One Paddock Club. Allsport Management was founded by Paddy McNally, who had begun to work with Bernie Ecclestone in the late 1970s. McNally, who was a former Marlboro sponsorship consultant, came up with a solution to "tidy up" trackside advertising; this solution was called "themed advertising", where one advertiser is given total exposure at one part of the track.{{cite web |last=Saward |first=Joe |date=4 January 2000 |title=The Paddock Club |url=http://www.grandprix.com/ft/ft00351.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111106202354/http://www.grandprix.com/ft/ft00351.html |archive-date=6 November 2011 |access-date=18 October 2006 |publisher=GrandPrix.com}} This is in contrast to the Monaco Grand Prix, the only grand prix where Allsport is not involved; where space is sold such that multiple advertisers are visible in every picture. The Paddock Club is Formula One's corporate hospitality organisation, which provides a luxury area for VIP's and sponsors for the Grand Prix weekend, and also gives access to teams and drivers and tours of the pits. In 2006, Allsport Management (and the related Allsopp Parker & Marsh companies) were acquired by CVC through Delta Topco,{{cite press release |title=Formula One acquires APM and Allsport Management |publisher=CVC Capital Partners |date=31 March 2006 |url=http://www.cvc.com/docs/Press%20Release%20Formula%20One%20acquires%20APM%20and%20Allsport%20Management%20.pdf |access-date=18 October 2006 |archive-date=30 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070330092101/http://www.cvc.com/docs/Press%20Release%20Formula%20One%20acquires%20APM%20and%20Allsport%20Management%20.pdf |url-status=dead }} meaning that the sport's complete revenues are controlled by the Formula One Group.{{cite web |date=1 April 2006 |title=CVC buys Allsport |url=http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns16627.html |access-date=18 October 2006 |publisher=GrandPrix.com}} After the acquisition, Ecclestone stated "APM and Allsport Management have been developed into highly successful businesses over the last 25 years and we are delighted that each of them will now form part of the Formula One Group".{{Cite web |title=Rights holders CVC buy further into Formula One |url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/rights-holders-cvc-buy-further-into-formula-one.58195 |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=Times of Malta |date=2 April 2006 |language=en-gb}}
= Formula Motorsport Limited =
Formula Motorsport Limited (formerly GP2 Motorsport Limited) was acquired by CVC in 2007, with its ownership controlled by Formula One's holding companies.{{cite news|first=Caroline|last=Reid|author2=Sylt, Christian|title=CVC takes wheel with GP2|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/10/19/cncvc119.xml|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=19 October 2007|access-date=29 October 2007 }}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} FML currently runs various Formula One feeder series, which usually run races at the European rounds of the F1 championship, in order to give drivers experience and exposure to Formula One teams.
Series currently run by FML are:
class="wikitable"
! Series Name ! Description ! Year Founded |
FIA Formula 2 Championship
| A second-tier single-seater championship supporting Formula One at specific races across the F1 season - succeeding the former GP2 Series | 2017 |
FIA Formula 3 Championship
| A third-tier single-seater championship supporting Formula One at specific races across the F1 season - succeeding the former GP3 Series | 2019 |
F1 Academy
| An all-female single-seater championship supporting Formula One at specific races across the F1 season | 2023 |
Dormant series previously run by FML are:
class="wikitable"
! Series Name ! Description ! Year Founded ! Year Finished |
GP2 Series
| A second-tier single-seater championship supporting Formula One at specific races across the F1 season | 2005 | 2016 |
GP2 Asia Series
| A second-tier single-seater championship supporting Formula One at specific Asian-based races across the F1 season | 2008 | 2011 |
GP3 Series
| A third-tier single-seater championship supporting Formula One at specific races across the F1 season | 2010 | 2018 |
The Formula One Group also owns the rights to the "GP1" name.http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns15388.html grandprix.com August 11, 2005
References
{{Portal|Formula One}}
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Liberty Media}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Companies based in London
Category:Companies listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange
Category:Companies listed on the Nasdaq
Category:Private equity portfolio companies
Category:Sports event promotion companies
Category:Sports management companies