Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
UFC, WWE Combine to Form $21.4B Sports Entertainment Company
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 1 year ago on
April 3, 2023

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

WWE and the company that runs Ultimate Fighting Championship will combine to create a $21.4 billion sports entertainment company.

A new publicly traded company will be formed that houses the UFC and WWE brands, with Endeavor Group Holdings Inc. taking a 51% controlling interest in the new company. Existing WWE shareholders will hold a 49% stake.

The companies put the enterprise value of UFC at $12.1 billion and WWE’s value at $9.3 billion.

The new business, which does not yet have a name, will be lead by Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel. Vince McMahon, executive chairman at WWE, will serve in the same role at the new company. Dana White will continue as president of UFC and Nick Khan will be president at WWE.

“Together, we will be a $21+ billion live sports and entertainment powerhouse with a collective fanbase of more than a billion people and an exciting growth opportunity,” McMahon said in a prepared statement Monday.

He also provided some idea of where the focus of the new company will be, saying that it will look to maximize the value of combined media rights, enhance sponsorship monetization, develop new forms of content and pursue other strategic mergers and acquisitions to further bolster their brands.

The announcement arrives after McMahon, the founder and majority shareholder of WWE, returned to the company in January and said that it could be up for sale.

Rumors swirled about who would possibly be interested in buying WWE, with Endeavor, Disney, Fox, Comcast, Amazon and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund all in the mix.

Media industry analysts viewed WWE as an attractive acquisition target given its global reach and loyal fanbase, which includes everyone from minors to seniors and a wide range of incomes.

The company held its marquee event, WrestleMania, over the weekend. Last year, WWE booked revenue of $1.3 billion.

The company is also a social media powerhouse. It surpassed 16 billion social video views in the final quarter of last year. It has nearly 94 million YouTube subscribers and has more than 20 million followers on TikTok. Its female wrestlers comprise five out of the top 15 most followed female athletes in the world, across Facebook, Twitter & Instagram, led by Ronda Rousey with 36.1 million followers.

WWE had more than 7.5 billion digital and social media views in January and February of this year, up 15% from the same time frame a year ago.

Ticker Symbol: TKO

The new company plans to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the “TKO” ticker symbol. Its board will have 11 members, with six being appointed by Endeavor and five being appointed by WWE.

“We like the assets of UFC and also WWE in a world where linear TV is losing market share to streaming, thus live sport content is in high demand,” wrote Jeffries analyst Randal Konik said in a note to clients.

The transaction, which was approved by the boards of Endeavor and WWE, is targeted to close in the second half of the year. It still needs regulatory approval.

Shares of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., based in Stamford, Connecticut, fell more than 8% before the opening bell. Shares of Endeavor, based in Beverly Hills, California, rose nearly 3%.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Fresno State Announces 2024 Graduate Deans’ Medalists

DON'T MISS

Yellen Says Threats to Democracy Risk US Economic Growth, an Indirect Jab at Trump

DON'T MISS

New Sea Route for Gaza Aid on Track. Treating Starving Children Is a Priority

DON'T MISS

At Time of Rising Antisemitism, Holocaust Survivors Take on Denial and Hate in New Digital Campaign

DON'T MISS

FUSD Trustees Name Misty Her as Interim Superintendent. National Search Yet to Start

DON'T MISS

Gov. Newsom Appoints Judges for Fresno, Merced Counties

DON'T MISS

Assemblymember Soria Dodges Questions About Defamation Lawsuit

DON'T MISS

Israel Briefs US on Evacuation Plan for Palestinians Ahead of Planned Rafah Assault

DON'T MISS

Canadian Police Make 3 Arrests in Sikh Separatist’s Slaying That Sparked a Spat with India

DON'T MISS

Three Arrested for Trespassing, Posting Flyers at Fresno Synagogue and Church

UP NEXT

The Lakers Fire Coach Darvin Ham After Just 2 Seasons in Charge

UP NEXT

Mountain West Boss Reveals There’s Talk of Football Playoffs for Teams Like Fresno State

UP NEXT

Dodgers Ace Walker Buehler Expected to Return From Tommy John Surgery on Monday

UP NEXT

Bulldog Football Outlook: More Explosive Offense, a Potential Game-Wrecker on Defense

UP NEXT

DEA’s Marijuana Reclassification Could Revive California’s Struggling Pot Industry

UP NEXT

US Airstrike Targeting Al-Qaida Leader in Syria Killed a Farmer, American Military Says

UP NEXT

Mike Yaz Homers at Fenway In Giants Win After Visit From His Hall of Fame Grandpa

UP NEXT

Family Fun, Community Events Highlight Cinco de Mayo Weekend in Fresno

UP NEXT

Another State Department Official Resigns Over Biden’s Gaza Policy

UP NEXT

Crawford Goes 7 Innings, Wong Has 3 Hits, and Red Sox Beat Giants

At Time of Rising Antisemitism, Holocaust Survivors Take on Denial and Hate in New Digital Campaign

14 hours ago

FUSD Trustees Name Misty Her as Interim Superintendent. National Search Yet to Start

Local Education /

1 day ago

Gov. Newsom Appoints Judges for Fresno, Merced Counties

1 day ago

Assemblymember Soria Dodges Questions About Defamation Lawsuit

1 day ago

Israel Briefs US on Evacuation Plan for Palestinians Ahead of Planned Rafah Assault

1 day ago

Canadian Police Make 3 Arrests in Sikh Separatist’s Slaying That Sparked a Spat with India

1 day ago

Three Arrested for Trespassing, Posting Flyers at Fresno Synagogue and Church

1 day ago

As They Search for a Superintendent, Fresno Trustees Flunk Econ 101

1 day ago

Universities Negotiate End to Protests, Open Dialogue on Investment Policies

1 day ago

Fresno Approves Hydrogen Contract for New Buses. How Far is the Filling Station?

1 day ago

Fresno State Announces 2024 Graduate Deans’ Medalists

Fresno State on Friday announced the 2024 Graduate Deans Medalists. The eight schools and colleges at Fresno State, along with the Division ...

12 hours ago

12 hours ago

Fresno State Announces 2024 Graduate Deans’ Medalists

14 hours ago

Yellen Says Threats to Democracy Risk US Economic Growth, an Indirect Jab at Trump

14 hours ago

New Sea Route for Gaza Aid on Track. Treating Starving Children Is a Priority

14 hours ago

At Time of Rising Antisemitism, Holocaust Survivors Take on Denial and Hate in New Digital Campaign

Local Education /
1 day ago

FUSD Trustees Name Misty Her as Interim Superintendent. National Search Yet to Start

1 day ago

Gov. Newsom Appoints Judges for Fresno, Merced Counties

1 day ago

Assemblymember Soria Dodges Questions About Defamation Lawsuit

1 day ago

Israel Briefs US on Evacuation Plan for Palestinians Ahead of Planned Rafah Assault

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend