The UFC’s parent company Endeavor have just announced that they’ve acquired the WWE pro-wrestling organization and are now set to merge the two powerhouse brands into one company.
“Today Endeavor announced it has signed an agreement to form a $21+ billion global live sports and entertainment company made up of UFC and WWE,” a statement from Endeavor reads.
“Together, they will be a powerhouse with global reach, impressive scale and omnichannel distribution.”
From that $21 billion valuation, the UFC is now valued at $12.1 billion, a big leap from the $4 billion Endeavor bought if for back in 2016, and it outdoes the WWE side of the deal, which sees it valued at $9.3 billion.
“This is a rare opportunity to create a global live sports and entertainment pureplay built for where the industry is headed,” Endeavor CEO Ari Emmanuel said in a statement. “For decades, Vince [McMahon] and his team have demonstrated an incredible track record of innovation and shareholder value creation, and we are confident that Endeavor can deliver significant additional value for shareholders by bringing UFC and WWE together.”
The new company will be fronted by Emmanuel himself, while Dana White will remain as the president of the UFC, and Nick Khan also stays as the WWE’s CEO, with Vince McMahon staying in his role as the pro-wrestling outfit’s executive chairman.
“This company has been on fire for the past seven years and now that we will be adding WWE to the portfolio, I’m excited to take this to another level,” Dana White stated. “Vince is a savage in the wrestling space, Ari is a beast at what he does, and then add what we at UFC bring to the table and there is no limit to what this company can accomplish in the next few years.”
Vince McMahon Also gave his thoughts on the deal.
“Given the incredible work that Ari and Endeavor have done to grow the UFC brand – nearly doubling its revenue over the past seven years – and the immense success we’ve already had in partnering with their team on a number of ventures, I believe that this is without a doubt the best outcome for our shareholders and other stakeholders,” McMahon said.
“Together, we will be a $21+ billion live sports and entertainment powerhouse with a collective fanbase of more than a billion people and an exciting growth opportunity. The new company will be well positioned to maximize the value of our combined media rights, enhance sponsorship monetization, develop new forms of content and pursue other strategic mergers and acquisitions to further bolster our strong stable of brands. I, along with the current WWE management team, look forward to working closely with Ari and the Endeavor and UFC teams to take the businesses to the next level.”
