WIN
A 3-NIGHT STAY AT
CLUB LA SANTA
ENTER NOW
Club La Santa

IRONMAN Group has been acquired by Advance

Chief Correspondent
Advertisement

IRONMAN has new owners

In what is reported elsewhere to be a $730m transaction, Advance (www.advance.com) are to be the new owners of The IRONMAN Group, the purchase being an all-cash transaction from the Wanda Sports Group.

Here is the full announcement that has just been issued.

https://twitter.com/IRONMANtri/status/1243170141552226306


Advertisement

ADVANCE TO ACQUIRE THE IRONMAN GROUP FROM WANDA SPORTS GROUP

Advance announced today that it has entered into a definitive stock purchase agreement with Wanda Sports Group Company Limited (NASDAQ: WSG) to acquire The IRONMAN Group in an all-cash transaction.

The IRONMAN Group and its portfolio of assets, which includes its flagship IRONMAN® and IRONMAN®70.3® triathlons, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series®, and the Epic Series® of mountain biking races, among other events, makes up the largest mass participation sports platform in the world. From a single race on O’ahu, Hawai`i in 1978, The IRONMAN Group has owned, organized, promoted, and licensed endurance events for over 40 years, which now consists of more than 235 events in over 50 countries, across triathlon, running, trail running, cycling and mountain biking. Each year over one million international athletes participate in an IRONMAN Group race.

Advance is committed to the future of The IRONMAN Group and believes in the long-term strength of its well-recognized brands and the dedication of its athletes, communities, employees and fans. Advance is a private, family-owned business that invests in a broad range of media and technology companies.

Orkila Capital (“Orkila”) will co-invest in The IRONMAN Group and Jesse Du Bey, Managing Partner of Orkila, will rejoin its Board of Directors alongside Advance and Andrew Messick, President and CEO of The IRONMAN Group. Orkila is a growth equity firm focused on investments in the media, entertainment and consumer sectors. Du Bey, previously a Managing Director at Providence Equity Partners, led that firm’s 2008 investment in The IRONMAN Group.

“Today is an important milestone for The IRONMAN Group. We are pleased with this partnership, which is a testament to Advance’s belief in the company,” said Andrew Messick, CEO of The IRONMAN Group. “We remain confident in our future; our focus and objectives are unchanged; and we are ready to face the opportunities and challenges ahead. Together with Advance and Orkila, we will navigate through the turbulent and uncertain period in front of us and continue to deliver the exceptional experiences for which we’re known. I’m also thrilled to welcome Jesse Du Bey back to the Board of Directors of The IRONMAN Group.” Messick continued, “We thank Wanda Sports Group for its support over the past four years and are proud of what we have accomplished together. We look forward to continuing our work in China with Wanda Sports Group in the coming years.”

“We are pleased to welcome The IRONMAN Group to the Advance family of companies,” said Janine Shelffo, Chief Strategy and Development Officer at Advance. “The core IRONMAN Group values of endurance and perseverance resonate strongly at Advance, a one hundred year-old business that has differentiated itself through long-term focus and commitment.  We are delighted to partner with Andrew and his executive team as they plan to resume exceptional race experiences for their passionate athletes, and to support the long-term growth of the business. We’re also pleased to join forces with Orkila and are grateful for the invaluable experience with The IRONMAN Group that they bring to our partnership.”

“I look forward to this new chapter with The IRONMAN Group. Since I last worked with Andrew and his team, the company has experienced significant growth in its global triathlon event footprint and has successfully expanded into new areas such as running, trail running and mountain biking,” said Jesse Du Bey, Managing Partner of Orkila. “I am thrilled that Orkila is partnering with Advance, Andrew and The IRONMAN Group to help build this great family of brands into the future.”

As part of the transaction, Wanda Sports Group will continue to operate the IRONMAN® and IRONMAN®70.3® triathlon series, Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series® and Epic Series® of off-road mountain bike races in China under an exclusive license agreement.

The transaction has no financing condition and is subject to customary regulatory approvals, with closing anticipated in the second quarter of 2020.

Advance was advised by BofA Securities and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. The IRONMAN Group and Wanda Sports Group were advised by Credit Suisse and Reed Smith LLP.

John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
Latest News
Gwen Jorgensen World Triathlon Cup Tongyeong 2023 finish
Gwen Jorgensen on finding joy in her ‘fun’ triathlon comeback season
Beth Potter wins WTCS Abu Dhabi 2023 photo credit Tommy Zaferes World Triathlon
World Triathlon add events to 2024 calendar as Abu Dhabi hosts 2026 Multisport Championship
Laura Siddall Patagonman Xtreme Triathlon 2023
Laura Siddall takes first win since IRONMAN Brazil car collision at Patagonman Xtreme Triathlon
Summer Rappaport SLT Malibu Bike
Olympic hopeful Summer Rappaport ‘finally’ on the mend after injury hit end to the season
Matt Hanson Collins Cup 2021
A 2:22 marathon for Matt Hanson – but he labels it a ‘failure’ as he strives for more