Talent agency buys live-speaker firm

United Talent Agency has signed a deal to acquire GTN, which specializes in booking live speaking engagements.

The acquisition announced Tuesday will immediately put UTA on the map of the speaking circuit.

New York-based GTN represents a wide range of public figures in entertainment, business, sports, media and politics for public speaking engagements.

“GTN has been a great company in this market for decades, and the synergies on both sides will create both unlimited and unparalleled opportunities for our clients,” Jay Sures, UTA’s copresident, said in a statement. Terms of the GTN acquisition were not disclosed.

The deal is the latest move by Los Angeles-based UTA to expand its talent roster and services.

This year it took a 20% stake in AGM Partners, which specializes in representing film directors. In 2014, it acquired N.S. Bienstock Agency, which handles top television news talent.

GTN founder and Chief Executive Don Epstein, who launched the company in 1982, becomes a partner at UTA. His clients include author Michael Lewis, “60 Minutes” correspondent Lesley Stahl, actor Mark Ruffalo and former FBI Director Louis J. Freeh.