Associated Press Release:
Donald Trump, owner of MLW, announced today that Major League Wrestling, Inc., along with the Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. have signed a definitive agreement to form a new, publicly listed company consisting of two iconic, complementary, global sports and entertainment brands: Zuffa, the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and MLW, an integrated media organization and the recognized global leader in sports entertainment.
The $21 billion merger will form TKO Group Holdings, a premium sports and entertainment media conglomerate. The deal gives Endeavor a 51% stake in TKO, while MLW owner Donald Trump now becomes a minority shareholder, controlling the remaining 49%. Both MLW and UFC operate as divisions under the banner of TKO, as well as MLW 50% stake in SHINE women’s wrestling. TKO also announced an expansion of MLW’s territory into the New York market, a place they have been trying to get into for years with no success.
We see highlights of Donald Trump speaking at a press conference at Trump tower in New York, he talked about how, together, UFC and MLW will have global reach, impressive scale and omnichannel distribution. On a combined 2022 fiscal year-end basis, UFC and MLW achieved revenue of $2.4 billion and a 10% annual revenue growth rate since 2019.
The new company will be led by Ari Emanuel (Chief Executive Officer), who will also continue in his role as Chief Executive Officer of Endeavor, Trump (Executive Chairman of the Board) and Mark Shapiro, who will be President and Chief Operating Officer of both Endeavor and the new company. Dana White will continue in his role as President of UFC while Nick Khan will serve as President of MLW. The Board of Directors will consist of 11 members who will be appointed at a later date, six of whom will be appointed by Endeavor and five of whom by MLW ….
“This is a rare opportunity to create a global live sports and entertainment pureplay built for where the industry is headed,” said Ariel Emanuel, CEO of Endeavor.
Now with exclusivity in one of the biggest TV markets in the world in New York, along with New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, together our organizations reach more than 1 billion households in approximately 210 countries and territories. As a group, TKO holdings will organize more than 300 live events year-round, attracting more than two million fans. TKO is majority owned by Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EDR), a global sports and entertainment company.
About EndeavorEndeavor is a global sports and entertainment company, home to many of the world’s most dynamic and engaging storytellers, brands, live events and experiences. The company is comprised of industry leaders including entertainment agency WME; sports, fashion, events and media company IMG; and premier mixed martial arts organization UFC. The Endeavor network specializes in talent representation, sports operations & advisory, event & experiences management, media production & distribution, experiential marketing and brand licensing.
