What you'll learn

This course features expert sessions on:

  • How Private Equity Works

    What is ‘private equity’, how does it work and what are the benefits, risks, challenges, and opportunities that come with PE investment?

  • What Private Equity Investors Look For

    What attracts private equity to deals in sport? Learn from those directly involved in major deals in football, rugby and other sports

  • Impact of Private Equity

    How has private equity investment changed the landscape of sport and what does this mean for teams, leagues, federations, rights holders and other stakeholders?

  • Financial Structures in Sport

    Understand the different financial models that exist between sports and markets. How does this impact the interest and approach of PE investors?

  • Looking to the Future

    What does private equity investment mean for the future of sport and how has the recent European Super League fiasco altered the investment landscape for private equity investors?

Companies represented include

Course contents

  • 1

    Day One, Monday 7th June

    • Q&A with William Paul, former Bridgepoint and current board member of Dorna, owners of MotoGP

    • Valuations in sport and pricing in risk with Dan Heal
  • 2

    Day Two, Tuesday 8th June

    • Private Equity investments in women's sport with Anna Whowell and Mark Evans

    • Case Study: World Surf League with Sophie Goldschmidt

    • The importance of aligned interests, stakeholder management and an exit plan with Lord Colin Moynihan and Simon Cummins

    • Case Study: Fosun and Wolves with Emeric Hudault

Course Speakers

Executive Director Sports Group at Fosun 复星

Emeric Hudault

After 15 years as a banker during which he helped private equity clients finance their transactions, Emeric joined Fosun in 2017. He first set up a direct lending platform in Europe before joining Fosun Sorts Group where he is in charge of financing, capital markets and investment in Europe and the USA.

Former COO at Manchester United, Former CEO at Inter Milan

Michael Bolingbroke

I have worked in a multitude of C-Suite roles across sports and entertainment. B-2-C roles in complex, multi-site organisations with sector-leading brands, involving talent management and the balancing of the creative/sport side with the business side. Well-versed in change management and the creation of very significant value both at revenue and EBITDA levels. Managed private sale and IPO processes.

Global Head of Sport, Entertainment and Major Events

Dan Heal

Daniel is a Partner at Control Risks and as Global Head of Sport, Entertainment and Major Events he leads an integrated practice that focuses on security and integrity risk. Since joining the company in 2004 he has supported organisations across the world become more secure, compliant and resilient. He has extensive experience in supporting a broad client base maximise their opportunities in diverse markets. Daniel works with organising committees, sponsors, broadcasters, insurers, leagues, associations and many other stakeholders to deliver world-class integrity, resilience and security solutions in the sector. Before this role he set up and ran Control Risks East Africa business from Kenya and held overall responsibility for client engagement and strategic growth in the region. Prior to this he was based in London for three years and led Control Risks Africa business, supporting clients in risk consulting and security management. Between 2006 and 2012 Daniel was based in the Middle East, advising clients on their key risks throughout the region – ranging from pre-investment support and due diligence, to security design on major infrastructure projects. Before this he was a Project Security Manager in Iraq for two years and was responsible for the overall security of a strategic oil and gas project. Before joining Control Risks in 2004 Daniel served as a commissioned officer in the British Army.

Former CEO, World Surf League

Sophie Goldschmidt

Throughout her career, Sophie has been at the forefront of globalizing professional sports in leadership and commercial roles at World Surf League, National Basketball Association (NBA), the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), Rugby Football Union (RFU), Adidas and CSM. She was also a Board Director of the PGA European Tour. Sophie was named 40 under 40 by the Sports Business Journal and Leaders in Sports Leaders Under 40 Award. Forbes and Adweek recognized her as one of the Most Powerful Women in global Sports.

Former Chairperson, England Netball SuperLeaguet

Mark Evans

Former Director of Rugby at Saracens and CEO of Harlequins, in 2011 Mark founded Capacity Consulting, specialising in advising sports clubs and governing bodies on a range of revenue enhancing and strategic issues. Clients included RFU, RLWC2013, Premier Rugby, Saracens FC, St Helens RLFC and Glamorgan CC. In 2017, Mark accepted the chairmanship of England Netball’s Vitality Netball Superleague, becoming the lead consultant to the Stadium for Cornwall project, had an advisory role for the European 2019 rugby finals in Newcastle as well as a number of non-executive director roles at a number of sports related businesses.

Former UK Minister for Sport, Executive Chairman of Buckthorn Partners

Lord Colin Moynihan

Lord Colin Moynihan is a former UK Minister for Sport and Chairman of the British Olympic Association. He is an Olympic silver medallist and currently sits in the House of Lords, and is a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Committee on Sport, Modern Slavery and Human Rights. He is also a member of the International Olympic Committee’s Commission for Public Affairs and Social Development through Sport. Colin is also a Senior Advisor to InSport Education.

Director at Future Thinker

Anna Whowell MA

Following a career in investment banking, including stints at UBS, Credit Suisse, and Unicredit, Anna brought her financial expertise to the sports sector, completing an MA in Leadership in Sport with her thesis exploring the commercial sustainability of women's team sports. Anna now specialises in helping sports organisations discover and grow new revenue streams.

UK Academic Director, InSport Education

Dr Rob Wilson

Rob is Head of Department at Sheffield Business School and a leading sport finance expert and football business consultant. He has more than 20 years’ experience in the sport business sector and brings a wealth of experience as a creative educator. Rob specialises in financial reporting, management accounting and economic decision-making processes in sport organisations. Alongside his teaching interests, he has published 5 books and has a prolific media profile.

Global Head of Sports, Odgers Berndtson

Simon Cummins

Simon is the Global Head of Odgers Berndtson's Sports Practice placing senior leaders into all major Sports organisations and International Federations. He has experience working with a range of Private Equity houses, helping them source the right talent to grow and manage their investments.

Pricing

FAQ

  • How will the course be delivered?

    The course will be delivered on our secure online learning platform; you will have instant access to all on-demand recordings from the Private Equity in Sport course.