Toronto, ON, Canada (August 2, 2017) – Canada Pension Plan Investment
Board (CPPIB) announced today that it has committed to invest US$400 million of
equity in WME│ IMG, representing an 8% minority interest
in the company.
WME | IMG represents a powerful and diverse roster of
artists and creators across every entertainment vertical including motion
picture, television, music, books, digital and theater. Its sports client
roster ranges from professional athletes and sports federations and leagues to collegiate
institutions.
“This
investment in a unique, market leading platform in entertainment, sports and
media further diversifies our portfolio,” said Ryan Selwood, Managing Director,
Head of Direct Private Equity, CPPIB. “WME│IMG’s broadly diversified group of
global businesses and management team with a proven track record of building
shareholder value position the company well for growth, particularly in content
production and distribution. We are pleased to have another opportunity to
invest alongside Silver Lake, a longstanding partner and WME│ IMG’s management
to support future growth of the business.”
WME | IMG also owns, operates or commercially represents
hundreds of sports, fashion and entertainment events, including the Miami Open
and New York Fashion Week, and curates premier culinary and globally franchised
cultural festivals. The company works with top global advertisers to develop
meaningful consumer platforms on behalf of its clients, and helps new and iconic
brands optimize their licensing potential. WME | IMG also operates one of the
largest sports training institutions in the world, IMG Academy.
Additionally, IMG produces more than 52,000 hours of sports
programming and arranges to distribute an additional 32,000 hours on behalf of
more than 200 clients including major sports leagues, events and entertainment
properties each year. These include UFC, one of the largest and fastest growing
sports brands in the world, reaching more than 152 countries and 1.1 billion
television households. IMG is also an international leader in model management
and talent discovery and manages the photographers, stylists, creative
directors, hair and makeup artists, production designers and illustrators who
bring the worlds of art and fashion to life.
About Canada Pension Plan Investment
Board
Canada Pension
Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) is a professional investment management organization that invests the funds not needed
by the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) to pay current benefits on behalf of 20
million contributors and beneficiaries. In order to build a diversified
portfolio of CPP assets, CPPIB invests in public equities, private equities,
real estate, infrastructure and fixed income
instruments. Headquartered in Toronto, with offices in Hong Kong, London,
Luxembourg, Mumbai, New York City, São Paulo and Sydney, CPPIB is governed and
managed independently of the Canada Pension Plan and at arm’s length from
governments. At March 31, 2017, the CPP Fund totalled C$316.7 billion. For more
information about CPPIB, please visit www.cppib.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter.
About WME | IMG
WME | IMG is a
global leader in entertainment, sports and fashion operating in more than 30
countries. Named one of Fortune’s 25
Most Important Private Companies, WME | IMG specializes in talent
representation and management; brand strategy, activation and licensing; media
production, sales and distribution; and event management.
Article Contacts
CPPIB:
Dan Madge
Senior Manager,
Media Relations
T: +1 416 868 8629
dmadge@cppib.com
Mei Mavin
Director, Global Corporate
Communications
T: +1 646 564
4920
mmavin@cppib.com