Companies

Sports, Media, Entertainment

RedBird’s sports practice is rooted in our passion for building businesses in partnership with rightsholders and helping them leverage their intellectual property to create businesses with lasting terminal value. We bring a unique combination of 25+ years of sports investing experience, an operational mindset with executives who have built businesses across the sports value-chain and in multiple sports, and a global network across Leagues/Commissioners, Athletes, Teams and Owners.  RedBird’s sports businesses are often new platform companies in categories that have not previously been addressed by the market; our executives have created over $5.5 billion of enterprise value across various novel sports platforms over the last 20 years.

TMT

RedBird’s TMT strategy focuses on scaling platforms that are well-positioned within the rapidly evolving media, cloud, and technology landscape.  We aim to build businesses across the continuum of data-related services from single-tenant data centers to tech-enabled cloud services platforms.  RedBird’s investment criteria focuses on growth businesses with a highly defensive position, which are providing a high-value, critical function to leading customers within these ecosystems.  Our team’s deep expertise, relationship network, and historical track record investing in growth businesses across media, technology services, digital infrastructure, and software opportunities has led to innovative partnerships and platforms across the investment landscape.

Financial Services

RedBird’s Financial Services investment thesis focuses on building platforms around uncorrelated assets, diversified lines of business, and stable revenue streams. Our team’s extensive expertise across asset management, insurance & insurance distribution, and specialty finance has been the foundation for our investments and continued innovation in the space.

Consumer

RedBird’s Consumer vertical focuses on well-established brands where an experienced operating team, along with flexible, long-term capital can accelerate growth through new products/services and M&A. RedBird’s other platform investments are often synergistic to our consumer businesses, creating multiple ways to drive value across the portfolio.

Energy & Industrials

RedBird’s Energy & Industrials strategy is centered around identifying high-quality upstream and midstream oil and gas assets that are undercapitalized, undermanaged and underdeveloped. We focus on producing assets with development upside and downside mitigation through an extensive hedge program and limited exploration risk. Our hands-on approach with our partners and management teams allow for enhanced value creation through strategic M&A, capital structure management, and operational oversight. Our long-term focus has allowed us to be tactical investors over cycles and strategic partners during downturns.

AllPartially/Fully RealizedSports, Media, EntertainmentFinancial Services

AC Milan

Aero Centers

Alpine Racing

Aquarian Holdings

Arax Investment Partners

Artists Equity

Aviation Platform

Avmont

Bishop Street Underwriters

Build A Rocket Boy

Compass Datacenters

Constellation Affiliated Partners

Dream Sports

EquipmentShare

EverPass

EverWonder Studio

Fenway Sports Group

Front Office Sports

Go Rentals

Grafine Partners

Hidden Pigeon

Main Event

Majority Strategies

N3

Next Tier Connect

Obra Capital

On Location Experiences

OneTeam

RedBird QSR

Skydance Media

Talent Systems

The SpringHill Company

Tierpoint

UFL

YES Network

AC Milan

One of the most storied franchises in global football with the second most total European titles and a ~550mm global fanbase.

Investment Date:August 2022

Industry:Sports

Website:www.acmilan.com/en

Aero Centers

Aero Centers is a rapidly expanding Fixed Base Operator (“FBO”) with locations across the United States. Aero Centers provides a full array of essential services to both general aviation and commercial customers including fueling, maintenance, hangaring, office space, and other ancillary services.

Investment Date:August 2022

Alpine Racing

Alpine Racing is one of only 10 teams in Formula One, one of the fastest growing global sports leagues with a comparable global fanbase to the NFL and a unique, historic reputation as the premium motorsports league for over 50 years. The team is currently majority owned by Renault, one of the largest auto mobile manufacturers in the world, and has won 3 Constructors’ Championships over its longstanding participation in F1.

