Ticketek Acquires New Zealand’s Eventfinda

Ticketek, one of Australia’s two giant ticketing companies, expands further with the acquisition of New Zealand's Eventfinda.

Founded in 2006, the first iteration of Eventfinda was an online cultural events calendar for performing arts and events in NZ. Three years later, in 2009, the business launched its first ticketing system.

Led by co-founder and CEO James McGlinn, it’s now recognised as NZ’s largest independent ticketing provider and events discovery service.

Just last year, the business rolled-out its so-called "disruptive" B2B business that, its creators say, puts control back into the hands of venues and promoters.

Announced Tuesday morning, August 26th, the acquisition, remarks TEG, parent company of Ticketek, will lift its offering with “fit for purpose” ticketing functionality for small to mid-tier venues and events.

Financial terms weren't disclosed.

“We are thrilled to welcome James and his team into the TEG family, and we’re excited by the prospect of supporting Eventfinda’s growth, not just in New Zealand but also into new markets globally,” comments Cameron Hoy, Ticketek Entertainment Group's Chief Operating Officer & Head of Global Ticketing.

“Having both of these trusted and successful brands under one roof will allow us to service an important segment of the live event sector with an agile, self-service ticketing platform that offers venues and event organisers the flexibility and white-label functionality they require”.

The arrangement, notes Hoy, is a win-win. “The acquisition is strategically important for TEG, whilst enabling Eventfinda to scale quickly – it’s a win-win for both companies and for the industry as a whole,” he adds.

Moving into the future, Eventfinda will continue to operate under the same brand. “There will be no changes to our team and clients can be assured that it’s business as usual – but with the added support of TEG,” enthuses McGlinn.

“We are incredibly excited about the path forward from here,” he continues. “This is a fantastic opportunity for Eventfinda to expand globally while still delivering the high level of service and functionality it has become known for through our homegrown technology platform.”

The acquisition is subject to certain conditions, including satisfactory engagement with the New Zealand Commerce Commission.