On Thursday, TKO Group Holdings announced that its board of directors has agreed to acquire Professional Bull Riders (PBR), On Location, and IMG from Endeavor in an all-stock deal valued at $3.25 billion. The transaction is expected to be finalized in the first half of next year.
As part of the deal, Endeavor is expected to own 59% of TKO, while the existing shareholders of TKO will own the remaining 41%.
Mark Shapiro, President of TKO Group Holdings, stated during the investor call that TKO will not get any sports assets from Endeavor other than PBR, On Location, and IMG.
Shapiro added, “PBR, On Location, and IMG are industry-leading assets that meaningfully enhance TKO’s portfolio and strengthen our position in premium sports globally. Within TKO, they will help power the growth of our revenue streams and position us to capture even more upside from some of the most attractive parts of our sports ecosystem: media rights, live events, ticket sales, premium experiences, brand partnerships, and site fees. These assets are already built into our business strategy at TKO and will serve to further enhance our strong track record of execution across UFC and WWE.”