Finance & Law
TKO to pay out $335m in UFC antitrust settlements, stock up nearly 8 per cent
Ultimate Fighting Championship parent company TKO Group Holdings has reached an agreement to settle the claims brought against the company in two class action antitrust lawsuits and will pay out $335m…
Sportradar swings to Q4 profit, bullish on Brazil betting
Sportradar swung back into the black in the fourth quarter thanks to growth across all segments, sending the sports data and betting services firm’s share price soaring to a temporary seven-month high in Wednesday morning trading.
JP Morgan Chase sets up sports investment group
Global financial services firm JP Morgan Chase has created a sports-focused investment banking division to offer advisory and financing solutions for investing in sports franchises to global clients.
Record Bundesliga revenues top €5bn to beat pre-pandemic levels
Total revenue in the top two divisions of German football broke the €5bn ($5.4bn) barrier for the first time in the 2022-23 season, with almost two-thirds of all clubs now operating in the black following the long-running impact of the pandemic.
NWSL franchise interest intensifies with $58m Reign sale
Seattle Reign has become the second National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) franchise to be sold in a week, as the ownership overhaul in the top United States division continues apace.
Fifa 2023 revenues buoyed by WWC, sponsorship makes up 39 per cent
World governing body FIFA enjoyed income of $1.17bn (€1.07bn) in 2023, boosted by strong commercial revenues from the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
AFA threatens ESPN with legal action for streaming-only coverage of Supercopa
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) is weighing legal action against domestic broadcast partner ESPN for what it claims is a contractual breach relating to coverage of yesterday's (Thursday's) Supercopa.
RMC Sport parent Altice Media to be sold to CMA CGM in €1.55bn deal
Altice France has today (Friday) announced plans to sell Altice Media, parent of subscription broadcaster RMC Sport, to logistics company CMA CGM Group in a move that seemingly marks the final step in the telco’s move away from premium sports output in the country.
Singtel ‘exploring all options’ on Optus but rules out full sale
Singaporean telco Singtel is considering disposing of a significant stake in its Australian business Optus to a Canadian private equity firm, but plans for a full sale have been vehemently denied by the firm.
San Diego Wave sold in record $120m deal for NWSL
The San Diego Wave of the National Women's Soccer League is being sold for a league-record price of $120m (€110m) on the eve of the team's third season, a source with knowledge of the deal confirmed t…
Barcelona hit by resignation of key finance exec Romeu
Spanish LaLiga club FC Barcelona has been hit by the surprise resignation of Eduard Romeu, the vice-president in charge of financial affairs and a key figure in attempts to rebalance the club’s finances.
Reliance tightens grip on Viacom18 after buying out Paramount stake
Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries, chaired and run by business mogul Mukesh Ambani, will buy out Paramount Global’s 13-per-cent stake in media group Viacom18 for $517m (€472m).
Two Circles develops US business with move for digital content agency
US-based digital content agency Let It Fly Media has become the first Two Circles acquisition under the ownership of private equity firm Charterhouse Capital Partners
Matchroom reaffirms investment appeal with £34m profit
Matchroom Sport delivered a profit of £33.8m during the 2022-23 financial reporting period on the back of strong performances from its darts and boxing verticals, SportBusiness has learned.
Sevilla announces 10-year refinancing venture
Sevilla has announced a 10-year refinancing agreement worth €108m ($118m) in a move the LaLiga club hopes will provide long-term stability and allow it to undertake its strategic plan with “full effectiveness”.
Blow to European Super League as Danes win trademark case
No other football league or competition in Europe will be able to use the name, The Super League, after the European Union Trade Mark Office sided with Denmark's Superligaen A/S.
Adidas global revenues drop 5 per cent after Yeezy split
German sportswear company Adidas suffered a five-per-cent reduction in total revenues in 2023 and posted reduced operating profits of €268m ($293.2m) after severing ties with controversial rapper and fashion designer Kanye West’s Yeezy brand.
Manchester United Q2 revenues buoyed by Champions League TV rights payment
Premier League club Manchester United has today (Tuesday) announced record second-quarter revenues of £225.8m (€264.2m/$288.4m), with profits of £20.4m up from £6.3m over the same period a year previously.