Investment Date:September 2023

Industry:Sports

Aquarian Holdings

Aquarian Holdings is the asset manager and holding company for Investors Heritage Life Insurance Company, a fast growing life insurance annuities and retirement platform focused on the attractive fixed annuities market. Investors Heritage is based in Frankfort, Kentucky and licensed in 46 states.

Investment Date:August 2020

Industry:financial services

website:http://www.aquarianlp.com

Arax Investment Partners

Arax Investment Partners, a RedBird Capital Partners portfolio company, seeks to partner with wealth and asset management firms as well as financial advisor teams, combining Arax’s best-in-class wealth management executive team’s vision with RedBird’s strong track record, expertise, and network in the Financial Services sector to build a differentiated platform that is uniquely positioned to capitalize on secular tailwinds in the industry.

Investment Date:August 2022

Website:araxpartners.com

Artists Equity

Artists Equity is an artist-led studio founded in 2022 by Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and RedBird Capital, that creates entrepreneurial partnerships with filmmakers to empower their creative vision. Artists Equity aims to innovate the relationship between creator and studio by broadening access to profit participation, fueling IP monetization through creator partnerships, and leveraging a data-driven approach to distribution.

Investment Date:November 2022

Website:artistsequity.com

Aviation Platform

Aviation Platform consists of several strategic related investments in and around aviation and aviation services that support the thesis of continued growth in consumer demand for existing and new private and semi-private travel options.

Investment date:November 2020

Industry:Consumer

Avmont

Avmont was a leading longevity risk-based asset manager and advisor that focused on life settlement portfolios. Avmont specialized in underwriting mortality and longevity risk and acquired life insurance policies from individuals, trusts and estates, as well as a variety of other insurance-linked assets. In 2020, Vida Capital, an alternative asset manager, acquired Avmont to enhance Vida’s capabilities in longevity underwriting.

Investment Date:August 2015

Realization Status:Partially Realized

Industry:Financial Services

Bishop Street Underwriters

Bishop Street Underwriters is a Managing General Agent and program administrator for specialty property & casualty insurance, combining the experience and vision of its seasoned insurance executive team with RedBird’s track record, expertise and network in the Financial Services sector. Formed as a platform buy-and-build, Bishop Street seeks to partner with niche underwriting teams to develop a diversified book of premiums and distribution capabilities for its carrier partners.

Investment Date:April 2023

Build A Rocket Boy

Build A Rocket Boy is an independent game developer and publisher founded and led by legendary game developer Leslie Benzies. Build A Rocket Boy is launching the next genre-defining game studio and entertainment platform comprised of three flagship products: immersive gaming and entertainment open world platform EVERYWHERE, AAA game series MindsEye, and a suite of easy-to-use UGC design tools called ARCADIA.

Investment date:January 2024

Website:buildarocketboy.com/

Compass Datacenters

Compass Datacenters develops and owns wholesale data center facilities, leveraging a success-based, build-to-suit capex model, which is supported by long-term leases with attractive counterparty tenants. Since inception, Compass has experienced significant growth through a combination of leasing, new market expansion, greenfield development, and M&A, which has transformed the company into one of the largest data center providers in North America.

Investment Date:December 2016

Industry:TMT

Website:compassdatacenters.com

Exit Date:October 2023

Constellation Affiliated Partners

Constellation Affiliated Partners is a top 10 national Managing General Agent insurance distribution platform. Developed as a platform buy-and-build in partnership with experienced insurance executive, Bill Goldstein, Constellation’s strategy is centered around partnering with MGAs, MGUs and specialty wholesalers to establish a diversified scale book of premiums and distribution capabilities for its carrier partners. The company writes a diverse set of insurance lines, including contractors’ general liability, commercial transportation, specialty, and professional liability.

INVESTMENT DATE:June 2019

EXIT DATE:July 2021

REALIZATION STATUS:Exited

Industry:Financial Services

Dream Sports

Dream Sports is an Indian sports technology company whose principal brand is Dream11, the leading Daily Fantasy Sports (“DFS”) platform in India. Dream11 offers sports-based fantasy games across cricket and 10 other sports, featuring different contest types and large prize pools.

