CMS advises Global on its entry into Out-of-Home sector with dual purchase of Primesight and Outdoor Plus

International law firm CMS has advised Global, the Media & Entertainment group founded by Ashley Tabor OBE, on its simultaneous purchase of two key outdoor advertising assets – Primesight and Outdoor Plus. These acquisitions mark the expansion of Global’s business into the Out-of-Home space and will be the foundations of its new division, Global Outdoor.

Primesight has an OOH advertising estate covering more than 35,000 sites nationwide, reaching over 95% of the UK population. Its diverse portfolio incorporates large scale roadside billboards, display panels at cinemas and retail outlets and ten of the UK’s airports including Gatwick.

Outdoor Plus has been at the forefront of developing some of the most high-profile premium digital advertising sites in the UK, particularly in London. These include Super Premium Digital displays at iconic locations including The One, Knightsbridge, The Hammersmith Towers and Euston Underpass, as well as a network of digital bridges in partnership with TfL. The company also has over 100 premium OOH sites nationally, including the Bluewater and Manchester Arndale shopping malls and premium digital roadside sites in Cardiff, Brighton and Bristol.

The CMS team comprised over 25 lawyers and was led by Corporate partner Paul Guite, with key support from Mark Bertram, Georgina Ball and Sarah Wilson (Corporate) John Enser and Alex Dixie (tech, media and advertising), Marie Scott (Real Estate) and Mark Joscelyne (tax).

CMS’ Paul Guite comments: "We are delighted to have supported our longstanding client on these groundbreaking deals which will reshape the out-of-home market and significantly expand Global's business. The purchases reflect Global’s growth ambitions and will sit perfectly alongside its growing radio business and its digital audio advertising platform, DAX.”

Global's General Counsel & Company Secretary, Ruth Daniels states “CMS’ strength in depth in corporate, combined with their advertising and tech sector expertise and real estate capabilities made them an excellent partner for Global in this transformational project and we were very pleased with the value they brought to this project and their delivery against an aggressive timetable.”