Investment firm William Blair has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire sports, media and entertainment-focused investment bank Inner Circle Sports. Inner Circle Sports will continue to operate with its same name for a period of time post-acquisition. Founded in 2002, Inner Circle Sports advises clients across the full lifecycle of sports, media and entertainment investments, including buy-side and sell-side M&A, limited partner transactions, capital raising, valuations, as well as debt financing. Winston & Strawn LLP served as legal advisor to William Blair. Solomon Partners served as financial advisor and Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP acted as legal advisor to Inner Circle Sports (William Blair).
William Blair is “paying an undisclosed price” for Inner Circle. The move comes as William Blair looks to branch into the “booming sports M&A market” as professional sports teams have “fetched ever-higher valuations in recent years.” William Blair Global Head of Investment Banking Matt Zimmer said that the Chicago-based firm has made sports media and entertainment a “strategic priority” (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 5/5).
Inner Circle Sports earned SBJ Best Places to Work in Sports honors in 2024.
