Silver Lake's $25 Billion Endeavor Acquisition Complete: Entertainment Giant Rebrands to WME Group
Private equity firm Silver Lake has completed its $25 billion acquisition of Endeavor, purchasing all outstanding shares at $27.50 per share—a 55% premium over the pre-announcement stock price. The company has now been delisted from the NYSE and rebranded as WME Group.
NYSE facade at Wall Street
The deal consolidates several key properties under the WME Group umbrella, including:
- WME talent agency
- 160over90 marketing agency
- IMG Licensing
- Pantheon Media Group
Key investment partners supporting the acquisition include:
- Mubadala Investment Company
- DFO Management (Michael Dell)
- Goldman Sachs Asset Management
- CPP Investments
Leadership changes include former CEO Ari Emanuel moving to Executive Chairman, while Mark Shapiro assumes the role of President and Managing Partner overseeing daily operations.
Silver Lake Co-CEO Egon Durban praised Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell's strategic vision, noting that under their leadership, revenue has grown twentyfold since Silver Lake's initial 2012 investment. The acquisition represents Silver Lake's largest portfolio position to date and signals their significant commitment to the entertainment industry's future.
image
Mariah Carey performs live onstage