RedBird views India as one of the most attractive and fastest growing international sports markets, with a growing total addressable market of internet connected sports. Dream11 is complementary to RedBird’s investment in the Rajasthan Royals, as the rapidly expanding DFS market in India is fueled by the population’s growing affinity for cricket, and more specifically, the popularity of the Indian Premier League.

Investment Date:October 2021

Industry:Sports

Website:www.dreamsports.group

EquipmentShare

EquipmentShare is a high-growth, technology-enabled equipment rental platform focused on the US construction industry. The Company operates 80+ full-service rental facilities across 29 states, with a comprehensive portfolio of machinery including lifts, earthmoving, material handling, power and HVAC, small tools, safety and shoring, agriculture, trailers and more.

Investment Date:April 2021

Industry:TMT

Website:equipmentshare.com

EverPass

EverPass is the premier media platform for distributing live sports and entertainment content in the commercial venue ecosystem, managing exclusive rights to sports packages including the NFL Sunday Ticket (“NFLST”) and Peacock Sports Pass. EverPass offers a marketplace that facilitates the seamless broadcast and viewing of premium live events across bars, restaurants, hotels, and other establishments, favorably positioning the Company at the forefront of an evolving, global live sports distribution ecosystem.

Investment Date:March 2023

EverWonder Studio

EverWonder is a non-fiction production studio, founded in 2023 by Ian Orefice and RedBird Capital, focused on financing, producing and distributing non-fiction documentary features, series and new global formats. The Company is focused on partnering with industry-leading filmmakers, journalists and storytellers to create and own durable intellectual property in the broader entertainment and experiential markets.

Investment Date:August 2023

Website:www.everwonder.studio

Fenway Sports Group

Fenway Sports Group (“FSG”) is a global sports, marketing, media, entertainment, and real estate platform anchored by two iconic clubs, the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool Football Club.  FSG’s portfolio includes two of the world’s most historic venues, Fenway Park and Anfield Stadium, Fenway Sports Management (“FSM”), Fenway Sports Group Real Estate (“FSGRE”), a 50% stake in NASCAR’s Roush Fenway Racing, and an 80% stake in New England Sports Network.  FSM is a global sports marketing and consulting firm that represents FSG’s network of properties and serves as the exclusive marketing agency for LeBron James through a strategic partnership with LRMR Ventures.  FSGRE is a private real estate firm that oversees the assets, acquisitions, and development of FSG properties.

Investment Date:March 2021

Industry:Sports

Website:fenwaysportsgroup.com

Front Office Sports

Front Office Sports is a multiplatform, emerging digital media brand that covers the influence of sports on business and culture. The Company delivers sports journalism content across several branded channels, reaching an audience of over 20M per month. Covering the business of the $324B sports industry, Front Office Sports is the category leader in scale and engagement, with an audience that delivers more than 150M social impressions, 35M newsletter opens, 10M video views, and two million page views each month. In addition, with over 15 distribution partners, FOS content appears on screens in more than 50,000 buildings and venues across North America.

Investment Date:October 2023

Industry:TMT

Website:frontofficesports.com

Go Rentals

Go Rentals (“Go”) is the premier luxury car rental provider in the United States specializing in premium end-markets. Go was founded in 1995 and has grown to become the preeminent rental car provider within the private aviation market. The Company is a leading owner and operator of high-end rental cars to sports, media and private client customers in over 175 markets throughout the United States.

Investment Date:July 2023

Website:www.gorentals.com

Grafine Partners

Founded by Elizabeth Weymouth in 2019, Grafine Partners is a private investment and advisory firm that partners with sophisticated capital to invest in and build profitable and scalable businesses alongside talented investment and management teams. Grafine’s differentiated approach is built on the team’s ability to source, screen, structure and scale attractive direct investment opportunities for their investors.

