Mercury rescues 13 Amp from dissolved MoS deal. (Talent).

13 Amp Recordings is back on track after six months on the brink, following the end of its previous label deal with Ministry of Sound.

The label, which is part-owned by DJ and producer David Holmes, last week concluded months of negotiations to secure a new major label home with Mercury Records.

The deal sees 13 Amp reunited with former MoS music group CEO Matt Jagger, who first signed the label as one of the company's key joint ventures in 2000. Many of Ministry's joint venture businesses were dissolved following Jagger's departure from the company last October.

"Matt very much sees it as unfinished business," says 13 Amp director Dean O'Connor. "It definitely felt like bailing out way too early and for Matt it was his dream being taken apart overnight in front of him."

Jagger subsequently joined Mercury Records as co-managing director where he was keen to bring the team on board.

The new deal is understood to see Mercury acquire all 13 Amp's repertoire to date, with key staff O'Connor and John Best retained for three years on a consultancy basis. 13 Amp will continue to be run from its existing Camden base and will continue all its other management--including European management of Icelandic act Sigur Ros--and PR activities.

"Whether it is the management, PR company or label, it is all about finding, developing and breaking talent and one aspect of the business will feed another," says O'Connor. "Our office is the ...