Possible Sale of ATG Entertainment, Britain’s Biggest Theatre Group

ATG Entertainment, the company that runs over 70 theatres across Britain and on Broadway, may soon be sold by its private‑equity owner. The idea is still in the early planning stages, according to sources close to the matter. The potential sale could fetch more than £4 billion, a figure based partly on the company’s recent earnings. An auction might begin later this year, but no final decision has been made yet. ATG was originally called Ambassador Theatre Group before it became the largest West End operator in 2023. Its venues include iconic Broadway houses such as the Lyric, the Hudson and the Eugene O’Neill. The O’Neill had to close temporarily after a fire in an electrical room on May 4, which paused the hit show “The Book of Mormon. ”Shows are expected to resume on May 27.The company also owns ten West End theatres, including the Apollo Victoria and the Savoy. It is the third‑largest Broadway owner after Shubert and Nederlander, following a merger with Jujamcyn in 2023. It is unclear how a sale would change the Broadway scene or which venues might stay out of the deal. The private‑equity firm Providence Equity Partners, which acquired ATG in 2013, has been talking to advisers about selling its controlling stake. Neither Providence nor ATG has commented publicly on the rumors.