Investment Date:May 2020

Industry:Financial Services

Website:grafine.com

Hidden Pigeon

Hidden Pigeon Company is a multiplatform kids and family content company, founded in 2023 by Mo Willems, RedBird Capital, and Stampede Ventures, which leverages Willems’ best-selling catalog of children’s books and intellectual property across all entertainment platforms, including television, film, digital, gaming, live events, location-based experiences, publishing, and consumer products.

Investment Date:May 2023

Main Event

Main Event is a differentiated family-entertainment center (“FEC”) business founded in 1998 and acquired by Ardent Leisure, a publicly traded Australian company, in 2006.  Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Main Event has 44 locations, predominately in the southern United States, and offers diversified dining and entertainment options for families, including arcade games, bowling, laser tag, and full-service restaurants.  Main Event represents an opportunity to leverage RedBird’s domain expertise in the consumer and entertainment space, and to provide strategic growth-oriented capital to the business.

Investment Date:June 2020

Industry:Consumer

Website:mainevent.com

Exit Date:June 2022

Realization Status:Exited

Majority Strategies

Majority Strategies is a full-service data, digital and print firm with over 125 years of collective experience influencing public opinion and behavior to create a desired action and outcome. Specific targeting, partnered with emotionally impactful content, creates awareness, drives persuasion, and spurs activation for both corporate advocacy and US government campaigns.

Investment Date:October 2015

Industry:Consumer

Website:majoritystrategies.com

N3

N3 utilizes a tech-enabled offering to provide outsourced sales solutions on behalf of leading cloud and software players. The company specializes in complex, cloud-based products and operates across the full sales cycle from demand generation to closing, expansion, and retention.  N3 is a key sales partner to many of the largest technology providers and operates in over 75 countries globally.

Investment Date:October 2015

Exit Date:October 2020

Industry:TMT

Website:n3results.com

Next Tier Connect

Next Tier Connect represents the opportunity to partner alongside a proven team to identify, acquire, and optimize a portfolio of mission-critical real estate properties. These assets are characterized by enhanced mission-critical infrastructure, including diverse fiber feeds, high connectivity, power generators, redundancy, and reinforced structural aspects.  The Next Tier team brings 20+ years of experience with this specific asset-profile, leveraging a value-add, repositioning strategy.

Investment Date:November 2018

Industry:TMT

Website:ntconnect-pittsburgheast.com

Obra Capital

Obra Capital is a $4.4 billion alternative asset management firm that manages both evergreen and closed-end structures. Obra specializes in insurance-linked strategies with a predominant focus on longevity-contingent risk. Obra is the largest vertically integrated asset management firm in the life settlements category and operates its own licensed provider, Magna Life Settlements. Obra’s limited partners include leading global pension plans, insurance companies, endowments, and registered investment advisors.

Investment Date:October 2019

Industry:Financial Services

Website:www.obra.com

On Location Experiences

On Location Experiences, headquartered in New York City, is a premium experiential entertainment company whose mission is to partner with iconic rights holders to create, manage and execute once-in-a-lifetime, behind-the-scenes experiences at marquee global sports, music, entertainment, and lifestyle events. On Location Experiences owns and operates NFL On Location, the NFL’s Official Premium Hospitality Provider for the NFL’s marquee events, including the Super Bowl; Runaway Tours, the Official VIP Hospitality Provider for Jon Bon Jovi, in addition to other top artists; and Anthony Travel, the leading provider of travel and hospitality services for collegiate athletic events.

Investment Date:April 2015

Exit Date:January 2020

Realization Status:Exited

Industry:Sports

Website:nflonlocation.com

OneTeam

OneTeam Partners is a partnership with the Players Associations of the National Football League (NFL) and Major League Baseball (MLB) to monetize the Name, Image and Likeness (“NIL”) of the collective players, anchored by exclusive rights for video games and trading cards. A first of its kind platform, OneTeam will further commercialize collective player intellectual property through content, sponsorship, youth sports, venture investing and other verticals. In addition to the NFLPA and MLBPA, OneTeam’ s portfolio of athlete partnerships include the Players Associations of Major League Soccer, the US Women’s Soccer National Team and WNBA.

