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Supporting 54’s strategic acquisition of Sportgate International 

15 December 2025

Client overview

Our client, 54, is a dynamic and fast-growing business with a strong presence in the sports and events sector. Known for its innovative approach and commitment to delivering exceptional experiences, 54 continues to expand its capabilities through strategic acquisitions that strengthen its market position and broaden its service offering. 

As part of this growth strategy, 54 approached us for support with the acquisition of Sportgate International Ltd, an international event management and sports marketing agency headquartered in London. Founded in 2014, Sportgate specialises in creating and delivering high-end sporting and lifestyle events, including Chestertons Polo in the Park (London), Polo in the Port (Montenegro), Polo in the Park Dubai, Gulf Concours, and Singapore Concours d’Elegance. The company also provides consultancy to rights holders, luxury brands, and world-class venues, offering expertise in sponsorship, event design, and equestrian venue development.

This acquisition brings complementary depth of knowledge in equestrian and polo, enabling 54 to build a unified platform for global polo and luxury sports events. 

“This was a strategically significant acquisition for 54, strengthening their position in the sports and events sector and opening up new opportunities for growth. Our focus was on delivering clear, commercially grounded advice and ensuring the transaction progressed smoothly from due diligence through to completion. It was a pleasure to work with the 54 team and help them achieve their objectives.” 
– Chris Theobald, Director of Transaction Services, Affinia 

How we supported

We were engaged to support 54 throughout the acquisition process, with Chris Theobald and Stuart Sheldrick leading on the transaction. We worked closely with 54’s leadership team and legal advisers to deliver a seamless transaction that aligned with their long-term growth objectives.

Our services included:

Providing deal advisory support to ensure strategic alignment and commercial viability.
Conducting financial and tax due diligence to assess Sportgate International's financial health and identify key risks.
Supporting on the negotiation of deal terms and planning for a smooth integration.
Offering hands-on guidance, working collaboratively with other advisers throughout the process to ensure an efficient and successful completion.
Chris Theobald | Affinia

Chris Theobald

Director
Corporate Finance
Expertise
Corporate Finance
We provide corporate finance advisory services to individuals and businesses.

“We greatly appreciated the support provided by the Affinia team during our acquisition of Sportgate. Financial due diligence can be a sprawling brief but we were very impressed with how they tailored their advice to the scope of the engagement, provided expert opinion where it mattered and achieved a great balance between pro-actively solving problems and escalating when necessary. We would highly recommend them.”

Richard Warren
CFO and Head of Corporate Development, 54