May 01, 2008

By By Mitchell Peters, L.A.

Ticketmaster has acquired the assets of SLO Limited, Inc., a company that provides VIP ticketing services for concerts and special events. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

SLO Limited delivers premium seats on behalf of its touring and event clients, creates ticket and travel packages, and hosts on-site experiences. The company is currently working with Celine Dion, Billy Joel, George Michael, Dolly Parton, Robert Plant and Allison Krauss, Linkin Park and Rod Stewart.

As part of the acquisition, Ticketmaster will integrate its services with SLO's to provide consumers additional options when purchasing tickets, the company says.

"By joining forces with Ticketmaster, we will be able to offer VIP ticketing services and special access opportunities to greater numbers of passionate music fans," Shelley Lazar, CEO at SLO Limited, said in a statement.

Lazar, a 30-year veteran of the music industry, has worked in various capacities on tours by the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, the Police, Barbra Streisand, the Who, Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, Josh Groban, Bette Midler and Coldplay, among others.

In recent months, Ticketmaster has acquired ticket re-seller TicketsNow, as well as GET ME IN!, an independent Web-based marketplace for music, sport, theatre and other live entertainment event tickets in Europe.

Ticketmaster's recent acquisitions arrive as global concert promotion/production giant Live Nation unveiled plans to launch its own ticketing company. Ticketmaster's deal with Live Nation expires at the end of this year.

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