Investment Date:December 2019

Industry:Sports

Website:joinoneteam.com

Exit Date:September 2022

Realization Status:Exited

RedBird QSR

RedBird’s QSR Investment is a diversified quick-service restaurant platform operating burger, chicken, taco, and pizza franchises. With an experienced management team and long-term capital alignment alongside a reputable family office, RedBird’s QSR Investments takes a multi-faceted approach to growth; superior operations, targeted development, and strategic real estate optimization.

Investment Date:May 2018

Industry:Consumer

Skydance Media

Skydance Media is a diversified content-production studio founded by David Ellison in 2010 to create high-quality entertainment for global audiences across its feature film, television, interactive and animation divisions. Skydance primarily produces content for Subscription Video On Demand (“SVOD”) platforms such as Netflix, Amazon and Apple, and is responsible for producing several of the most valuable film franchises such as Mission: Impossible, Terminator, Star Trek, Top Gun, Jack Ryan, and Jack Reacher. The company produces a sizable slate of premium television shows, which include the longest running half-hour show in Netflix’s history, Grace & Frankie, Jack Ryan, Altered Carbon, and Foundation. In 2017, Skydance formed an animation division to develop and produce a slate of high-end feature films and television series.

Investment Date:November 2019

Industry:TMT

Website:skydance.com

Talent Systems

Talent Systems is the leading software platform for casting actors in the entertainment and commercial content ecosystem, with over 50,000 projects and 2 million auditions managed on the company’s platform annually. The Company provides workflow technology and a marketplace that enables the discovery, auditioning and hiring of talent across film, television, commercials, theater and digital productions, powering an unparalleled, global casting software ecosystem.

Investment Date:August 2022

Industry:Software

Website:www.talentsystems.com

The SpringHill Company

The SpringHill Company is a global consumer and entertainment company created to empower greatness in every individual. The SpringHill Company unites three brands built by LeBron James and Maverick Carter: UNINTERRUPTED, the Sports Emmy winning athlete empowerment media and consumer product brand, SpringHill Entertainment, the premium scripted and unscripted film and television production brand and The Robot Company, the brand and culture consultancy. With a dynamic and diverse team committed to creating the most culturally inspired content, entertainment and products, The SpringHill Company is built to be the defining brand for a new generation.

Investment Date:October 2021

Industry:TMT

Website:www.springhillcompany.com

Tierpoint

TierPoint operates 40+ data centers across predominantly Tier II and “edge” markets, offering comprehensive IT infrastructure services including retail colocation, private cloud, network, and select managed services.  Through a combination of acquisitions, expansions, and organic growth, TierPoint has become one of the largest hybrid IT data center providers, with a diversified base of 4,000+ customers.

Investment Date:June 2014

Industry:TMT

Website:tierpoint.com

UFL

The United Football League (the “UFL”) is the premier spring football league that is the result of the merger of the XFL and USFL.

Investment Date:August 2020

Industry:Sports

Website:https://www.xfl.com

YES Network

The YES Network is the #1 Regional Sports Network in the United States and holds the exclusive local media rights of the 27-time World Champion New York Yankees, the Brooklyn Nets, Major League Soccer’s New York City FC and the WNBA’s New York Liberty. Gerry Cardinale partnered with the Steinbrenner family in 2002 to launch YES, which was has won 118 Emmy Awards over its lifetime. In 2019, RedBird recapitalized the business in partnership with the New York Yankees, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Amazon, Blackstone and Mubadala Capital.

Investment Date:August 2019

Industry:TMT

Website:yesnetwork.com