Recent Rule Changes Spark New Wave of Private Equity Ownership in Pro Sports
The National Basketball Association, Major League Soccer, National Football League, Major League Baseball, and the National Hockey League have all relaxed restrictions that allow private equity firms to acquire minority stakes in teams. In the NBA, the Board of Governors has agreed that private equity could own as much as 20 percent of a single […]
Sale of stake in All Blacks to US private equity firm approved
In January the New Zealand Rugby Players Association said they would block sale New Zealand Rugby (NZR) took another step towards selling a minority stake in its commercial arm, including rights to the iconic All Blacks brand, to a US private equity firm on Thursday, but still needs to secure the buy-in of players. The […]
Golden State Warriors valued at US$5.5 billion as Arctos buys minority stake
Private equity firm Arctos Sports Partners is purchasing approximately five per cent of the Golden State Warriors in a deal that values the National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise at US$5.5 billion, according to Sportico. The acquisition is set to be the first private equity investment in an NBA team since the league relaxed its ownership […]
Liverpool FC owner FSG seeks new teams and possible listing
Fenway Sports Group, the owner of Liverpool football club and baseball’s Boston Red Sox, will seek to acquire more professional sports teams and potentially a future stock market listing after securing new investment that values the US group at $7.35bn. Earlier this week, private investment group RedBird Capital and basketball star LeBron James acquired minority […]
Boston Red Sox owner valued at $7.35 billion as LeBron James and RedBird invest
Private investment company RedBird Capital and Basketball star LeBron James have invested in Fenway Sports Group (FSG) in a deal that places the enterprise value of the Liverpool FC and Boston Red Sox’s parent company at $7.35 billion. Under the deal, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, businessman Maverick Carter and their longtime business partner […]
Endeavor Pursuing Buyout To Gain Full Control Of UFC from KKR and Silver Lake
Endeavor the main shareholder in the Ultimate Fighting Championship is looking to buyout the other shareholders in the company including KKR & Co. Inc. and Silver Lake to gain full control of the Mixed Martial Arts leader. According to a report from the New York Post’s Alexandra Steigrad, the CEO of Endeavor Ari Emanuel is […]
Sports retailer Fanatics raises $320 million at $12.8 billion valuation in new funding round
Fanatics, the world’s biggest licensed sports merchandise retailer, raised $320 million in fresh capital in a funding round that valued the company at $12.8 billion, according to sources close to the deal. The funding round, which came months after its last round, was led by private equity firms Silver Lake, Blackstone, Fidelity Investments, Neuberger Berman, Thrive […]
BC Partners Talks on Inter Milan Investment Stall
BC Partners’s negotiations on a potential investment in Italian soccer team FC Internazionale Milano SpA have stalled, a person with knowledge of the matter said. The private equity firm has paused discussions due to disagreements about Inter Milan’s valuation and uncertainty over the size of the stake on offer, according to the person. BC Partners […]
Six Nations agrees £365m partnership with private equity firm CVC
Six Nations Rugby has secured a £365m investment after agreeing to sell 14.3 per cent of its share to private equity firm CVC. CVC Capital Partners has now invested more than £700m into professional rugby, with its latest move adding to previous funds in the Gallagher Premiership and the Guinness Pro14. England Rugby released a […]
Rugby Australia takes the plunge and pursues private equity
It’s happening. Rugby Australia has voted to proceed with securing private equity for the game. Although private equity deals have become fairly standard in European rugby — with CVC Capital Partners holding a stake in England’s Premiership and the PRO14 Rugby provincial competition and still in protracted talks with the Six Nations Rugby — it […]
