The deal brings Equine Network into a portfolio that already includes stakes in La Liga, Ligue 1, the Women's Tennis Association, Volleyball World, Six Nations Rugby, Premiership Rugby, and the United Rugby Championship. CVC said the addition strengthens Global Sport Group's exposure to the US market while diversifying into a new sport. Founded by Tom Winsor, Equine Network has built a commercial platform spanning around 40 owned competitions and more than 800 sanctioned third-party events across Western and English disciplines. CVC estimates the US equestrian sports market at about $2.5bn. 'CVC's investment experience in sports spans over twenty years and, while much has changed in that time, sports IP remains a very attractive opportunity in which we continue to see significant potential for further innovation and growth,' said Gemma Wright, partner in CVC's sports, media and entertainment team. Subscribe to our Newsletter to increase your edge. Don't worry about the news anymore, through our newsletter you'll receive weekly access to what is happening. Join 120,000 other PE professionals today....

The vehicle owns stakes in major sports properties including Six Nations Rugby, women's professional tennis, and top-tier football leagues in Spain and France. City sources said KKR has emerged as the leading candidate, although other investors, including Ares Management, remain in the frame. A debt-only financing alternative has also been explored in recent weeks. Any transaction would bolster Global Sport Group's capital base and allow CVC to remain invested in its sports portfolio for longer. CVC has built the platform following the success of its Formula One investment and has continued to expand into premium sports leagues with long-term media and sponsorship revenues. A deal could eventually pave the way for the sale of a minority stake in Global Sport Group or a future IPO. Subscribe to our Newsletter to increase your edge. Don't worry about the news anymore, through our newsletter you'll receive weekly access to what is happening. Join 120,000 other PE professionals today....

The financing, which will be ranked investment grade, is being marketed to institutional investors and structured with maturities of five, 10, and 25 years. Goldman Sachs is arranging the transaction, with pricing expected in early February. The platform is founded by Danny Menken, former managing director of Eurosport and co-founder of Eleven Sports, alongside Karim Ben Rejeb, a former JPMorgan investment banker with more than 20 years of dealmaking experience. Anta submitted the proposal several weeks ago and has secured financing should a transaction proceed. However, one source said discussions have stalled, and there is no certainty a deal will be agreed. The deal includes performance-based incentives that could lift the valuation to as much as $1.5bn. Arctos' senior management team, led by co-founder Ian Charles, will remain in place and retain their existing carried interest, while also receiving shares in KKR. Subscribe to our Newsletter to increase your edge. Don't worry about the news anymore, through our newsletter you'll receive weekly access to what is happening. Join 120,000 other PE professionals today....

The San Francisco 49ers will not be playing in the Super Bowl, because they lost to the Seattle Seahawks by a disgraceful score of 41 to 6 over the weekend. But of course, 'someone wins, someone loses' is never the whole story in sports. Some fans are now buying into the narrative that the team had no chance because it suffered a suspicious number of devastating injuries over the course of the season (as well as in recent past seasons). Any fan could rattle off a list'quarterback Brock Purdy has dealt with several injuries (coming off a torn UCL a couple of years ago), three key players tore their ACLs this season, and one also tore his MCL. While the team was getting demolished by the Seahawks, tight end Jake Tonges went down with a plantar-fascia injury. To explain this, some fans pointed to the fact that the team's practice field and stadium are near an electrical substation and suggested that the electromagnetic waves emanating from it could be weakening players' bodies, making them especially susceptible to soft-tissue injuries such as tendon tears and muscle strains....