The parent company of WWE and UFC is set to acquire Professional Bull Riders, On Location, and IMG from Endeavor Group in a significant all-stock deal valued at $3.25 billion. This move is part of Endeavor's strategy to divest some of its assets as it pursues a potential privatization deal with private equity firm Silver Lake, which was initially announced in April. Ariel Emanuel, CEO of Endeavor, also holds key positions in TKO.
Professional Bull Riders, known for its thrilling bull riding events, boasts over 200 live events annually, attracts around 1.25 million fans, and has a global reach of more than 285 million households across 65 territories. On Location specializes in managing live events for over 1,200 sporting occasions, including prestigious events like the Super Bowl, Ryder Cup, and NCAA Final Four. Meanwhile, IMG is a prominent distributor and producer of sports content, media rights, and brand partnerships, offering services such as consulting, digital solutions, and event management to clients like the NFL and NHL.
The acquiring company, TKO Group, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating that it will complement its existing ventures and expand its presence in the premium sports market. TKO's COO, Mark Shapiro, highlighted the strategic value of PBR, On Location, and IMG in enhancing revenue streams and leveraging opportunities in media rights, live events, ticket sales, premium experiences, brand partnerships, and site fees.
As part of the agreement, Endeavor will receive approximately 26.14 million common units of TKO Operating Co. and will subscribe for an equivalent number of shares of TKO's Class B shares. Post-transaction, Endeavor is expected to hold a 59% stake in TKO, with existing TKO shareholders owning the remaining 41%. The deal is anticipated to be finalized in the first half of the upcoming year.
Additionally, TKO Group announced its board's approval for the repurchase of up to $2 billion of its common stock. Following this news, shares of TKO Group Holdings Inc., headquartered in Stamford, Conn., saw a more than 1% increase before the market opening.
