Signa Sports Considering $4B SPAC Deal with Penguins Owner

A major online retailer is in talks to go public in a massive SPAC deal.

Signa Sports, a Berlin-based company that recently made inroads into the U.S., is in talks with Yucaipa Acquisition Corp., a SPAC led by Pittsburgh Penguins co-owner Ron Burkle, on a deal that would value Signa at $4 billion, according to Bloomberg. 

Signa could acquire U.K.-based competitor Wiggle Ltd. as part of the deal. 

The SPAC, an offshoot of Burkle’s private equity firm Yucaipa Companies, raised $345 million in an IPO in August. 

• Signa sells tennis, cycling, hiking, and other sporting goods across more than 80 online stores.
• The company entered the U.S. market with its February acquisition of Ohio-based tennis equipment online retailer Midwest Sports. 
• Signa grew 30% on average annually over the last three years, and had over $1 billion in gross merchandise volume in its 2020 fiscal year. 

Burkle made waves of a different sort in the sports world a week ago when he got cold feet on supporting Sacramento Republic FC’s promotion to Major League Soccer. The club was counting on Burkle’s assistance to help with the league’s $200 million entrance fee, and possibly a new stadium.

Signa is in talks with other SPACs, as well, and seems intent on going public whether or not the Yucaipa deal goes through.