# Endeavor nears deal to buy Vince McMahon’s WWE -sources Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2023-04-03 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Endeavor in Talks to Acquire WWE: Sources Meta Description: Get the latest scoop on the potential acquisition of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc (WWE) by Endeavor Group Holdings Inc in this exclusive report. Exciting URL: https://financedigest.com/endeavor-nears-deal-to-buy-vince-mcmahons-wwe-sourceshtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2023-04-02t232027z2lynxmpej310bhrtroptp4endeavor-group-ipo-1736814208784-compressed.jpg) By Milana Vinn, Anirban Sen and Dawn Chmielewski (Reuters) – Endeavor Group Holdings Inc, the parent of the popular UFC mixed martial arts franchise, is in advanced talks to acquire World Wrestling Entertainment Inc (WWE) in an all-stock deal, according to people familiar with the matter. The sources requested anonymity because the matter is confidential. Endeavor and WWE did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Sunday. The [deal could be announced as early as this week](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-countries-eye-deal-on-more-energy-measures-within-weeks.html "EU countries eye deal on more energy measures within weeks"), the sources said. Endeavor shareholders will own 51% of the combined company, while WWE shareholders would get 49%, the sources said. WWE shares, which have risen more than 30% this year, closed at $91.26 on Friday, giving the company a [market capitalization of $6.8 billion](https://www.financedigest.com/b2b-telecommunication-market-to-more-than-us-27-billion.html "B2B Telecommunication Market to more than US$ 27 billion"). Endeavor has a [market value](https://www.financedigest.com/dental-3d-printing-market-to-reach-an-estimated-value-of-us-2-9-bn-by-2031.html "Dental 3D Printing Market to Reach an Estimated Value of US$ 2.9 Bn by 2031") of $11.3 billion. Endeavor is led by Hollywood [power broker](https://www.financedigest.com/say-hello-tonuvo-the-uks-first-digital-mortgage-broker-powered-by-chatbot-technology.html "Say Hello ToNuvo – The Uk’s First Digital Mortgage Broker Powered By Chatbot Technology") Ari Emanuel, who earlier this month declined to answer questions about a possible deal. Emanuel has worked to transform Endeavor into a sports and entertainment powerhouse, making more than 20 acquisitions. His investments – in bull riding events, fashion shows and the Miami Open and Madrid Open tennis competitions – sought to diversify the company, which grew from a legacy rooted in representing film and television talent. Endeavor took a majority holding in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the world’s largest martial-arts organization, in 2016, in a $4.2 billion deal, and acquired the [remaining stake](https://www.financedigest.com/kuehne-raises-lufthansa-stake-to-17-5-as-germany-sells-remaining-shares.html "Kuehne raises Lufthansa stake to 17.5% as Germany sells remaining shares") in the company along with its IPO five years later. In regulatory filings, Endeavor argues that it benefits from the rising value of owning a scarce – but popular – asset like sports. In January, WWE said it would [explore strategic options that could include a sale](https://www.financedigest.com/sap-to-cut-3000-jobs-explore-qualtrics-stake-sale.html "SAP to cut 3,000 jobs, explore Qualtrics stake sale"), shortly after Vince McMahon’s return to the company. WWE hired the Raine Group and [law firm](https://www.financedigest.com/international-law-firm-calls-in-viato-connect-uk-and-us-offices.html "INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM CALLS IN VIATO CONNECT UK AND US OFFICES") Kirkland & Ellis as its advisers for the review. McMahon had retired in July last year as the [company’s CEO](https://www.financedigest.com/in-listening-mode-new-bayer-ceo-keeps-open-mind-on-company-split.html "In listening mode, new Bayer CEO keeps ‘open mind’ on company split") and chair, following an investigation into his alleged misconduct. His daughter, Stephanie McMahon, resigned as the company’s co-CEO and chair less than a [week after her father returned](https://www.financedigest.com/catwalk-shows-return-at-hybrid-london-fashion-week.html "Catwalk shows return at hybrid London Fashion Week") to the board. Upon his return, McMahon, who holds a majority of the company’s stock, launched a strategic review, [seeking to negotiate a sale](https://www.financedigest.com/exclusive-u-s-regulator-seeks-sale-of-silicon-valley-bank-signature-bank-portfolios-sources.html "Exclusive-U.S. regulator seeks sale of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank portfolios-sources") before WWE’s media rights, including for programs such as “SmackDown,” came up for renegotiation, according to published reports. (Reporting by Milana Vinn and Aniban Sen in New York and Dawn Chmielewski in [Los Angeles; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Josie Kao)](https://www.financedigest.com/patsnap-circumnavigates-northern-hemisphere-with-launch-of-los-angeles-office.html "PatSnap circumnavigates northern hemisphere with launch of Los Angeles office") --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---