Silver Lake Acquires Endeavor for $25 Billion, Entertainment Giant Rebrands as WME Group

By Marcus Hartley

April 24, 2025 at 04:36 AM

Private equity firm Silver Lake has completed its $25 billion acquisition of Endeavor, purchasing all outstanding shares at $27.50 per share—a 55% premium over the pre-announcement stock price. Following the acquisition, Endeavor has been delisted from the NYSE and rebranded as WME Group.

NYSE facade at Wall Street

NYSE facade at Wall Street

The deal consolidates several major entertainment assets under the WME Group umbrella, including:

  • WME talent agency
  • 160over90 marketing agency
  • IMG Licensing
  • Pantheon Media Group

Key leadership changes include:

  • Ari Emanuel transitioning to Executive Chairman
  • Mark Shapiro becoming President and Managing Partner

The acquisition was supported by multiple investment partners including Mubadala Investment Company, DFO Management, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, and CPP Investments.

Silver Lake Co-CEO Egon Durban noted that under Emanuel and Whitesell's leadership, Endeavor's revenue has grown twentyfold since Silver Lake's initial 2012 investment. The private equity firm has invested in Endeavor six times previously, and this acquisition now represents Silver Lake's largest portfolio position.

The transaction positions Silver Lake as a major player in the entertainment industry while marking the end of Endeavor's chapter as a public company. The firm expects continued growth across all media sectors, including sports and entertainment.

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Mariah Carey performs live onstage

Mariah Carey performs live onstage

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