Bridgepoint secures Infront Sports & Media buyout

Equity was provided by the Bridgepoint Europe IV fund, which closed on €4.8bn in 2008.

Bridgepoint was reported to be the last private equity firm bidding for the asset in late June this year. It faced competition from the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), which recently acquired French football club Paris Saint-Germain from Colony Capital, in the latest part of the auction.

Bridgepoint is no stranger to the sports business, having notably acquired a majority stake in Spanish sports management company Dorna Sports in 2006 for an estimated €345m.

Infront will now look to penetrate new geographic markets and will also aim to diversify its products and services.

Debt
Credit Suisse, ING and Unicredit provided a debt package to finance the transaction.

Company
Zug-based Infront employs more than 500 employees in 20 offices across 10 countries. It offers services in three business areas: distribution of media and marketing rights, media production and sports services (hospitality, advertising solutions etc).

Infront notably sold media rights for the 2002 and 2006 football world cups, and currently handles Fifa's rights in Asia. It posted revenues in excess of €600m last year.

People
Xavier Robert led the deal for Bridgepoint. Philippe Blatter is president and CEO of Infront.

Advisers
Equity – Leonardo (Corporate finance); Deloitte (Commercial due diligence); Value Partners (Commercial due diligence); KPMG (Financial due diligence, tax); Latham & Watkins (Legal); Niederer Kraft & Frey (Legal).
Vendors – Goldman Sachs (Corporate finance); Nomura (Corporate finance); Deloitte (Financial due diligence, tax); Shearman & Sterling (Legal); Homburger (Legal); Lenz & Stähelin (Legal); Wirsing Hass Meinhold Rechtsanwälte (Legal).

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• Topics
• DACH
• Buyouts
• Media
• Bridgepoint
• Switzerland