Matchroom Sport in Talks to Sell Minority Stake Worth $215M

Matchroom Sport is in negotiations with several private equity firms regarding the sale of a minority stake in the event promotions company, according to a report by Sky News. 

The group of private equity firms in talks for the 25% stake in Matchroom up for grabs includes Luxembourg-based CVC Capital Partners and New York’s KKR and Searchlight Capital. 

• The 25% stake could fetch an asking price of roughly $215 million.
• A sale could value Matchroom at between $739 million and $862 million.
• No details have been finalized, but a bidder is expected to be chosen in the coming weeks. 

Launched in 1982, Matchroom has gained notoriety through boxing. Last year, it agreed to a five-year deal worth over $100 million with sports streaming service DAZN to broadcast its matches based in the U.K. and Ireland. The deal came after Matchroom announced an eight-year, $1 billion joint venture with Perform Group — now DAZN Group Limited — in 2018.

Growing Portfolios 

A deal for CVC or KKR would add to a portfolio of sports-related investments for the firms. 

In December 2021, KKR bought a $396 million minority stake in PureGym, and a month later it agreed to buy bike maker Accell Group NV for $1.8 billion.  

In March, CVC acquired a 13% stake in the company that will facilitate France’s Ligue de Football Professionnel sale of media rights in a deal valued at $1.6 billion.

Both firms have also been linked to investment opportunities in World Rugby.